2017 Ford Everest 2.2 Trend AT 2WD Review

The mid-size SUV market has always been a popular choice for family users in Malaysia, meeting both the comfort requirements for daily commuting and the practicality of multi-member travel. The 2017 Ford Everest 2.2 Trend AT 2WD, as Ford's main model in this segment, highlights its core selling points of a 7-seat layout, diesel engine, and balanced configuration. But does it truly fit the needs of local consumers? This test drive will comprehensively evaluate the vehicle's real-life performance, from static experience to dynamic performance, providing references for potential buyers.

In terms of exterior design, the 2017 Everest 2.2 Trend maintains the contours of a rugged SUV, but its details are more oriented towards family usage. The front features Ford’s family-style trapezoidal grille, embellished with chrome accents, giving it decent recognizability. The front headlight assembly incorporates halogen main lights and LED daytime running lights, with an automatic headlight function that switches on in tunnels or cloudy conditions, adding to its practicality. The lines on the side of the body are straight, and the 18-inch alloy wheels paired with 265/60 R18 tires balance off-road capability without appearing overly rough. The LED taillights at the rear are simple in design, complementing the front end, while the rear fog lights and high-mounted brake light improve nighttime driving safety. Overall, the exterior avoids excessive flashy designs, being more of an enduring and suitable choice tailored for family use.

Inside the vehicle, the interior design focuses on practicality. The dashboard adopts a symmetrical layout with clearly positioned buttons and knobs, making it easy to use. In terms of materials, the upper part of the dashboard is hard plastic, but silver accents and soft-wrapped materials are added in certain areas, giving it a decent feel that matches its price range. The instrument panel uses a backlit analog design, offering an intuitive display of information like RPM, speed, and fuel level at a glance. The multifunctional steering wheel comes with buttons for volume control, call answering, and more, making operation convenient. Keyless entry and push-button start functionalities add to everyday convenience, eliminating the need to constantly take out the key.

Space is one of the core advantages of this 7-seat SUV. The vehicle's dimensions are 4893mm×1862mm×1836mm, with a wheelbase of 2850mm, ensuring ample interior space. The front seats are manually adjustable but provide good support, making long drives less tiring. The second-row seats allow front-to-back sliding and recline adjustments, while legroom is above average for this class—offering about two fists' worth of space for a passenger 175cm tall. The third-row seats are more suitable for children or short trips for adults; their legroom is relatively compact but features a 50:50 split-folding design for flexibility. When folded down, the cargo space can be expanded from the standard 450L available in the regular configuration, which is sufficient for daily shopping bags or suitcases, to accommodate larger items for moving or transporting. In terms of features, the dual-zone automatic climate control allows front passengers to regulate temperature independently, while rear air vents ensure comfort for backseat passengers. The inclusion of a 220V/230V power outlet is also convenient for rear passengers to charge devices or use small appliances.

Regarding performance, the 2.2L turbocharged diesel engine delivers a maximum output of 160 PS and maximum torque that peaks at 1600 rpm, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. During daily driving, the low-end torque is abundant, with responsive power when starting or driving at low speeds, ensuring it doesn’t feel underpowered. On highways, when overtaking other vehicles, pressing the accelerator deeply prompts the transmission to downshift promptly, providing smooth power delivery to complete overtaking maneuvers with ease. The driving modes include Normal and Eco; in Eco mode, throttle response becomes slightly muted, making it more suitable for consistent cruising. Fuel consumption is moderate, with an average fuel consumption of about 8-9L per 100 km under mixed driving conditions. The fuel economy advantage of the diesel engine over gasoline vehicles of the same displacement is evident, and the 80L fuel tank capacity ensures a longer driving range.

The handling and chassis performance is oriented towards comfort. The combination of the front double-wishbone independent suspension and the rear multi-link independent suspension effectively filters out small bumps on the road. When passing over speed bumps or uneven roads, the body does not shake noticeably, ensuring the comfort of rear passengers. The steering wheel has a moderate weight and clear directional feedback, making daily city driving feel light; during high-speed driving, the steering wheel becomes more stable, enhancing stability. However, due to the relatively high body, the vehicle tends to lean significantly during cornering, so speed needs to be controlled. The braking performance is stable, with a moderate brake pedal travel and linear brake force release. During emergency braking, the vehicle maintains its posture fairly well.

In terms of driving comfort, noise control is done relatively well. The noise of the diesel engine at idle is not very loud, and the cabin can basically remain quiet. At high speeds, wind noise and tire noise increase, but they are within an acceptable range and do not interfere with normal conversation. The seats offer good support and cushioning, ensuring there is no significant fatigue even on long journeys.

In summary, the core advantages of the 2017 Ford Everest 2.2 Trend AT 2WD lie in its flexible 7-seater space, fuel efficiency of the diesel engine, and practical configurations. Compared to competitors in the same class, it has a certain competitive edge in terms of space and powertrain smoothness, and its price is relatively affordable. This vehicle is more suitable for practical family users, especially those who frequently carry family members or occasionally need to transport goods. If you are looking for ultimate driving dynamics or luxurious interiors, you might consider other models, but for most families, its balanced performance is sufficient for daily needs.

All in all, the 2017 Ford Everest 2.2 Trend AT 2WD is a pragmatic 7-seater mid-size SUV. Its space, power, and features cater to the needs of family users, making it one of the worthwhile choices in the market.