Darkened-out sleuth SUV meets single-turbo reality.
If looks could kill, this Ford Everest Activewould be doing life without parole. Dressed head-to-toe in a sinister coat of black, with its high-gloss muzzle, midnight alloys, black rails, and mirror caps, it cuts an imposing silhouette. It’s an unmarked security detail on wheels, Darth Vader in hiking boots, and all of us love the look of it.
Yet underneath that aggressive blackout attire lurks a fascinating mechanical paradox. While it carries all the visual swagger of Ford’s top-tier Everest machinery, Active houses neither the thunderous 3-litre V6 diesel, nor the punchy discontinued 154 kW Bi-Turbo four-cylinder we’d become accustomed to.
Instead, it’s Ford’s humble 2-litre single turbodiesel nestled in that gaping engine bay. The trusty SiT lump delivers 125 kW and 405 Nm through the Blue Oval’s familiar 10-speed automatic.
DARTH VADER IN HIKING BOOTS
Black as the night, there’s no missing this stealth pack intent. Assertive C-clamp LEDs frame a gloss-black mesh grille and blacked-out centre bar. It strips away the shiny old-school family hauler chrome in favour of a tough, modern, monochrome stance.
Down the flanks, the darkened bits flow neatly into tinted privacy glass. Goodyear Wranglers wrap smart black 18-inch wheels to adequately fill the squared arches with genuine intent.
Around the back, a similar swathe of gloss black and darkness delivers a wholly incognito, badge-deleted aura. An unmistakable visual statement on the road, it could easily pass for a multi-million-rand convoy escort at half a glance.
A REFINED AND COMFY COCKPIT
Inside, the cabin is modern, quiet, and accommodating. The command driving position, Ford’s slick vertical SYNC touchscreen wireless CarPlay and Auto, clear digital dials, and all the modular versatility make this seven-seater a true family favourite. With just about enough buttons and knobs, too.
Hammer to the metal and the numbers reveal the truth behind the tough disguise. The hefty seven-seater steps cleanly off the mark and gets along handsomely enouigh. Keep it pinned into the firewall and the difference between single-blower modesty and twin-turbo brawn, however, is immediately apparent.
Zero to 100 km/h clocks in at 11.33 seconds, with the 120 km/h highway gate crossed in 16.67 seconds. Down the strip, 400 metres posts 17.8 seconds at a modest 124 km/h. The crucial 80–120 km/h overtaking punch takes 9.05 seconds.
FULL OF GRACE BUT OFF THE PACE
Sure, it’s off the pace versus the sub-ten urgency of the old biturbo. But in the cut-and-thrust of daily driving, this single-snail mill proves surprisingly unbothered. Ten cogs give the transmission room to hide that torque deficit, shuffling smoothly to keep it ticking in the meat of its 405 Nm band without too much hunting for gears.
Beyond the outright drag-strip stopwatch, this remains regular Everest fare. Which is high praise indeed. Unlike its traditional ladder-frame bakkie-based rivals that never quite shake off the jittery, unladen body shudder over corrugated tarmac, the Everest rides with sophistication.
Its coil-sprung rear suspension and wide track deliver plush highway poise and composed long-distance comfort to challenge unibody road cruisers. Damping is well judged and soaks up washboard gravel and broken suburban asphalt with effortless composure. And wind buffeting and road noise are well insulated for low-stress cruising.
BLACK BEAUTY TALKS THE TALK
So, what exactly is this black-on-black warrior? It is proof that you don’t need a well beyond a million V6 under the bonnet to make a proper, jaw-dropping statement. Yes, the 2.0 single-turbo runs a little more leisurely when you demand full-throttle fireworks. And badge-gazers may search in vain for those BT badges on the flanks.
But for real-world families who prize arresting curb appeal, rock-solid mechanical simplicity, frugal running costs, and unmatched chassis refinement, this stealth cruiser hits the sweet spot bang on. It talks the menacing talk, walks with refined comfort, and looks great doing it. – Michele Lupini
Images & Testing: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TESTED: Ford Everest 2.0 SiT Active 4x4
Engine: 125 kW 405 Nm 2.0-litre single-turbo diesel I4
Drive: 10-speed automatic 4WD
TESTED:
0–60 km/h: 4.70 sec
0–100 km/h: 11.33 sec
0–120 km/h: 16.67 sec
400m: 17.8 sec @ 124 km/h
80–120 km/h: 9.05 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 180 km/h
Fuel: 7.5 l/100 km
CO2: 198 g/km
Range: 1,070 km
Warranty/Service: 4y/120K km/Optional
PRICE: R875K
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