In fact, the two-day drive event in the beautiful southern part of the Western Cape had the media rooting for the Everest to take on the Goliath of the segment. This very popular segment has long been dominated by the Toyota Fortuner until Mitsubishi brought in its Pajero Sport a month earlier.

“Ruggedly handsome and with a full house of impressive features, plus a muscular 3.0-litre diesel engine, the new Ford Everest has enough reason to step into the ring with the likes of Toyota Fortuner and Mitsubishi Pajero with a fair amount of cocky confidence,” wrote a journalist in Bizcommunity.com, a leading online community in South Africa.

“In fact, when it comes to straight comparisons, the Everest outshines them in a number of departments.”

The media praised the torquey engine along with the five-speed transmission in auto and manual, and gave full marks to the spacious interior, the best-in-class luggage area and the practical side-hinged rear door.

The Everest, which is based on the Ford Ranger, also got to bask in the truck’s halo of reliability and high quality.

“The interior is very similar to that of the Ranger, so it’s functional and feels well put together,” noted a journalist in adventure motoring magazine Leisure Wheels.

About 40 motoring and lifestyle journalists and bloggers test drove the new Everest from November 5-6 on a route that showcased the SUV’s superb ride and handling. Yet it wasn’t only the new Everest that was being assessed. The photographic skills of the journalists were just as much in the spotlight.

Armed with professional cameras and a short training on the basics of good photography before the drive, the media were tasked to capture photos relating to three categories – Everest versus Nature; people in action; and the Everest landscape – along the route. Prizes were awarded to the ones with the best pictures.

In the evening, the media stayed in Arniston, a quaint fishing village in Western Cape, where they joined the local community in the town hall for a delicious meal of South African food prepared by six ladies from the village. This was followed by a fireworks display, which the entire town came out to see.

Big bangs aside, the Everest is certainly no flash in the pan and is here to stay.

“This SUV comes with a comprehensive warranty, has tonnes of space inside, is well-appointed and has the ability to go anywhere,” wrote motoring journalist Mark Jones in The Citizen, a national tabloid in South Africa.

“I really liked it. Watch out Fortuner, Everest is coming to town!”

Gerrie Smit from MotorPlus won for the category of Everest versus Nature
People in Action category Photographic team - Stephen Smith & Patrick Cruywagen Photograph submitted by Patrick Cruywagen	Landscape category Photographic team - Richard Ndlela & Thomas Falkiner Photograph submitted by Richard Ndlela