It may well be the standout in Ford's family of Everests. The Tremor launched a few months back in Australia, and now it has reached New Zealand. It’s sensational: 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6, multi-mode transmission, all terrain tyres and so much more.
It runs the top-spec ten speed transmission with the 4A mode that enables the driver to use 4WD on tarmac, which we love. Tremor adds a further Rock Crawl Drive Mode to the six existing on and off-road drive modes,
The signature Tremor grille includes factory fitted auxiliary LED lights, front tow hooks and a steel bash plate.
17-inch alloy wheels are fitted with General Grabber AT3 All-Terrain tyres and the guards have Asphalt Black wheel-arch mouldings.
Tremor’s off-road suspension features position-sensitive Bilstein dampers with a lift kit to provide additional off-road capability without affecting the class-leading 3500kg max towing. The Tremor adds a Rock Crawl driving mode to the six existing on-road and off-road drive modes to make traversing tricky terrain that much easier.
Inside, the interior finish features bespoke ebony leather-accented seats embossed with Tremor logo, plus all-weather floor mats to capture sand and mud. The seats are firm but they remain pretty comfortable on longer drives.
Ergonomics in the front row are well thought out – everything is within arm’s reach – plus the storage is impressive too. There are myriad storage spots around the centre console for stowing road trip snacks, plus a wireless phone charger underneath the main infotainment screen.
Ford’s ubiquitous Sync 4 infotainment system does service inside the Everest Tremor, and it really does set the segment benchmark.
The second- and third-row experiences are impressive.
Clamber into the second row and enjoy the spaciousness of the Everest’s rear seat. There is ample head room, leg room, and foot room.
There are air vents in the back of the centre console, along with a USB power supply for charging devices.
There’s a decent amount of adjustability between the seat base and back rest so that passengers can find a happy compromise with those seated behind.
Getting into the third row is fairly easy. It’s a simple lever pull from either side of the vehicle. It’s a snug fit for big adults, but it’s comfortable enough.
Safety centres around a nine-strong airbag array, traffic sign recognition and lane centring, Intelligent Speed Assist, blind spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert and pre-collision assist with Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and Intersection Assist. All that adds up to a five-star ANCAP rating, matching the rest of the Everest range.
Let’s talk engine: a 3.0L V6 turbo-diesel making 184kW at 3250rpm and a meaty 600Nm of torque between 1750-2250rpm. Couple that with the top-spec transmission and this is a seriously capable SUV.
We gave the Tremor a good representative mix of drive conditions: urban streets, arterial connectors, motorway runs and a day in the sand trails and logging tracks of Woodhill Forest. It was well at home in all environments. On sealed roads the Tremor’s wider track and increased footprint are noticeable particularly at higher speeds, with improved stability and roadholding. The new Bilstein dampers feel a little firmer, but are never harsh.
On the motorway runs we recorded fuel economy stats of 12l/100km, edging lower as we went along. We got down to 11.0l/100km but couldn’t hit the official (Aussie) figure of 9.5l/100km.
The 29mm ride lift endows Tremor with the best approach, ramp-over and departure angles in the model range – we never came close to burying the snout or dragging the tail up at Woodhill, where the SUV excelled no matter how tight the trail or how deep the sand.
On the faster logging roads, which are often coated in fist-sized rocks as part of the forest managers’ maintenance programme, we slotted the Tremor into 4A and let the transmission sort things out.
For the tricky sand tracks we used 4hi, and the electronic drive mode menu, keeping 4lo in reserve for anything worse. The new Rock Crawl mode is perfectly good in sand, setting the transmission in 4hi and locking the rear diff to maximise forward momentum.
The Tremor’s driving position gave a good view of track hazards and washouts, while the suspension gave good advance notice when a wheel started to lose grip.
Deep, wet sand out in the forest did clog up the tyres, but never halted forward progress – the emphasis then went on the hardware and software of the Everest’s excellent drivetrain.
Over in Australia, there have been special editions introduced as part of the Everest line-up to date, but this is different. It mirrors the Ford Ranger Tremor that brought updated suspension, off-road rubber, and new 4WD technology to the dual-cab ute range. In the Ranger’s case, Tremor slots in right under the petrol-engined Raptor. The Everest Tremor is the same but different, because there’s no Raptor in the range. Instead, the $87,990 Tremor slots in under the super-luxe Platinum, and gets a grunt boost thanks to its 3.0-litre V6 in place of the Ranger version's 2.0 biturbo four.
So now, Tremor becomes the most serious off-road SUV in Ford’s Downunder range.
Specification
Engine: 3.9-litre turbodiesel V6
Power: 184kW at 3,250rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 1,750-2,250rpm
Transmission: 10 speed auto with e-shifter, four-mode transfer case, seven electronic drive modes
Suspension: four-wheel coil springs, Bilstein remote-reservoir dampers
Wheels and tyres: 17x7 aluminium alloy, General Grabber A/T tyres
Safety: nine airbags, advanced driver-assistance features, five star ANCAP
Approach angle: 32 degrees
Ramp-over angle: 22 degrees
Departure angle: 26 degrees
Ground clearance: 254mm
Fording depth: 800mm
Tow rating:3,500kg (braked)
Turning circle: 11.6 metres
Price: $87,990
