Another nice interior feature is the addition of extra aircon vents for the middle- and third-row seats, making the Everest an ideal vehicle for tropical countries like the Philippines.

Those who worry that the Everest might have a pickup ride due to its platform sharing with the Ranger will be glad to know that its suspension has been specially tuned for SUV comfort--on and off the road. Safety features are also bona fide SUV equipment: dual front airbags; four-wheel ABS; individual seat belts for all seven occupants; childproof door locks; fuel tank guards; collapsible steering column; and front-, side-, and rear-impact beams.

With the introduction of the Everest, Ford has now truly cemented its reputation for having the most complete SUV lineup in the world. The Everest joins the best-selling Explorer, the Expedition, the Excursion, and the Escape in Ford's SUV stable.

The Everest is being made available in Thailand first, to be followed shortly by launches in Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Brunei. By next year, the Everest will be sold in about 50 countries, including UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Angola, Ghana, Gabon, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Tahiti.

The Everest will be manufactured at Ford's AutoAlliance Thailand plant in the Rayong province.

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