Ford has reworked the Everest range in South Africa for 2026, introducing a new Active model as the R825,000 entry point and reshuffling the rest of the line-up ahead of the Everest Tremor’s arrival later this year.
The Active replaces the previous XLT and is offered with Ford’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine producing 125kW and 405Nm. Buyers can choose between a rear-wheel-drive model at R825,000 and a part-time 4×4 at R875,000, with both using Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission.
It makes the bottom of the Everest range quite different from the rest. Sport, Wildtrak and Platinum now all use Ford’s 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel, producing 184kW and 600Nm and paired with the company’s permanent four-wheel-drive system.
The change gives Ford a clearer split between the Everest aimed at buyers who want the space and seven-seat practicality of the SUV without necessarily needing the V6, and the considerably more expensive models above it.
Despite being the cheapest Everest, Ford hasn’t stripped the Active back to the basics. Standard equipment includes a 12-inch touchscreen running SYNC 4, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, FordPass connectivity and keyless entry.
Its driver assistance equipment includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Lane Centring. Ford says both technologies are being offered on the lowest-tier Everest for the first time.
The 4×2 Active gets Normal, Eco, Tow/Haul and Slippery driving modes. Moving to the 4×4 adds Mud & Ruts and Sand modes, along with a locking rear differential.
Ford has also revised the transmission calibration across the range, which the company says is intended to make the 10-speed gearbox smoother and more responsive.
The Everest Sport is now V6-only
Higher up, the Everest Sport now combines the 3.0-litre V6 with several features previously missing from the derivative.
Those additions include a 360-degree camera, Blind Spot Information System with trailer coverage, tyre-pressure monitoring, Zone Lighting and a powered tailgate. At R1,149,000, there’s now a R274,000 jump between the Active 4×4 and the Sport, reflecting how distinctly Ford is positioning the four-cylinder and V6 sides of the range.
Wildtrak remains above the Sport at R1,244,000. Changes include an Ignite Orange paint option, Matrix LED headlights, powered third-row seats, leather upholstery and a powered dual-panel panoramic moonroof.
The Platinum remains the most expensive Everest currently on sale at R1,340,000. It retains features including heated and ventilated front seats, a 12-speaker B&O sound system, 21-inch wheels and Pro Trailer Back-up Assist, while Acacia Green joins its exterior colour choices.
Ford’s full South African Everest pricing is available through its official Everest pricing page.
Tremor will stretch the range again
The range won’t stay this size for long. Ford has already confirmed that the Everest Tremor will arrive in South Africa during the fourth quarter of 2026, giving the seven-seat SUV a derivative more deliberately configured for off-road use.
The Tremor uses the same 184kW and 600Nm V6 as the other upper-end Everest models but gets Bilstein position-sensitive dampers, model-specific suspension tuning, General Grabber AT3 all-terrain tyres and another 26mm of ground clearance.
It also receives a Rock Crawl driving mode, a steel bash plate and heavy-duty side steps, while retaining the Everest’s maximum 3,500kg braked towing capacity. Ford announced the Tremor’s South African introduction earlier this year, with more detail available from its original Everest Tremor announcement. Pricing still hasn’t been announced.
Ford has used the Tremor treatment before on the Ranger, including more specialised off-road derivatives such as the Ranger Wildtrak X previously covered by Reframed. Bringing a similar idea to Everest makes sense, but its arrival also makes the structure of the revised range clearer.
The Active makes Everest ownership more accessible at one end while Ford is concentrating the V6, more expensive equipment and eventually the more serious off-road hardware further up. Rather than simply adding another trim level, Ford is creating considerably more distance between what an entry-level Everest and a high-end one are supposed to be.
2026 Ford Everest pricing in South Africa
| Model | Price |
|---|---|
| Everest Active 2.0L 4×2 | R825,000 |
| Everest Active 2.0L 4×4 | R875,000 |
| Everest Sport 3.0L V6 4WD | R1,149,000 |
| Everest Wildtrak 3.0L V6 4WD | R1,244,000 |
| Everest Platinum 3.0L V6 4WD | R1,340,000 |
Ford says the revised Everest models will reach South African dealers in the coming weeks. The Tremor follows in Q4, with its price and complete specification to be announced closer to launch.