Ford Everest 2015: Can it be used as an off-roader?

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I wanted a proper 4WD and bought a 2015 Ford Everest in good faith from Ford. They advertise extensively that the Everest is a fully-fledged 4WD, but it appears that under Australian Design Rules they have had it certified as a passenger car as opposed to an off-road vehicle. This restricts what tyres can be fitted as well as many other modifications that are normal on a 4WD. This is misleading to me as a buyer and unfair to other car manufacturers who market 4WDs.

The Everest is categorized as a non-offroad passenger car under Category MA. If it was an off-roader under the ADR system it would be categorized MC. By doing that Ford was able to keep all Everest variants, both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, under the same ADR compliance plate approval, whereas MC only allows for 4WD and Ford would have had to have separate compliance for its 2WD and 4WD models.

Ford stands by the off-road capabilities of the Everest, and says the 4WD Everest meets the requirements of the MC category, and that using it off-road won't void the warranty. While Ford is comfortable with the situation and says it has no plan to change the Everest category anyone buying one should be aware of potential issues with insurance if you use one inappropriately, or modify it as you want to do.

The warning is out that anyone wanting to buy a 4WD Everest for off-road use should invest the time and do the homework to make sure you can do what you want with it. At the end of the day it's a case of buyer beware.

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