Ford Everest wins Best Off-Road SUV under $80K

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Our love of SUVs in Australia shows no sign of slowing down, as regular sedans and hatches continue to disappear in the rear-view mirror of overall sales.

While some are happy enough with the change in packaging, seating position and aesthetics of an SUV, other want a little bit more for their asking money.

Beyond hauling the family around with adequate space and comfort, some of us want an extra layer of capability from their SUV: off-road ability, towing capacity and heavy-duty mechanical durability.

The Ford Everest – co-developed with the award-winning Ranger ute – is the reigning champion of this part of the world, bringing high levels of refinement, comfort, and family-friendly practicality, on top of good off-road capability and a 3.5-tonne towing capacity. 

The Toyota LandCruiser Prado, in this new 250-Series generation, is something that has been keenly awaited by motoring media and Australian car buyers alike. It's been a segment favourite for decades, even though it had such a long production run and felt quite old towards the end of its life.

Another interesting new option in Australia – with a hybrid petrol powertrain no less – is the GWM Tank 500. This seven-seater brings big presence and a long list of equipment, at an impressively low price. Heated, massaging and ventilated seats, Nappa leather trimming, a big infotainment display and controllable ambient lighting is a start, but continue with seven seats and plenty of off-road ability, all for less than $75,000 drive-away, and you can see the value appeal of this Tank 500.

MORE: See the finalists for Drive Car of the Year – Best Off-Road SUV under $80,000
MORE: See all the winners – visit the Drive Car of the Year 2025 hub

Winner: Ford Everest

Drive’s pick: Ford Everest Sport V6 from $74,640 plus on-road costs

Even though new and interesting options landed and threatened to take down the Ford Everest, the Blue Oval offering has gone back-to-back in this competitive part of the world. 

Why? Because the Ford Everest still impresses most across the board. While the Toyota LandCrusier Prado might be better off-road, and the GWM Tank 500 offer better value for money, the Everest has no critical weakness in its overall performance.

The gutsy V6 diesel is a standout with 184kW and 600Nm, which matches well to the pragmatic but nice mid-range Sport spec. Although, it's worth saying the four-cylinder diesel (150kW/500Nm) punches above its weight for outputs, and matches the larger Toyota 2.8-litre unit in the Prado.

The interior of the Everest is another strong point, combining good levels of technology, some smart uses of space and plenty of storage nooks for family usage. The third row is better than you might think as well, while also giving good storage space both in seven-seat and five-seat mode.

We like the extra storage with pop-out cupholders and second glovebox suiting family needs nicely. Another nice detail is the roof-mounted air vents, which can help to distribute cool or warm air into the second and third rows well. 

Driving around town, the combination of a torquey diesel engine, well weighted throttle response, and a well-behaved 10-speed automatic transmission puts the Everest in good stead. There's good tuning and feel to the steering, and the ride quality is a step above its competition. 

MORE: Read the latest Ford Everest news

All wheel drive, which is garnered through a sophisticated clutch-based system, gives good levels of confidence on slippery surfaces like wet bitumen and dirt. 

And of course, you have proper four-wheel drive ability with a low-range transfer case, locking rear differential and off-road driving modes. 

While the Everest may not be as sharply priced as the Tank 500, it offers a more polished driving experience than the GWM. It’s also a far-better value pick than the LandCruiser Prado, given its price rises for this new generation. 

Infotainment, managed by a large portrait-style display, works well and provides all of the mod-cons that one desires. It's not overly complicated however, and works in unison with a digital instrument cluster, phone-based companion app, and a charging pad for wireless connections. 

And finally, the Everest has suitably strong safety credentials. Along with a five-star ANCAP safety rating, there is well tuned and effective active safety technology to stay safer on the road.

FIND YOUR NEXT CAR: Search Ford Everests for sale

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