The seven-seater sport utility vehicle market is on the shortlist of Filipinos who want to upgrade their first car or are looking for a family road partner. Since models in this market such as the Toyota Fortuner have relatively expensive price tags, Ford Philippines aims to give buyers their money's worth with the next-generation Everest.

From the front to the back, the Ford Everest sports a design that demands attention on the road. It looks boxier than the previous model, giving the Everest its more rugged SUV styling. Highlighting the exterior are the C-shaped daytime running lights similar to its larger full-sized pickup sibling, the Ford F-150.

Aside from exterior aesthetic updates, the vehicle is also larger by 11 mm in length, 339 mm in width, and 48 mm in height. The wheelbase has also been extended by 50 mm, which, in theory, should allow a more comfortable ride and improved cabin space.

And yes, even three people sitting on the second row can travel comfortably. Leg and head rooms are generous for the most part, while the third-row room is something you would come to expect in a midsize SUV — tight for tall passengers by Filipino standards.

New to the Ford Everest is the vertical touchscreen available in either 10 or 12 inches. It was a joy to use, thanks to the wireless Apple CarPlay I paired with the wireless charger. For Android users, they need to bring a cable to enable the system's Android Auto.

My favorite part of the interior is the feeling as if I was driving a full-sized SUV. This is influenced by the reworked dashboard layout that now has a straightforward layout, along with the flatter hood and the massive power-folding side mirrors. What I'm trying to say is that it has a more premium feel to it as compared to the old one.

Under its hood, the Everest is powered by a 2.0-liter diesel engine available with either a single or bi-turbo setup. As for the mid-spec Everest Sport variant you're seeing in this writing, its single turbo mill makes 168 horsepower and 405 N-m of torque. It is connected to a six-speed automatic transmission, while the top-spec Titanium+ gets a 10-speed auto.

Driving the Ford SUV was a delight as the suspension, NVH, and body rolls felt more refined. However, the steering had a slightly heavier calibration to it. If you ask me, I didn't mind as a light steering feel for a ladder-frame SUV gives me an uncanny driving experience.

Opt for the Ford Everest Titanium+ and you get the American brand's advanced driver assist technology. Among its 16 functions are adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping system, a 360-degree camera, and blind spot information system.

Ford Philippines is offering the Everest at a price that ranges from P1,799,000 to P2,495,000. With the more muscular SUV styling and improved tech in mind, I can say that the automaker managed to tick all the right boxes to keep the Everest afloat in the ever-so-competitive seven-seater SUV market.