Limited-edition Ford Everest Sport Bi-Turbo takes on Prado

Ford has just announced a limited-edition version of its popular Everest four-wheel-drive large SUV, that’s been specifically created to reel in the runaway success of the latest-generation Toyota Prado.

To that end, the new Sport Bi-Turbo is a less-expensive take on the well-received Sport V6 version, swapping out the big 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel for the cheaper 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel engine.

Starting from $71,190 (all pricing is before on-road costs), that represents a $4800 saving at face level over the Everest Sport V6, that kicks off from $75,990.

But that stretches out to a $7300 gap in the newcomer’s favour, because the usually-optional $2500 Touring Pack is part of the Sport Bi-Turbo deal.

This adds a tow bar and hitch, integrated trailer brake controller for more-stable vehicle control at speed, Pro Trailer Backup Assist that helps guide the vehicle and trailer during reverse- parking manoeuvres and a 360-degree-view camera.

The lower entry price and higher specification should outweigh the 154kW/500Nm Bi-Turbo’s lower power and torque numbers, compared to the Sport V6’s healthy 184kW and 600Nm outputs respectively.

As with all Bi-Turbo and V6-powered Everests nowadays, drive is sent to all four wheels as traction requirements and prevailing conditions dictate via a 10-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD system.

Ford says that only about 700 examples of the Sport Bi-Turbo will be produced in Thailand for the Australian market from about now, with deliveries due to commence during October and November.

Which begs the question: why so few Sport Bi-Turbos, when the Sport V6 grade has already proved to be a decent drawcard (and money-spinner) for the company – particularly when the latest Prado has reasserted its place as Australia’s best-selling large SUV by displacing the Everest from the number-one position year-to-date in 2025?

Notoriously secretive Ford isn’t saying for now, but part of the answer may be that the Bi-Turbo engine is set to be dropped inside the next few months from all Everest and closely-related Ranger ute models (both are based on the Australian-engineered T6 architecture), due to it not meeting coming stricter emissions regulations.

This much was revealed by a Ford insider to a group of Australian journalists at the Transit van launch in Germany last year.

What this means for consumers is that, if you like the sound of an Everest Sport with the Bi-Turbo powertrain, now may be your only chance.

Any future Sport iteration might only be available with an as-yet-unconfirmed variation of the existing, cheaper, single-turbo diesel, to step up as the lone four-cylinder alternative to the costlier V6 diesel.

Ford is expected to announce details, including the arrival and specifications, of the updated 2.0-litre single-turbo diesel in the near future, but it is unlikely to stray too far away from the modest 125kW and 405Nm outputs of the existing engine. Conversely, we also hear that fuel consumption and emissions should be markedly lower to meet reduced carbon-pollution requirements. That’s a wait-and-see.

While there has been some speculation that Ford might be considering extending the recently-released Ranger Hybrid’s 207kW/697Nm Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) petrol-electric powertrain to the Everest moving forward, Ford has already dismissed this, at least for the time being.

Reasons cited include the packaging difficulties in fitting the PHEV’s large battery module and electric motors within the Everest’s unique SUV chassis structure, whereas there is enough space underneath the Ranger’s ute tub out back; the very high pricing of the electrification tech; and the fact that South Africa is the only PHEV production source for the Ranger globally, whereas the Everest is sourced solely from Thailand.

More than a ploy to lure Prado buyers Ford’s way, it appears that the Everest Sport Bi-Turbo is the 2.0-litre twin-turbo diesel’s send-off.