An exhilarating drive to Tagaytay behind the wheel of the 2021 Ford Everest Sport

Motoring on urban roads through bumper-to-bumper traffic can be stressful and frustrating. In the country, however, it can be therapeutic. Time spent on a peaceful cruise gives one the chance to slow down, breathe, think, and recharge. With the recent easing of travel restrictions in the country, a road trip outside of the metro makes perfect sense.

When Ford Philippines invited Manila Bulletin (MB) Lifestyle to test drive the 2021 Ford Everest Sport, the notion to travel upland first came to mind. We decided to take a short and easy trip to one of the most popular “quick getaways” in Luzon—Tagaytay. The project couldn’t have come at a better time as a close friend, Iloilo culture champion chef Tibong Jardeleza, was in Manila for leisure. Another stroke of luck is that everyone’s schedules aligned.

For those who may not be familiar with chef Tibong, he is known for promoting the food culture of Western Visayas through his annual events, such as Sabores de Visayas and Tabu-an Ilonggo Heritage Cooking Competition. He would tour prominent chefs from all over the country around region VI, have them experience the distinct culture of Ilonggos, and taste the regional cuisine. This time, it was his turn to roam the culinary streets of Manila.

For the trip, I was joined by lifestyle editor, novelist, and poet, AA Patawaran; celebrated writer and food consultant Angelo Comsti; one of the most promising young culinary talents of the country, Linamnam Manila chef Don Baldosano; and the guest of honor, chef Tibong.

The itinerary was packed but fairly simple. We were to drive the new automobile on roads surrounded by open grasslands and pine tree forests, pass by Cavite to participate in a farm tour, search for an outstanding Bulalo restaurant, and spend the night in Don’s wood cabin in Tagaytay.

But first, my impressions of the car. The moment it was delivered to my parking lot, I was impressed by its imposing silhouette. It was a handsome and large auto, big enough that it seemed like a full-sized Sports Utility Vehicle despite being categorized as a mid-size SUV with a body that’s 4,903 millimeters long, 1,837 millimeters tall, and 1,869 millimeters wide.

Among the available color options Alabaster White, Aluminium, Diffused Silver, Meteor Grey, Shadow Black, and Sunset, the loaner that was sent over was in Deep Crystal Blue. The blue exterior and black accents were right up my alley.

Upfront are a blacked out grille and bumper, the Everest badge, and an automated eyeliner-style LED light. The back has the same mean-looking aesthetic. There’s a hands-free power liftgate and 250 liters of boot space. With the third row folded the storage space expands to over 876 liters.  Its 20-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in 50 series tires. Again, it’s a tall car sitting above 225 millimeters of ground clearance. Entry and start are keyless.

The cabin is roomy and everything is logically laid out, made to look and feel extra roomy by a blue interior accent trim. The finish feels premium as well. There’s an eight-inch infotainment system that’s backed by Sync 3 with Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The screen doubles as the reverse camera. The instrument cluster is a combination of digital and analog.

The leather accented seats are incredibly comfortable, especially the six-way power driver’s seat. Mechanically, the 2021 Ford Everest Sport 4x2 AT is the same as 2.0 Titanium 4X2 AT save for the looks and some additional features found in the latter.

Stepping on the gas, it feels like most modern automated cars. There’s a brief lag before acceleration. Despite its size, the car handles surprisingly well. It feels light and responds exactly as you’d expect it to with every input. It had that dynamic flattery that makes one feel like a more skilled driver. I enjoyed driving it to work, even through Manila’s heavy traffic.

Prior to the outing, I had my editor AA have a go at the car. He was hard to please, having test driven so many top-of-the-line cars as an industry veteran. The best I could get from him was that the Ford was a pleasure to drive beyond the speed of 120 kilometers.

On the way to Tagaytay, we opted to take turns on the wheel. First up was the six-foot-plus Angelo. As far as I could tell, he was snug on the driver’s seat even with his long legs. His personal car is an SUV, so his driving was smooth and effortless. Our first destination was Gourmet Farms, Inc. in Silang, Cavite. We got to the farm faster than anticipated even after circling the highway. We got lost even while we were still in Manila, but the experience was fun, especially with good company in an outstanding car.

It was 11 a.m. when we arrived at the 12-hectare estate. The sun was high, the air scorching. But our hankering for learning got the best of us and we proceeded with the walking tour. Our starting point was the Gourmet café, which is the mini grocery that offers pasalubong and the farm’s other products. The farm in the early ’80s was initially a coffee trading company with the vision of promoting Filipino coffee in the world market.

We walked for almost an hour, foraging and trying out the various herbs and vegetables being grown on the farmland. It ultimately gave us a perspective of the hard work it takes to grow quality produce. We also passed by St. Joseph’s Sanctuary with a conference area, outdoor pavilion, guest house, and chapel.

Despite its size, the car handles surprisingly well. It feels light and responds exactly as you’d expect it to with every input. It has that dynamic flattery that makes one feel like a more skilled driver.

Capping off the farm tour, we ate at the outdoor restaurant at Gourmet Farms and, as one would expect, the salads were fresh and delicious. Exhausted from the heat we took refuge in the car’s strong air-conditioning. We later retired to Don’s Tagaytay cabin, a relaxing and peaceful escape where time seemingly stood still.

The following day, Don was the designated driver. We explored the holiday town and its signature dish bulalo. We went to a fast food place called Jaytee’s Filipino Cuisine then to LZM, a roadside restaurant. Both served bulalo to our satisfaction but considering the price and in terms of broth, LZM is more highly recommended. The final stop before coming back to Manila was Reef Acienda Designer Outlet. Chef Tibong asked us to stop by to buy a couple of things. It drizzled a little on our way back, so the rain-sensing wipers activated swiped the moisture off the windscreen.

In Manila, it was my turn to drive. The longer the car was with me, the more my interest grew with its 10-speed automatic transmission, 180 horsepower engine, and 420 newton-meter torque. I never really got to turn on its adaptive cruise control, which would automatically slow down the car in heavy traffic. It senses the distance of the auto from other cars and objects in front and adjusts the speed accordingly.

As an SUV, the gas consumption is decent at 15.5 kilometers per liter on the highway and nine kilometers per liter in the city. Full tank capacity is 80 liters. Throughout the week, I didn’t get to gas up even after all my travels.

Some of the Everest Sport’s other features include electronic stability control, traction control, anti-lock braking system (ABS), rollover mitigation and brake assist, front and reverse parking sensors, hill launch assist, volumetric burglar alarm, and the list goes on.

Overall, it was a memorable weekend spent with some of the best people using a top-notch car. The automobile is a fit for both the bachelor and the family man with its commanding look, spacious interiors, and various practical features.