The all-new Ford Ranger PHEV debuted back in September 2023 as the very first electrified version of the mid-size pickup, one that will be sold in a variety of global markets. The Ranger PHEV pairs the 2.3L I-4 EcoBoost gas engine with a 75kW electric motor and 11.8kWh battery pack to produce 279 PS (275 horsepower) and 690 Nm of torque (509 pound-feet), offering a targeted 45 kilometers (28 miles) of all-electric driving range and 3,500 kilograms (7,716 pounds) of max towing capacity, though it will be a bit pricey in Australia, at least. However, while one might assume that a Ford Everest PHEV would be the natural followup to the pickup that it’s based on, such a thing apparently isn’t in the cards.
According to Australia’s Carsales, The Blue Oval won’t be creating a Ford Everest PHEV for a pretty simple reason – adding a battery and electric motor to the SUV would apparently compromise interior space, which is a problem facing the Toyota Prado in that market. Installing a battery pack in the Everest would result in a loss of both passenger and cargo space, it seems, which isn’t a problem with the Ranger, apparently, as it’s both higher and longer than other Ranger variants.
“We will not compromise on the key things our customers are seeking,” said Ford Australia marketing director Ambrose Henderson. “Others have made decisions and based on what customers are saying and what is being reported in the media and social media, those decisions have compromised the key capability of those cars and [are] moving away from what people are buying that car for. That large SUV segment is about space, it’s about drive, it’s about towing and carrying, so that’s absolutely key for us and we won’t compromise on that. Other people have and you can see the results of it.”
With the entire Ford Blue lineup slated to get a hybrid powertrain option of some sort by 2030, it stands to reason that an electrified Everest will happen eventually, though it’s unclear what that might look like. Ford could choose to install a standard hybrid in its SUV, or perhaps even create an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) version of the Everest, as two potential examples.
Comments
Ridiculous… NASCAR has always been known for being a highly competitive category… this payback didn’t seem out of the ordinary to me… if a driver doesn’t want to receive it, he shouldn’t cause one… now they punish the payback but not the cause of it? It’s starting to look like F1, because they don’t know why they’re losing the public’s interest!
Look at the size of the model, how does it end up eating up interior space? If that were the case, electric compacts wouldn’t exist since the battery in the EV is much larger than in the Phev.
Its really a true shame that Ford is not bringing the Everest to America. Its so much better looking than the Expedition. Much sportier.