Big, bulbous and brawny are words that first come to mind while describing the new 2016 Ford Endeavour. After nearly 13 years of waiting, Ford has come up with an all new Endeavour and priced it in between Rs. 25.53 lakhs and Rs. 29.89 lakhs ex-showroom, Goa. It is available with two diesel engine options, but how good is Ford’s new flagship SUV?
The new Ford Endeavour looks a lot more civilised than its predecessor but uses a lot of chrome just like the previous generation car did in places like the front grille, door handles, ORVMs and the tailgate. The headlights consist of projector units with HID throw and LED DRLs. The 18-inch alloy wheels are pretty big and wear 265-section tyres but leave a huge gap between themselves and the wheel arches. The rear again has rounded horizontal taillights with LEDs instead of the vertical units on the previous generation and the spare wheel is now hidden away below the powered tailgate instead of being mounted on it.
You climb into the cabin and the first thing you notice is the dashboard with double stitched leather upholstery and the two large information displays on either sides of the analog speedometer. The seats are large and comfy and the chunky steering wheel feels plush at the same time is high on quality. There is also a huge touchscreen display that controls your music, phone and iPod via Bluetooth, AUX, 2 USB slots and a SD card slot. Sadly satellite navigation is not a part of the package and is offered as an optional extra. There is also a dual zone climate control system with individual settings for the second and third row.
Jump into the second row and the entire experience here is dominated by the large panoramic sunroof. There is good under thigh support and the cabin wide enough to seat three comfortably. The third row though feels cramped due to limited kneeroom and a small rear quarter glass area. When not in use, the third row of seats can be pushed down via a couple of buttons located in the boot to make space for a huge cargo area.
As mentioned this gigantic SUV is powered by two engines “ a 2.2-litre 4-cylinder diesel that develops 160 PS and a 3.2-litre 5-cylinder diesel that develops 200 PS of max power. The smaller engine can be had with a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic with the option of a 4-wheel drive system, while the bigger engine that was tested is available only with the 6-speed automatic and 4-wheel drive as standard.
The 3.2-litre engine has five cylinders, which is a bit odd, right? It does well though and feels strong as soon as you put your foot on the accelerator. Power delivery is linear and you are tugged to triple digit speeds in a jiffy. The 6-speed auto box shifts gears smoothly but feels a bit jerky at slow speeds. The Sport mode lets you shift gears manually via the gear lever, but it would have been even more fun if there were paddle shifters.
The Ford Endeavour is also equipped with a high tech Terrain Management System which is Ford’s own version of the Terrain Response System found in Land Rovers. This off-road system has four modes “ Normal, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Sand and Rock. These modes alter gear ratios, throttle responses, etc at the flick of the dial which is placed next to the gearlever and help during extreme off-roading.
The suspension package of the Ford Endeavour is close to flawless. This car feels stable at any speed and it is hard to believe that it is built on a ladder frame chassis. Give it a corner and the Endeavour will carve it up for you with utmost poise. Most of the credit though should be given to the brilliant steering system. It feels light and easy to use at low speeds and weighs up beautifully at high speeds. The steering is the sole reason why this large SUV doesn’t feel as large to drive. The only weak link are the brakes which feel progressive but aren’t as responsive which is always a confidence booster when going fast.
The Ford Endeavour gets all the safety bells and whistles like dual front airbags, side and curtain airbags, driver knee airbag, ABS with EBD, ESP, TCS, hill launch assist and hill descent control.
The new Ford Endeavour at nearly Rs. 30 lakh isn’t exactly value for money but is a brilliant package that comes at a slight premium and that premium is well justified by luxury features like the huge sunroof and the top notch interior quality. The Ford Endeavour could be your best bet if you are looking for the attributes of a true masculine SUV and a luxury sedan combined together.
