A GOOD ENDEAVOUR

This Ford vehicle enjoys the edge in the SUV war. Good mileage and performance make it the best diesel option

It8217;s the season of the SUVs and we have already seen four 8220;new8221; vehicles launched this year. With General Motors8217; Captiva and Hyundai8217;s Santa Fe waiting in the wings, the battle is going to get even more intense. GM8217;s arch rival, Ford, seems to have sensed this and the result is the 8220;new Endeavour8221;.

Exterior
An SUV is as much about rock solid performance as looks and almost all on offer in India not counting the Scorpio and Safari are a testimony to that. But Endeavour, with its true blue masculine looks, has always stood out and continues to do so. Compared to the CRV, Vitara, Tucson, even Pajero, Endeavour is an intimidating giant of a car. There are no major changes in the new version though the front grill has been expanded to give it a more rugged look. Ground clearance has gone up a few notches as broader tyres have been introduced for a better drive on rough roads. So the wheel arches are more enhanced now. The square shoulder look is old fashioned, but given that none of the other cars sport such a look, it makes the Endeavour distinct.

Interiors
Interiors have never been Endeavour8217;s strength and though Ford has tried to work on them after receiving much criticism, the attempt has only generated partial success. The dual tone leather interiors are not bad when seen in isolation, but fail to stand up against the CRV. On the flip side, due to its huge dimensions, it is a spacious vehicle even for second and third row occupants, and separate AC controls for rear seat passenger and independent ducts for each row enhance the comfort level enormously.
However, for a car that costs over Rs 15 lakh on the road, it is surprisingly low on frills. The quality of plastic used has been improved, but is still not top class. Parking sensors have been done away with for no apparent reason and it8217;s a big disappointment. As a result, the car is a nightmare in busy city traffic.

Powertrain
Most of the changes in the new Endeavour are in the engine. The 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine belts out a maximum power of 143 bhp, which is a substantial improvement over the earlier version, which was largely dubbed as underpowered. After driving the older version, one is tempted to ask if it8217;s the same car; we touched a top speed of 165 kmph effortlessly on more than one occasion.
The SUV8217;s most distinguishing feature is its segment-topping torque. At 330 Nm1,800 rpm, one would never fall short of revs even if one were to take a ride to the Everest with all the luggage stacked in. Low NVH noise, volume, harshness levels also left us pleasantly surprised and the car is stable even at most abrupt bends. The steering is light and the ABS is very effective. Though the ride quality is still not as refined as that of the petrol CRV, what the car can do on the highway is impressive.

ff-road antics
Endeavour comes with manual options for four-wheel and two-wheel drive, which can be selected with a small lever placed along the gear lever. High ground clearance and wider tyres along with potent 4X4 configurations ensure that the car remains one of the best off-roader in its class. Though Honda has come up a few notches with its automatic drive controls, the Endeavour8217;s suspension and chasis are better suited to tackle the forests and hills.

Fuel economy
Endeavour8217;s best feature is surprisingly its low appetite for diesel. For the first time in the country, there8217;s an SUV which gives double digit distance figures8212;12-12.5 with AC8212;for every litre of fuel consumed on the highway. Even while off-roading or in the city and with the AC turned on, the car gives 8-9 km/litre. These figures are not only the best in its class, but also phenomenal for a vehicle of this size. What this means is that with its 70-litre tank, the car has a coverage of over 700 km, almost a 100 km more than the industry average.

Last word: value for money
The new Endeavour is more manly than the earlier version and will continue to appeal to its older clients. The interiors are a tad disappointing but the space is efficiently utilised and overall ergonomics are good. Its performance and mileage are its high points and though it costs Rs 1 lakh more than the Grand Vitara, it8217;s clearly the only diesel SUV to go for. If only Ford would add a few more frills, it would be a near perfect package.