Chevrolet has just launched the TrailBlazer SUV in India. The vehicle competes with the likes of the Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and the upcoming Ford Endeavour.
Exteriors – On the exterior front, all four SUVs are quite brawny. The Fortuner has been around for a long time and most of its success can be attributed to the fact that it screams of immense road presence. The vehicle looks imposing, a trait which the Pajero Sport misses out on despite being equally big. The TraiBlazer also is a decent looker but there is nothing exciting about the design. The 2016 Ford Endeavour is something that looks like a true-blue SUV. The vehicle has perfect proportions all around and it is also much bigger than the Fortuner. When it comes to looks, the Endeavour would be our pick, closely followed by the Fortuner.
Interiors – The Fortuner has basic and yet functional interiors and the same thing goes for the Pajero Sport too. Both of them offer brilliant practicality. The Pajero, however, has quite a few more features than the Fortuner. The interiors of the Chevy are also quite decent with a couple of funky bits but the overall layout seems a bit bland and boring. The 2016 Endeavour sees a massive upgrade in its interiors as compared to the outgoing model. The new insides are reeking of premium quality materials and the vehicle also comes loaded with a lot of features.
Engine & Mileage – The Fortuner and Endeavour are offered with a choice of two diesel engines while the TrailBlazer and Pajero Sport get only one powerplant. The 2.5-litre engine on the Fortuner produces the least power and torque while the 2.8-litre oil-burner on the Chevy is the most powerful and also produces the highest amount of peak torque. The larger 3.2-litre unit on the Endeavour has the same power as the TrailBlazer but slightly lesser torque. The TrailBlazer and Endeavour are offered with a 6-speed automatic transmission while the Mitsubishi and Toyota SUVs get a 5-speed unit. The Fortuner and Pajero Sport also get a 5-speed manual gearbox while the Ford gets a 6-speed manual transmission.
Pricing & Verdict – The current generation Toyota Fortuner is quite expensive for what it offers. It lacks a lot of features and technology but continues to remain the best-selling SUV in its segment due to Toyota’s supreme reliability. The new Fortuner will come only in 2017 and it might be another success story, but looking at the present scenario, the battle is purely between the TrailBlazer and Endeavour. The Pajero Sport is a dead product with almost low after-sales support from its manufacturer. Chevrolet is also lacking in the service area and its long-term reliability isn’t also the best. Ford needs to be careful with the pricing of its product and since it ticks all the right boxes when it comes to looks, features, performance, etc., our pick would be the Endeavour.
