Car tested: 2011 Ford Endeavour 3.0L 4 x 2 AT
Price OTR Mumbai: 20,89,478/-
Size matters. Yes, this question is doing rounds since almost forever and if its the Ford Endeavour we are talking about, then it surely holds true as this mighty SUV makes its presence felt on the road owing to its huge size. The Ford Endeavour was launched in India in 2004 and since then its has undergone the surgeons knife a couple of times to ensure it stays refreshed in accordance to the times. The Ford Endeavour, as it is called in India, is actually the Ford Everest and is based on the Ford Ranger and is the only SUV from Ford in India. We take the new Endeavour 4 x 2 AT for a spin and check if its as mighty as it looks.
The Endeavour looks menacing and has its name inscribed on the chrome strip at the front of the bonnet. Glass area is large and this gives a spacious feel to this SUV. The Automatic version of the Ford Endeavour comes with body graphics on the front doors which read ‘5 Speed Automatic’. Side step and roof rails add to character and appeal. Puddle lamps are placed just below the ORVM’s which also house the side indicators.
The rear stays almost the same as the initial model, simple and subtle. Spare tyre cover hogs up most of the rear area.
The Ford Endeavour hosts clean and simple black/beige interiors with leather seats and upholstery. Lots of storage space with abundant cup holders for all the passengers. The Endeavour does not come with automatic climate control, which is rather strange for a car of this price. However the AC is powerful and cools the entire cabin swiftly. Vents are provided in all the rows and the rear AC can be switched on by flicking a button next to the steering wheel.
6 CD/Mp3 player with 6 speakers gives more than average sound quality with Aux support. The middle row gets a roof mounted DVD player.
Legroom and headroom is superb with the first two row and thigh support is decent, the last row is mildly cramped and due to the raised floor, thigh support is poor here.
Last row is ideal for small kids or can be folded to make extra room for the boot.
Powered by a 3-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged, DOHC TDCI engine, the Endeavour gives out 153 BHP of power at 3200 rpm and a breathtaking torque of 380 NM at as low as 2500 rpm. Despite the weight the Endeavour feels powerful and seldom struggles.
Mated to this engine is a 5-speed automatic gearbox with evenly distributed ratios for a decent city and highway experience. The engine is a bit noisy and you can almost feel the urgency. Even at three digit speeds, lift of the the gas and the Ford Endeavour does not like to slow down at all. With lack of engine braking, the brakes take a beating and coupled with ABS, do a decent job of getting this beast to stationary.
Even though the Endeavour is a 4 x 2 transmission, its does fairly well in off road conditions. Hill Descent control missing from the equipment list. For a 3 ltr engine, the Endeavour retured impressive figures of 9.4 kmpl (average city + highway). With abundant torque, it crossed the 0 – 100 line in 12.45 seconds.
Riding on MRF 245/70/16 tyres, the Endeavour does fairly well in most terrains. Ride is average and a bit appalling at the rear courtesy of the leafspring suspension setup. For a car of this size, handing is fair and the steering gives good feedback at high speeds and is fairly light too. Bodyroll exists but in negligible quantity. Braking is a tad bit jittery and due to the lack of engine braking, the brakes take the toll and tend to vibrate on hard braking.
On our off road excursion, one of the snakes came out to see the action. He seemed to approve the Endeavour’s capabilities.
Ford has made the Endeavour a more comfortable car to drive in the city by equipping it with automatic transmission. With traffic increasing by the day, Automatic transmission proves to be a big boon in the metro cities. The Endeavour is spacious (front and middle rows) and has a brilliant performance with solid road presence. What it essentially lacks is a bunch of goodies you’d expect from a car in this price band like automatic climate control, audio controls on steering etc. The 4 x 2 version is specifically made for the concrete jungle but does not do too bad in the real one too.
Whats Cool
* Torque
* Front Space
* Automatic Transmission
* Looks
Whats Not So Cool
* Value for money
* Cramped last row
* Noisy Engine
* Truck like suspension
Ford Endeavour Specifications : –
* Engine: 2953 cc, 16V, TDCI, DOHC, VGT
* Power: 156PS @ 3200rpm
* Torque: 380Nm @ 2500rpm
* Transmission: 5 speed automatic
* Top Speed: 165 kmph
* 0-100kmph: 12.65 seconds
* Fuel Consumption: 9.5 kmpl (City), 11 kmpl (highway)
* Fuel Type: Diesel
* Suspension: Independent double wishbone with torsion bar spring & stabilizer bar (Front), Progressive linear rate leaf springs with low friction pads (Rear)
* Tires: 245/70/16 Tubeless Radials
* Brakes: Ventilated Disc (Front), Drums ( Rear), ABS, EBD
* Safety: ABS, EBD, Dual SRS Front Airbags
Ford Endeavour Dimensions : –
* Overall length x width x height: 5060 mm X 1788 mm X 1826mm
* Wheelbase: 2860 mm
* Front/Rear Track: 1475/1470 mm
* Ground clearance: 210 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 71 litres
* Kerb Weight: 1930 kgs