Ford Endeavour Long Term Review
Long Term Test No. 143
Car Tested: Ford Endeavour 2.2 AT
Kms Done: 2108 kms
Test Started at: 29,997 kms
Test Concluded at: 32,105 kms
Mileage: 8.4 km/l, 11.8 km/l (best), 5.2 km/l (worst)
Fuel Consumed: 250.90-litres
Fuel Cost: Rs. 18,571/-
Rs. per km: Rs. 8.81/-
The Ford Endeavour is huge in size but also easy to drive and has a go-anywhere ability
I love SUVs and my story with the Endeavour dates back nearly 10 years ago when I tested the previous generation of this mighty Ford. I did love it that time due to its capability but it did fall short on comfort. However, with the current generation Endeavour, Ford has given its flagship SUV in India a giant leap in each and every department. It is not only more capable but also offers oodles of comfort. My real love for this SUV blossomed when we drove it in very treacherous terrain at Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. Now, the Endeavour has been a part of the MotorBeam garage and it’s time to find out how it fared as a daily drive.
The Endeavour is large and heavy but the steering is surprisingly light in the city
The thing which strikes you first is the size. This big and brawny SUV is sized to perfection. It is longer than its closest competitor and looks the part too. I won’t lie, it did cross my mind if it is just too big for the city? In a city like Mumbai, where parking is scarce and small cars is what most prefer, I wasn’t quite sure if the Endeavour would cut it. It was actually a mixed bag. It was a struggle to park this monster in most places in South Bombay but am I complaining? No, not at all. Where there is a will, there is a way and you can always find a place for it after a bit of looking around.
The well-appointed cabin is built to last and practical too
You have to love the commanding driving position, in fact you can practically see over the top of other hatchbacks and sedans. Even usual irritants such as rickshaw drivers keep away in their best interest. Build quality speaks for itself and even after using the car through really rough roads (it was monsoon in Mumbai and we literally search for roads), there was no squeak or rattle from any part of the car. The interiors have a premium feel to it and it’s not only show. Long drives, especially in traffic proved to be very comfortable for the driver and passengers alike.
The middle row has good space but the third row feels cramped
The middle row of seats has ample legroom and headroom and even though the Endeavour is a 7-seater, the third row is best suited for kids. Mind you, there is no way to mount a child seat here, so you have to get small children seated in the middle row. If an adult has to sit in the last row, it is rather cramped. The electric seat folding option is pretty snazzy. The front seats are the best place to be in the cabin. It is best to use it mostly as a 5-seater with occasional 7-seater capability. Boot space is simply phenomenal and you can literally take your home with you. NVH levels deserve a special mention here. Active Noise Cancellation technology used here really ensures high levels of cabin quietness.
The high ground clearance and large tyres are very useful
The 2.2-litre TDCI mill has enough grunt for day-to-day driving
Our 2.2 Endeavour is basically cut out for urban use. If you are into regular off-tarmac driving, the 3.2-litre is the one you need as it comes with a full time 4WD. We were however very content with what we had as our daily run was in the city. The high ground clearance and the perfect approach and departure angles meant that even with the 4×2, we could easily wade through standing water and the deepest potholes. Monsoon means mayhem for the city of Mumbai and even on the days when it was flooded and the city was on standstill, the Endeavour made through it quite easily.
The gearbox is a bit slow but smooth in its operations
The 6-speed automatic transmission on the Endeavour is quite an evolution from the 5-speed which the previous generation model got. Both the 2.2 and 3.2 variants get the same gearbox which even has the same gear ratios. There is plenty of grunt from the 2.2-litre diesel motor but we did find the gearbox to be a bit sluggish, especially on downshifts and when you have to accelerate with urgency. The Endeavour clocked an under 13 second time to 100 km/hr, which is pretty positive from something which weighs north of 2200 kgs.
Expecting high fuel efficiency from heavy SUVs is sacrilege
But then being overweight has its own issues. This 2.2-litre returned an average fuel economy of around 8.5 km/l which is something you would expect for an SUV of this size and weight. On good days the figure was in double digits but sometimes when heavy traffic dominates your drive, it would dip below 6 km/l. The 3.2-litre would be returning even less.
4WD is offered only with the 3.2-litre engine
Driving dynamics are quite sorted by ladder-frame standards. Yes, there is a good amount of body-roll and considering its weight, it is well controlled. You obviously can’t drive it like you would in a monocoque. The suspension is well set up but gets a tad bouncy on bad roads and there is some sort of a thud when you go into a pothole, but it improves as the speeds pick up. Compared to its Japanese competitor, the Endeavour does have an edge when it comes to driving dynamics. Stopping power is impressive too.
Unlike before, maintenance of Ford cars is light on the pocket now
Ford has been working on reducing their service costs significantly in recent times
Cost of ownership for the Endeavour is very competitive. You would pay much less over 1,00,000 km than you would for the Toyota Fortuner. Thanks to Ford’s Child Part strategy, even accidental repairs won’t dent your pockets. Build quality is impressive, the doors shut with that reassuring thud. However, sometimes the elders in the family found them too heavy to open.
As a package, the Endeavour is hard to beat
So how did the Endeavour fare in this test? Well, we loved most of the things about it. This SUV brings a lot of practicality on the table. We loved the spaciousness of the cabin, the comfort it offers and if you like to travel out of town over weekends, there is no other SUV (in this segment) which will take you in as much comfort as the Endeavour. The 2.2-litre oil-burner performs well and honestly we didn’t once feel the need for more power. We were disappointed with the fuel economy though, the 2.2 motor should have been delivering at least 10 km/l if not more. The Endeavour however is a complete package and if you are looking for a true blue SUV, there is currently nothing better than this big mighty Ford.
With the third row folded, cargo capacity is enormous
What’s Cool
* Styling and road presence is superb
* Interiors are well-built and have many features
* The seats are nicely shaped and offer good comfort
* 2.2-litre engine is good enough for city and highway driving
What’s Not So Cool
* Third row space is limited
* Rides gets bouncy on bad roads
* No 4WD offered with the 2.2 engine
The driving position is excellent with superb visibility
Testers’ Note:
Further Reading –
Ford Endeavour Pros & Cons
Ford Endeavour 3.2 Review
Ford Endeavour 2.2 Review