')">Ford India, in a bid to give a fillip to their fortunes and in the wake of the launch of a new competition, read the Toyota Fortuner, have spruced up their big SUV, Ford Endeavour.It is called the Ford Endeavour 3.0L A/T with 4WD. It was already given a face-lift and now with the 3.0 liter engine was a hoot to drive and do some off-roading on. Ford India are now offering the Ford Endeavour with a 4WD auto. Yes, you read it right. For the first time, a 4*4 is been offered with an automatic option. And an automatic option only. The Ford Endeavour has been highly revered in the Indian markets for its affordability and also tough butch looks and feel.
This is the first time in the Indian and probably foreign markets that the 4*4 is on the anvil with a 5 speed automatic version. Now, Ford Endeavour fans would cry foul over this combination but in a hindsight, it is a good option. When you go dune bashing or crossing a river, you wouldn’t have to think of selecting which gear. The electronics would sort this out for you and leave you with the sole thought of crossing the river in one piece. We give you the complete review of this SUV.
Looks
The Ford Endeavour 3.0L A/T with 4WD comes with a face-lift and has now got a far more mature and soft look than the old one. It now has got curves in place of the earlier boxy look. The head lamps are now more of the clear lens type and ride height of the car has now been jacked to give it a more purposeful look. The grille is one which tapers to the bottom and has a large prominent ridge starting from the windscreen and culminating on the bonnet. The grille of the car is now finished in all chrome and the lower bumper is designed in the shape of a bull bar. However it is body colored as well. The grill is characterized by 3 horizontal grille slats and the Blue Oval sits on the second slat. The air dam is also a small thing and flanking it are the small circularish fog lamps.
The outside rear view mirrors are still huge but have a more curvy design theme now. They are bathed completely in chrome and house the side indicators as well. The side profile also gets some subtle graphics and body colored running boards for support.
The wheels are the same 16 inch multi spoke alloys. Even though they don’t fill the wheel arches, nowhere does the Ford Endeavour 3.0L A/T with 4WD look undertired. The rear as usual had the spare tyre and a wheel cover. It also has a huge mirror to let you know while reversing, if there is any obstacle. The tail lamps are vertically stacked and also feature clear lens.
Interiors
This is where the majority of the change has taken place other than the power train. You get fake wood inserts in the dash and some parts of the door. This may look garish on some cars, but, on the Ford Endeavour 3.0L A/T with 4WD, it looks good and gives it a premium feel. New on the list is the roof mounted LCD Screen, satellite navigation system, three rows air conditioning and also sporty aluminium drilled pedals. The interiors have buckets of space however the driver and the co-passenger are the most pampered lot. A climate control wouldn’t have harmed the Ford Endeavour 3.0L A/T with 4WD however Ford India have skipped this option.
Handling and ride quality
The ride quality is good except for the third row of passengers. They will feel cramped and the Progessive linear rate leaf springs with low friction pads at the rear do little to show them the SUV’s truck roots. Nevertheless, the Ford Endeavour 3.0L A/T with 4WD handles with aplomb and as expected from all Ford vehicles. It shrinks around the driver and in city driving, makes it feel small as compared to its XXL proportions. There is enough leg room for the driver and co-driver however for the second row, under thigh support is a bit less as you sit high up in the cabin. The third row is best suited for those south of 5ft 6 inches. The Tubular double acting type gas filled shock absorbers rarely transmit anything from the road surface into the cabin.
It can swallow quite a bit of luggage even with the third row upright. With the third row folding away neatly, you get a cavernous trunk.
Engine,Performance and fuel efficiency
The Ford Endeavour 3.0L A/T with 4WD’s biggest change is in its heart. The 3.0 liter engine pumps out 156 PS of raw power and an earth biting torque of 380 Nm. The diesel engine is fitted with Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT) that helps in the low as well as high end lugging capacity. Supporting the DOHC 16 valves engine is high performance Piezo electric injectors and Direct injection common rail technology. The transmission is also a 5 speed automatic and does the job well. However it isn’t as slick shifting as some of the Japanese units around.
The power delivery to the front wheels was put down in a more linear and progressive way. The torque is evenly spread throughout the rev range. The Ford Endeavour 3.0L A/T with 4WD covers the 0-100 kmph distance in 18.4 seconds. The top end is maniac for the Endeavour and it amasses a top speed of 174 kmph. All this enthusiasm from the engine and also the 4WD robs the Ford Endeavour 3.0L A/T of its fuel efficiency. It gave 7.6 kmpl in the city, on the highway 13.1 kmpl and that gives an overall efficiency of 10.35 kmpl.
Braking is handled by Ventilated Discs at the front and self adjusting drums at the rear complemented by ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System) with EBD. There are four airbags, seat belts with pre-tensioner and anti-whiplash properties. The Ford Endeavour has got a rigid body structure built around Ford’s high standard safety norms.
Verdict
The only problem in the Ford Endeavour 3.0L A/T with 4WD is that Ford doesn’t offer this trim with a manual tranny.This also gives it an advantage over the Toyota Fortuner which is offered only in manual guise. The Ford isn’t that fuel efficient but it sports a diesel engine and diesel owners care a nary about fuel efficiency. The Ford Endeavour 3.0L A/T with 4WD is offered at a price of Rs. 19,75700 ex-showroom Delhi.
Technical specifications of the Ford Endeavour 3.0L A/T with 4WD
ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS-
Displacement: 2953cc, TDCi with VGT, DOHC and with 16 valves
Engine Type: Diesel
Maximum Power: 154 Bhp @ 3200 rpm
Maximum Torque: 380 Nm @ 2500 rpm
DIMENSIONS
Length: 5061 mm
Width: 1769 mm
Height: 1836 mm
OTHER SPECIFICATIONS
Seating Capacity: 7
Tyre Size: 245/70 R16
Suspension: Independent double wishbone, Leaf springs
Steering: Tilt and collapsible, power assisted
Brakes: Front Disk, Rear Drum
Gears: 5 speed Automatic
Ground Clearance: 211.00 mm
Kerb Weight: 2030.00 kgs.
Fuel Tank: 70.00
