• Investment World
• eWorld
• Catalyst
• Mentor
• Life
• Canvas
• Praxis
• Urban Pulse
• Brand Quest

S. Muralidhar

THE only thing "un-American" about the new Ford Endeavour is its spelling. This massive, new sports utility vehicle is about as American as baseball, hot dogs and XXXL fountain Coke.

In the rarefied world of American sports utility vehicles (SUV), where they compete with trucks when it comes to size, the Ford Explorer was a huge success (despite the Firestone episode). In the US, SUV buyers like them big and powerful. They have been unfazed, at least till now, by the fact that these SUVs are gas-guzzlers. Ford has also a history of using the same platform that it built its pick-up trucks on to also build some of its best selling SUVs. The new Ford Endeavour is a beast from the same genus.

Full-bodied and with a commanding street presence, some of the features in the Endeavour give away its pedigree. This new SUV, the first from Ford India, shares its platform with the Ford Ranger, which along with the Ford F-150, is one of the best selling pick-up trucks in the US and some Asian markets.

As big as they get

sThe Endeavour's size dwarfs most other road dwellers. At just an inch or so shy of five metres in length, it is by far the longest SUV on Indian roads. The Endeavour does not have any "crossover qualms" when it comes to dimensions. What you get is an SUV that is no compromise on size, outside or inside. With a kerb weight of nearly two tonnes, a tall driving position and the massive, flat out bonnet, the Endeavour gives you a dominating road presence. The large, clear-lens, multi-reflector headlamps, front grille with chrome garnish and the 15-inch alloys also lend this vehicle rugged, but refined looks.

On the road, the Endeavour cannot be missed, but that clearly is more due to its size. However, it does not score many points in the styling department. The design borders on the conservative, and reminds you of the unexciting styling that the Toyota Qualis came up with when it was first launched in India.

But in the segment the Endeavour is trying to muscle in, the Hyundai Terracan, the Honda CR-V and, to some extent, even the Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7, score better marks in styling. The Endeavour's rear is better. The high-mounted taillamps, the spoiler with an additional brake light, the well-positioned spare tyre and designer spare wheel cover give it more class.

Engine and interiors

The Endeavour is powered by a 2.5-litre, intercooled, turbocharged, diesel engine. This straight-forward, indirect injection engine is surely not a technology showcase, unlike the 2.9-litre, common rail direct injection type diesel burner in the Hyundai Terracan. But while the Endeavour's engine is not lacking in refinement, what it is missing is the ability to offer quick acceleration and reserves of power in the key first two gears. The four cylinder, in-line, single overhead camshaft (SOHC) Endeavour engine generates 110PS at 3,500 rpm with the help of the turbocharger and also offers a massive 27.9 kgm of torque at 2,000rpm. For a vehicle this big and heavy, the engine is already powered a shade lower than some of its SUV peers such as the Terracan, Grand Vitara XL-7 and the Honda CR-V. But that is not the reason why the Endeavour is slow to pick up speed in the first three gears.

Hit the highways and overtaking, especially if you are doing slow speeds, is quite a "wheeze" for the Endeavour. The overtaking manoeuvre has to be planned well and a "tight one" can be quite an ask from the engine. Simply put, acceleration is quite laborious in the second and third gears. The problem that seems to make it sluggish in the first three gears is the turbolag. The increased power support from the turbo kicks in only after about 2,500 rpm. This shows once the Endeavour is slipped into the fourth and fifth gears. The surge of power is evident at higher rpms right from the third gear.

So, if you are looking at nerve tingling power surges right from the word go, the Endeavour will disappoint you. But if you are not too demanding, in terms of power, and are looking for a large, relatively fuel efficient SUV that is comfortable in city driving conditions, the Endeavour could be an interesting option.

Fit and finish

This Ford SUV's build quality is excellent. The exterior's finish and trim quality that the vehicle is being offered with is class leading. But for an SUV in the Rs 14-lakh (on road) range, the interior is spartan. The dual tone plastic dashboard finish reminds you of the Ford Ikon. Though the knobs and switches feel rugged and fail-proof, many are small and, surprisingly, not backlit.

The ride in the Endeavour is fairly quiet despite the diesel powertrain. Thanks to the Endeavour's size and ample panel width much of the engine noise gets muffled. Noise levels are almost on a par with some petrol SUVs, especially while cruising on overdrive. The air-conditioning is very effective and the roof-mounted rear vents keep passengers in the second and third rows also fairly comfortable.

The variable power steering provides easy handling at low speeds, and firmer steering at higher speeds. In fact, for a vehicle its size, the Endeavour's handling is nimble and surprisingly easy. But do not attempt tight U-turns, the Endeavour's turning radius is a leisurely 6.9 metres.

Ride quality in the first two rows of seats is excellent. The front suspension is independent, double wishbone type with torsion bar spring and stabiliser bar. But the rear suspension is rigid, leaf spring type with tubular double acting shock absorbers. The SUV's stiff ladder chassis construction, responsive steering and tuned suspension make it a sprightly performer. In the worst off-roading conditions, the driver still feels fully under control. But some of the same features, such as the stiff chassis, the leaf spring suspension and the large, over four feet of overhang at the rear make the ride extremely bumpy in the third row. But that is pretty much the case, with the third row in the Terracan and the Grand Vitara.

Safety features in the Endeavour include driver and driver side, low pressure, European standard airbags, individual seat belts for all seven passengers, a four-wheel anti-lock braking system, under-body, fuel tank protection, anti-theft system and engine immobiliser and side impact protection. Neat little touches include the infrared parking sensor that warns the driver of obstructions while reversing, the loads of storage space and cup holders for all passengers.

While safety has been emphasised by Ford, the four-wheel drive variant of the Endeavour, which is about a lakh more expensive than the 2WD at Rs 13.98 lakh (ex-showroom), offers very effective off-roading capabilities. The Endeavour XLT 4X4 uses limited slip differentials in the front and rear. So, if there is a loss of traction in any one of the wheels, the differential allows torque to be transferred to the opposite wheel with traction. Despite its bulk, the SUV will, as result, never get stuck in the slush. The Endeavour 4X4 is set by default to four-wheel drive.

Clearly Ford decided to bring the Endeavour to India not to target the Pininfarina fans among us, but to appeal to the people who love the outdoors, expect rugged, but premium sedan-style comfort and build quality.

Ford has shrewdly chosen to bring the Endeavour from out of its team of SUVs that are being sold in other Asian countries and has positioned it in the (currently) no-man's land between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 15 lakh. With that positioning, Ford is expecting to wean away potential customers from the pricier SUVs and also be attractive for customers who are looking at lower-price sedans. What the Endeavour offers is rugged build and practical luxury.

Going back to that point about the Endeavour's name, this SUV is known as the Ford Everest in other markets. But Ford felt that Everest was too common a name to be used in the Indian market and so, the change. The new name, which is meant to give the Endeavour the tone of an "aspirational" product, still sticks to Ford's tradition of christening all its SUVs with names that start with the letter "E".

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication

Stories in this Section
Quiz

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu Business Line. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu Business Line