Facelifting the big Ford

When it was first introduced in 2003, the Ford Endeavour was pretty much alone at the top of its segment. Though it was classified in other markets as a mid-size sports utility vehicle, it was massive going by the average Indian car size.

Aside of its road presence, it also had a large, torquey diesel engine that fit perfectly with the buyer’s expectations. But, competition soon caught up with the Endeavour and new launches like the Toyota Fortuner, Chevrolet Captiva and more recently the Hyundai Santa Fe have both expanded and eaten into the market that the Ford SUV started out dominating.

After redesigning it in 2009/10, Ford has stepped into the ring again now with another facelift to the Endeavour. Here’s our take after taking a spin in the new 2014 Ford Endeavour.

Almost all of the changes to the exterior of the Endeavour has been focused on deign improvements to the front of the SUV. With changing preferences amongst buyers and with Ford’s design language evolving, the front of the Endeavour was where much of the change was reflected the last time around and it is the same this time too.

So, the Endeavour now gets a new set of headlamps, which seem to have gotten a bit of influence from the Mazda pick-up truck that shares the same platform. The 2014 Endeavour also gets a new bonnet grille , a three-slat chrome unit that has been dwarfed by the massive new airdam cut into the front bumper.

A set of new chrome ringed fog lamps and the skid plate peeping out from under the fender complete the aggressive new look of the Endeavour. The vehicle’s design remains unchanged when it is viewed from the side and at the rear. The Endeavour’s robust looking rear with the spare wheel on the side-hinged door was always its strong point.

The 16-inch alloy wheels with the tall 245/70 tyres continue in this avatar too. There are few new decals on the body that have been added to improve the ‘sportiness’ of the Endeavour. Those bull-bars you might have seen in the Ads for the new Endeavour are not part of standard fitment.

Inside, the changes are a bit more subtle since the dashboard for the most part looks like a carry-forward. Some colour theme changes and trim additions are evident. The bigger change is in the features with the addition of the SatNav and Bluetooth-enabled music system with 8-inch touchscreen display. The shift-on-fly 4X4 selector knob has also been redesigned. Passenger side door mirror gets a useful addition in the blind-spot viewer.

We refreshed our memory of the Endeavour’s ride quality in the new 3.0L 4X4 AT variant. The powertrains on offer remain unchanged and they also continue to remain in the same state of tune. The 2,953cc TDCi engine features a variable geometry turbocharger and is offered as a 4X4 and a 4X2 version. This engine is paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission and the transfer case features an electronic shift on the fly option for the 4X4 variant.

The other engine, the 2,499cc (2.5L) is offered only as a 4X2 variant and is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox. The power trains offer adequate power for Indian driving cycles, though the turbolag can be a bit of nag at times. The 3.0L engine is a bit throaty during hard acceleration, but during cruising speeds the cabin is nice and quiet.

The ride and handling of the 2014 Endeavour remains unchanged. There hasn’t been any change effected in the suspension . The vehicle is essentially been tuned to please the rear benchers. A soft wallowy ride and a suspension that soaks up the bumps on the road should keep the occupants pleased. But that does have its downside if you are looking for an aggressive, dynamic performance tackling the twistees. You might then be reminded about the Endeavour’s pick-up truck roots and its considerable weight.

The new 2014 Endeavour is mostly just a facelift. But, that is a good thing in a way since the price continues to be below Rs 20 lakh.

It has the same three-rows of leather seats allure that it has always had, only now with a more aggressive face.