Does the refreshed Ford Endeavour up the ante in its segment? Bunny Punia has the answer after a two day drive experience in Philippines
Photography Bunny Punia
We are wading, no, literally flying across knee deep river water through narrow openings with hills on either side. With four of us (and our luggage), the vehicle in question seems least bothered as we make progress through one of the most grueling off-road sections I have ever driven over. To make matters worse, the water is a mix of slush and volcanic ash which means that if the vehicle’s speed drops below 40km/h, we would sink in immediately. Big stones, chunks of mud, tall bushes, et al – nothing seems to hinder the ease with which this SUV I am driving swiftly disposes of whatever comes its way. In some time, we take a break for yet another pit-stop. As I step out, the sultry weather hits me hard in the face and I am shocked to see the unforgiving terrain around me that we have been conquering for the last hour. Say hello to the refreshed Ford Endeavour.
Indians have a liking for big things. We seem to have a soft corner for tough and burly SUVs. The larger than life, first generation Endeavour was first launched here in 2005 followed by a spruced up, second generation model after a couple of years. This product has always been an impressive seller for Ford – the over bulbous proportions being a good way to massage its owners’ egos. In fact, at the price it retails for, there isn’t a better way to announce your arrival. The competition so far really didn’t pose a threat for this Yankee tank, but with Toyota rolling out the Fortuner, it was time we had the third generation Endeavour in India as well.
There haven’t been any major design changes, although small but clever alterations go a long way in freshening up the rather dated and basic exterior. Livening up the front are swept back headlamps, fog lamps housed in sculpted, silver wing shaped bezels and a new grille. However, it’s the side on look that makes you appreciate the changes in the new model. New 17-inch alloy wheels residing in bold wheel arches look spot on for an in-your-face SUV like this, however, Ford told us that the Indian version will continue to come with the 16-inch ones. A new small grille next to the front door with an Endeavour logo adds a touch of style. Even the roof rail gets a touch up job completing the transformation of this third generation SUV. The Endeavour has always had a commanding road presence. It towers over other vehicles on the road and is a good way to make others give you space on the road. Being based on the Ford Ranger pick-up means that the Endeavour sits quite high off the ground with its bonnet hovering next to smaller cars’ windscreen! Overall, the vehicle’s dominating toughness remains, though in a welcoming and fresh appearance.
It takes an effort to climb into the Endeavour’s cabin. Everything looks and feels familiar, however, spend some time inside the cabin and you notice the changes. To start with, the new vehicle gains more points on the practicality front. A handy pull out tray can be used to stow your laptop or similar stuff while the stowage in the door trims has also been enhanced. The second row features a one-touch flip-flop system and you get dedicated rear seat air-con vents. Fit and finish seems to have been improved as well and the three pod instrumentation console in front is classy. However, before you are all set to zoom off, you notice a slight change – the inclusion of an automatic ‘box stick. The Endeavour now gets a five-speed auto transmission to further spoil its owners.
The country chosen for the exclusive first drive couldn’t have been better. However, before we hit the open roads, Manila’s congested traffic had to be dealt with. The new five-speed ‘box proved to be a boon and the way the big SUV handles in slow moving traffic really overshadows its huge appearance. The steering isn’t very direct, but it is light enough to take care of tight maneuvers. With smooth, open highways coming our way soon, it was time to stretch the legs of the 3.0-litre engine to the max. However, the slightly slow responding auto ‘box seemed to rob the vehicle of high speed overtaking maneuvers, taking its own sweet time to inch closer to the 150km/h mark. That said, the Endeavour still remains a very good highway vehicle, effortlessly munching miles at an incredibly rapid pace. After the highway section, we started our ascent to the top of Baguio hill station. There is no running away from the fact that the Endeavour, being on the wrong side of two tonnes, does have a certain amount of body roll. With four on board and a full load of luggage, pointing the SUV into corners at high speeds not only had the tyres screeching for mercy, but even the rear was threatening to step out. However, the suspension setup also means that the ride quality doesn’t feel really harsh, in spite of the bigger alloy wheels as compared to the second generation car.
The highlight of the trip had to be the well chosen off-road section which had most of us going bonkers pushing the Endeavour to its limits. I had my reservations before entering the half volcanic ash infested river water which within seconds took its toll on another vehicle. But the trick of keeping the speedometer needle above 50km/h without any sudden acceleration or braking worked and before I knew it, we were literally floating over slush in the middle of a river! This was followed by high speed dry river bed driving, bush squashing and braving the soft sand before we entered what seemed like the Grand Canyon with a river flowing through it. Surprisingly, the Endeavour made it through without a squeak. In my opinion, this has to be the most capable hard core off-roader out there in the market which can also cocoon its occupants in comfort and luxury. It can be your toy for weekend getaways into unexplored terrains, yet can be docile enough for your granny to drive to the nearest superstore. We expect a small price increase for the Endeavour when it goes on sale next month, nonetheless, there is reason enough for prospective SUV buyers to give this one a very serious thought.
