Test Drive : New Ford Endeavour

hondadude · 21st June 2007, 15:40

Went for a very brief Test Drive of new Endeavour today. Since the car was not registered, we could go around the block for a drive of only one km. So following are the initial impressions.

Exterior

I love the flared hood of new endeavour. In flesh, it looks even more macho from the the front. Not many other changes and the endeavour continues to be butch old style SUV.

Interior

Fit and finish much better than the old one. The leather seats are pretty good and have a quality feel to them. A/c is very noisy though quite effective. Rear a/c works well.

Comfort

In one word, pathetic! The middle seat is so low that one sits with their knees pointing upwards. Very uncomfortable. The last row is for small children or for people with no legs.

Drive

The engine came to life with the turn of the key. The gear shift shook violently when the engine started. On a short drive, engine felt very lively. The turbo lag is present albeit very less. Looks like VGT is working well. Definitely not underpowered anymore. I am looking forward to a longer drive on open stretche.

Ride & Handling

We had a very short TD so can't comment on that.

Overall based on a very short TD , it seems to be a good SUV to drive. However if you are looking for a family vehicle and if members of your family are taller than 5ft, better look elsewhere.

Will try to do a detailed TD on the weekend and post report.

suman · 21st June 2007, 15:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by hondadude

Comfort

In one word, pathetic! The middle seat is so low that one sits with their knees pointing upwards. Very uncomfortable. The last row is for small children or for people with no legs.

So the old shortcoming remains unattended.....well, at least the engine is peppier now!

theMAG · 21st June 2007, 16:09

Hondadude,

Whats the onroad price in Bengalooru ?

CrAzY dRiVeR · 21st June 2007, 16:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by hondadude

Ride & Handling

We had a very short TD so can't comment on that.

Overall based on a very short TD , it seems to be a good SUV to drive.

Could you comment on the ride and handling. Basically the ride. Is it still rough as the older one.

I understand you had a small drive only. But, anything noticed?

Good to know its not underpowered anymore...

hondadude · 21st June 2007, 16:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by theMAG

Hondadude,

Whats the onroad price in Bengalooru ?

4X2 is 17.72 L
4X2 Ltd edition is 18.52
4X4 is 18.8

hondadude · 21st June 2007, 16:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Could you comment on the ride and handling. Basically the ride. Is it still rough as the older one.

I understand you had a small drive only. But, anything noticed?...

Nope. The roads that we drove on are pretty good.

cooldude1988765 · 21st June 2007, 16:18

Was eagerly waiting for the review. I guess they only fixed the interiors and the ENGINE and nothing has been done about the comfort levels. VERY DISSAPOINTING

cooldude1988765 · 21st June 2007, 16:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by hondadude

4X2 is 17.72 L
4X2 Ltd edition is 18.52
4X4 is 18.8

Looks like a steep increase in prices also ...

GRAND VITARA 1.9 DDIS

kkr2k2 · 21st June 2007, 16:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by suman

So the old shortcoming remains unattended.....well, at least the engine is peppier now!

i dont think, the guys at ford could do much about to address the issues, may be because it is based on a truck platform.

suman · 21st June 2007, 17:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by kkr2k2

i dont think, the guys at ford could do much about to address the issues, may be because it is based on a truck platform.

The issue is about the seat height & the lack of underthigh support - they could have tried doing something for the middle row at least?

lurker · 21st June 2007, 17:29

Even the Ford Explorer, which is quite popular in US has extremely uncomfortable middle row seats. As someone pointed out one always sits in the middle row with the knee pointed up.

Probably for Ford this is too tremendous a problem to overcome.

GTO · 21st June 2007, 18:21

I like the look of the new Endeavour......from the front end, it looks very butch. What were the on-road prices like?

Quote:

We had a very short TD so can't comment on that.

Go back for a longer test! Seriously. This is an area that most potential buyers should be concerned about, since the Endy's ride quality has always stuck out like a sort thumb.

The older engine wasnt exactly reliable and had huge parts replacement costs. I hope the new one has addressed that issue.

extreme_torque · 21st June 2007, 19:11

Ride quality didnt came as a surprise since ford have persisted with the leaf spring rear suspension. It feels like a rip off paying around 18 lakhs for a vehicle and getting a leaf spring rear suspension.

rangaraj · 21st June 2007, 23:57

18L usually means chauffer driven and emphasis on back seat comfort - going by what you guys say - low seats with no thigh support and leaf springs.. not great news.

speedzak · 22nd June 2007, 02:23

18L and a proper 4X4 with a powerful (now) diesel engine. It is indeed a good vehicle.
I think it can be a good second vehicle for all those looking for a good 4X4. Especially for those who have farms in villages and jungles, and for people who like a macho car that is also reliable and cheap to maintain.

Huh! But it is a FORD. What shall we do to change that?

21st June 2007, 15:40	#1
hondadude Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,044 Thanked: 69 Times	Test Drive : New Ford Endeavour Went for a very brief Test Drive of new Endeavour today. Since the car was not registered, we could go around the block for a drive of only one km. So following are the initial impressions. Exterior I love the flared hood of new endeavour. In flesh, it looks even more macho from the the front. Not many other changes and the endeavour continues to be butch old style SUV. Interior Fit and finish much better than the old one. The leather seats are pretty good and have a quality feel to them. A/c is very noisy though quite effective. Rear a/c works well. Comfort In one word, pathetic! The middle seat is so low that one sits with their knees pointing upwards. Very uncomfortable. The last row is for small children or for people with no legs. Drive The engine came to life with the turn of the key. The gear shift shook violently when the engine started. On a short drive, engine felt very lively. The turbo lag is present albeit very less. Looks like VGT is working well. Definitely not underpowered anymore. I am looking forward to a longer drive on open stretche. Ride & Handling We had a very short TD so can't comment on that. Overall based on a very short TD , it seems to be a good SUV to drive. However if you are looking for a family vehicle and if members of your family are taller than 5ft, better look elsewhere. Will try to do a detailed TD on the weekend and post report.
	() Thanks

21st June 2007, 16:09	#3
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,217 Thanked: 1,807 Times View My Garage	Hondadude, Whats the onroad price in Bengalooru ?
	() Thanks

21st June 2007, 16:18	#7
cooldude1988765 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,042 Thanked: 194 Times	Was eagerly waiting for the review. I guess they only fixed the interiors and the ENGINE and nothing has been done about the comfort levels. VERY DISSAPOINTING
	() Thanks

21st June 2007, 17:29	#11
lurker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tura Posts: 1,592 Thanked: 1,423 Times	Even the Ford Explorer, which is quite popular in US has extremely uncomfortable middle row seats. As someone pointed out one always sits in the middle row with the knee pointed up. Probably for Ford this is too tremendous a problem to overcome.
	() Thanks

21st June 2007, 19:11	#13
extreme_torque Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 4,377 Thanked: 5,105 Times	Ride quality didnt came as a surprise since ford have persisted with the leaf spring rear suspension. It feels like a rip off paying around 18 lakhs for a vehicle and getting a leaf spring rear suspension.
	() Thanks

21st June 2007, 23:57	#14
rangaraj BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 570 Thanked: 10 Times	18L usually means chauffer driven and emphasis on back seat comfort - going by what you guys say - low seats with no thigh support and leaf springs.. not great news.
	() Thanks

22nd June 2007, 02:23	#15
speedzak BANNED Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: India Posts: 4,347 Thanked: 27 Times	18L and a proper 4X4 with a powerful (now) diesel engine. It is indeed a good vehicle. I think it can be a good second vehicle for all those looking for a good 4X4. Especially for those who have farms in villages and jungles, and for people who like a macho car that is also reliable and cheap to maintain. Huh! But it is a FORD. What shall we do to change that?
	() Thanks