FORD ENDURA
The Territory isn’t back!
ONVEYING the appropriate message to the target market is crucial when branding a model. Hence the Endura isn’t being marketed as a replacement for the COTYwinning, home-grown Territory. No, Ford has gone to a self-proclaimed upper class with the model that now fills the ‘large’ quotient of its SUV lineup.
Three trim levels (Trend, St-line and Titanium) are offered with the choice of front or all-wheel drive – the latter a $4000 premium. Prices start at $44,990 and rise to $67,990, which isn’t pocket money. Somewhat justifying the outlay is the fact that even the Trend comes standard with SYNC 3 infotainment, Automatic Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise, lane keep assist, active noise cancelling and eight airbags.
While the Endura’s exterior is current Ford chic, the cabin looks and feels a generation older… because it is. Despite the rotary e-shifter requiring acclimatisation, the pragmatic interior is ergonomically sound with plenty of soft-touch materials.
Dimensionally, the $48,990 Endura Trend tested is marginally shorter than the Territory, but it’s wider, taller and sits on a longer wheelbase. Head and legroom are h-u-g-e for rear-seat passengers and the boot amasses 602 litres (800 to the roofline), or 1857 litre with the 60:40-split pews folded.
Powering the Endura is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel (the only unit available at launch). The figures of 140kw and 400Nm are strong, but it’s no firecracker when lugging 2038kg. Still, there’s pulling power when you need it and the average fuel economy of 6.7L/100km seems achievable.
Overtaking pace isn’t a strong suit (and the 2000kg towing capacity is 700kg down on the Territory oiler), but the four-pot diesel ties in well with the smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic.
On changes of direction, the Endura can’t quite escape its two-tonne heft, yet there’s a level of body control and agility matched with well-sorted damping. Undulations are handled with aplomb and the steering offers agreeable weight and tactility.
Urban ride quality is sharp over sawtooth potholes (even with the 18-inch alloys) and the noise-cancelling tech can’t quite quell all the tyre roar. There’s torque vectoring for the all-
FORD ENDURA
wheel-drive system, but the need to opt in for drive to be sent to the rear axle seems nominal – especially when it adds $4000.
Yes, there’s much to like about the Endura. It’s a capacious, practical and tech-laden SUV with decent dynamics.
For those needing a full-size fiveseater with exterior style and interior features, the Trend is the walletconscious sweet spot. However, some Endura models are too expensive and all of them are two seats too short.
Ford has tried to fill the Territory’s size-12 shoes with the Endura’s size-10 feet. And that’s not the sort of message that’s going to go unnoticed.