It seems like forever since we introduced the Ford Endura back in March of this year. Then we took one for a tiki tour around the North Island and now we’ve finally managed to write about it.
But we thought this might be the case as, next to the Ford Focus range launched at the same time as the Endura, the Blue Oval has had a pretty quiet release year this year.
To be fair, we were warned and here we are in October, and Ford’s in the NZCV garage YTD have been about as common as snags on a barbie at the local vegetarian café.
On the other hand, the two ranges Ford launched (that was ranges by the way, not Rangers) in 2019 are impressive, with the Focus finding favour with the fleet-footed motorist, the Endura enjoying excellent reports from the um, educated?
The first time NZ encountered the Endura, it was not a happy meeting. Ford NZ needed to have something to replace the Territory and there was nothing in the global portfolio except these SUVs from Canada – which were due to be upgraded.
Ford NZ took the Endura option, knowing full well that it was going to be a hard sell and everyone knew the model would be replaced soon.
Still, a number of Endura Mk1s went out to the Ford Faithful and – in the sweet by and by – Endura MkII was announced, and then it arrived.
The badge said it was an Endura, but this was not an upgrade, it was an evolutionary step forward.
Endura’s diesel was quieter, smoother, more frugal and wickedly more responsive.
The trans(formed)mission went to an eight-speed with a rotary selector and redefined the term “smooth shifting’’ giving the two-ton five-seater SUV acceleration that no two-tonner should deliver.
As to handling, the sports-tuned suspension is only available on the ST-Line model of the Endura, but if that’s what makes the difference in price, then the difference be bothered, take the sports suspension, you won’t regret it.
The Endura – as big as it appears – makes no pretentions about trying to be a seven-seater. it could do, but that would be a mistake Ford: don’t do it!
Adding two seats would lose the luxury factor the Endura exudes as this is best demonstrated by spaciousness in the five seat, 800-litre boot-space body.
Endura sports especially comfortable seats in all positions and there are little niceties tailored to the specific models in the range.
For the money, just quietly, we’d recommend the ST-Line as this one has most of the goodies with overtly sporting tempters such as a body-kit and that suspension tune.
Of course, there is a comprehensive safety suite on board, Endura being a five-star ANCAP vehicle. This you can expect autonomous emergency brakes, Adaptive cruise control, intelligent seed assist, lane departure with lane keeping and parking sensors front and rear.
Endura’s four-model line-up – which includes a lone front-wheel-drive entry version – all use the same two-litre turbo diesel and the same eight-speed auto. This should make things easy, but...
There is a lot of common ground between the specification of the models, such as the eight-inch colour touch screen with Ford’s proprietary SYNC3 in-vehicle communication system with satellite navigation, but it is not entirely uniform.
In some cases, what Ford has included in some models is a little weird, but this presumably encourages customers to immerse themselves in Endura, before deciding which one suits them best.
Specifications:
Ford Endura ST-Line
BODY TYPE 5 door 5 seat SUV
DRIVE All wheel/ 8 speed auto
ENGINE TYPE 4-cylinder, Turbocharged Diesel
ENGINE CAPACITY 1998cc
MAX POWER 140kW @ 3500rpm
MAX TORQUE 400Nm @ 2000rpm
L/100KM (COMBINED) 6.7
CO2 EMISSIONS 176
BOOT CAPACITY 800
ANCAP RATING 5 Star
PRICE $64,990
