Review: 2019 Ford Endura

Review: 2019 Ford Endura

The shoes to fill were big. Drive around Queensland and you’ll still see plenty of Ford Territory’s driving around. It was a best seller. But all good things will come an end. Sometimes it’s for the better.

This is definitely the case with the all-new Ford Endura. Not only is it stylish, but it also drives comfortably, handles securely and has ample space to take it on a long road trip.

Add this to a better fuel economy, smoother engine and the latest safety technology and you’ll see why the Endura has no issue taking its predecessor's place.

Initial Impressions

Though we’ve seen images from the Endura before its launch in Australia – the car has been on the market as the Ford Edge (now face lifted) overseas for four years already – it definitely appears bigger in real-life than expected.

It’s 4.8-metre in length, almost 2.2m wide and stands 1.7m tall on its large rims. The pointy nose and sharp lines give it an aggressive look; its size giving it more of a heavyweight boxer than a sumo wrestler look.

Certainly not an SUV that’s only meant to haul the family around to sport practice, but also one you’ll proudly polish in front of your house on a Sunday afternoon. 

Driveability

First thing you’ll notice when driving then Endura is how little you actually hear. It’s quiet inside. Not only barely any engine noise, but also no other outside sound. The cabin is very well insulated, giving you a peaceful feeling behind the wheel.

The power from the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder – basically the same as in the Ranger and Everest – delivers 140kW of power and 400Nm of torque. Perhaps not quick, but definitely adequate and fuel efficient: 6.7L/100km. The abundance of torque makes it easy to get off the line or tow, with a braked towing capacity of 2000kg.

Considering the Endura is a sizeable SUV it handles surprisingly easy. It doesn’t feel like you’re slugging around a large vehicle at any point and the comfortable suspension absorbs any pothole like it’s not even there.

Adding to the comfort level is having an eight-speed automatic that shifts through the gears like a knife through butter; you barely notice. Put it in sports-mode however and the revs will keep climbing until the red line. Not necessary, but fun at times nonetheless.

A fun new thing is the gear shifter, or as Ford calls it the ‘E-Shifter’. It’s not a lever, but a rotary dial like you’ll find in high-end premium vehicles. It definitely adds to the premium feel of the Endura, that continues inside.

Liveability

Minimalistic is probably the best word the describe the interior of the Ford Endura. Sleek black plastics in the mid-console and door panels are combined with cloth upholstery (in the base level Trend), suede-like material (ST-Line) or leather accents in the top-of-the-line Titanium. Whichever one you choose, the colour is black. And it suits.

No overload of buttons, yet everything you’ll need is easy to find and control. Either via the 8-inch touch screen with sat nav, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Ford’s Sync3 media system or the ergonomically placed buttons on the steering wheel. It works and makes sense, which isn’t always the case with the latest technology.

Because of its size the Endura offers lots of head and legroom, even for taller passengers in the backseat. But there is another good reasons why: there is no third-row.

The Endura is a five-seater. If you don’t need this extra row you’re of course not missing out, but the space would be there to fit it. Ford chose not to. Instead you get 602 litres of cargo space, which will fit anything you need for a vacation trip with the family.

They also don’t have to fight over who gets to charge their device first, because you’ll have two USB ports, three 12-volt outlets and even a 230-volt outlet for a laptop.

Electronic, heated and cooled front seats you’ll get from the ST-line upwards, just like the powered hands-free tailgate – a handy option while shopping.

Pricing

The Endura starts around $45k for the base-level Trend in front-wheel drive. The next level up, the ST-line will add $9000 to that price. The top-of-the-range Titanium is again $10k more expensive and starts in the low-mid $60k. All models are available in all-wheel drive as well, which adds $4000 to the price.

Included in this price from the base-level Trend are proximity key, power folding mirrors, rain-sending wipers, LED-lights, push button start and dual-zone climate control. That’s a lot. Add to this list the standard safety equipment including AEB with pedestrian detection, lane keep assistance, adaptive cruise control with traffic sign recognition plus front and rear parking sensors and you’ll understand why they’ve awarded the Endura a five-star ANCAP rating.

Conclusion

It’s a hard battle in the world of SUV’s and to earn your spot you’ve got to offer something other don’t. This is where the Endura stands out: it’s stylish, spacious, has all safety technology you could want and offers a comfortable and sturdy ride. Not many tick all those boxes.

The premium look and feel of the Endura, emphasized by the ‘E-Shifter’ and upscale interior make it a sure choice for anybody that wants an SUV that could do so much more than just carry the children and their stuff in the trunk.

Anybody that wants a nice- and good-looking ride at the same time, with style.