Ford Endura 2019 Car Review

So for this test we also took a trip from central Auckland’s gridlock to the Bay of Islands and back in the top-spec Endura Titanium, passing through some dodgy weather along the way.

Immediately obvious on leaving the basement car park was how big this Endura feels from the driving seat. The driver is not just aware that the cabin is spacious, but that the vehicle’s footprint is also generous, and it’s not easy to tell exactly how far it extends ahead and behind. Or it wouldn’t be, but the excellent array of park distance warnings act a little conservatively to tell you just how close this 4.93-metre-long, 1.9-metre-wide (excluding mirrors) Ford is to that concrete pillar, further assisted by a reversing camera and front 180-degree view.

Once out in traffic the 2.0-litre diesel engine feels powerful enough to manage its 2000kg weight without apparent effort, thanks largely to an aggressive first-gear ratio designed to avoid turbo lag at low speed, and effectively impart stronger pickup than you might expect.

That vigour is less obvious on the open road, where performance seems a little too laid-back at higher revs. The Endura cruises smoothly and apparently effortlessly on motorway stretches and more open roads, with plenty of urge across the lower and middle rev ranges and very little audible fuss, but long climbs – especially those coming out of slower corners – require a lower gear, acquired either by tapping the left-hand steering-wheel paddle to shift down, or hitting the ‘Sport’ button on the gear dial. That’s right – no lever, instead a dial, which takes a little getting used to when swapping from R to D during manoeuvres.

Under light throttle the AWD system uncouples the rear diff to save fuel. Ford nevertheless claims the same 6.7l/100km thirst for both the bottom-spec front-drive Endura and this top-spec version, which weighs 47kg more, unladen. We returned it with 6.4l/100km showing, after nearly 600km of admittedly mostly open-road driving, and very little use of the active cruise control.

That we dismounted refreshed is partly due to this cabin, which looks smart and feels good too, not least because of the soft-touch surfaces used anywhere you’re likely to touch a lot. And it’s certainly easy to get comfy – both front seats are 10-way electric adjust, with two-way lumbar support adjust for both the driver and front passenger.

There’s a hefty safety armoury, as you’ll see from the specification, further assisted by voice-activation for a number of functions, including phone use, to keep your mind on the road.

As for other goodies, this Titanium spec is loaded – right down to a 12-speaker B&O audio system, plus rear-facing audio-visual screens in the front headrests, to keep the kids entertained and quiet. They even get heated seats – while those up front can also opt for cooling.

The particularly fecund will find three child seats can fit side-by-side across the back, while any family will find the boot’s side cubbies and fold-out shopping-bag hooks helpful, and those travelling any distance may be delighted to discover the 220V power converter.

Eight cupholders for five seats might seem a bit OTT, but that’s par for the slightly American character to this big SUV, which is impressively comfy and, thanks in part to prioritizing great accommodation for five rather than squeezing in an extra row to take the total to seven, very comfortable.

Handling stands up well against the competition – there are a lot of large SUVs in this bracket – and the fact that it sips diesel almost as frugally as the claim is a bonus. However, that size could be a drawback in urban environments, and some might prefer to compromise on specification for a lower price.

Safety systems

• Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection
• Lane Keeping System
• Evasive Steer Assist
• Rear view camera with front and rear park sensors
• Traffic Sign Recognition
• Blind Spot Detection with Cross Traffic Alert
• Lane Departure Warning
• Auto Headlights with High Beam