Ford Endeavour : I can still recall the day when Ford broke the news of pulling the plug in India.
My neighbour, Rajesh, who’d had three consecutive Endeavours, was sitting silently, sipping tea, staring at his 2019 model as if it was the last specimen of an endangered species.
Zoom ahead and now we are here, the Ford Endeavour is back, not to make an encore but to tell the world that some legends never die and certainly not as quietly.
Sitting next to the pre-production model at Ford’s Sanand plant last week, I couldn’t help but hear the excited whispers emanating from the gathered dealers.
“They heard us,” Sunil from Gujarat muttered, amid memories of the scores of times Ford had surveyed customers after its exit.
In fact the 2025 Endeavour is like Ford put every Indian Endeavour owner’s wishlist into metal and electronics.
Table of Contents
Ford Endeavour The Return Strategy: More Than Imports
Ford is not like other global brands whose imported models are being dumped in India.
In a very long chat I had with Ford India’s just-appointed CEO, Maria Rodriguez, this is what she disclosed: “We spent 18 months understanding what Indian Endeavour owners missed the most.
Well, the new 2025 model is with 60% localized content – greater than any generation before.”
That emphasis on local manufacturing is why, despite features that would be significantly pricier in imported rivals, Hero has managed to keep the starting price competitive at ₹39.9 lakh.
Ford Endeavour Design Evolution: Same Old Mug, New School Game
And the first visual is how Ford has maintained that typical Endeavour stance and refreshed everything else.
My test drive partner, an automotive photographer who specializes in SUVs, could not stop talking about the “perfect proportions.”
The gigantic chrome grille — yes, we Indians still love our chrome — is perched atop a more aggressive air dam.
The LED matrix headlamps now come with adaptive capabilities, a feature desperately amiss on the older-gen vehicle.
But the back design is what really blew my mind. And just like that goes that rather bland rear we criticised in the older model.
The C-shaped taillamps and bulging haunches provide it with the on-road presence its front end portends.
Through the packed streets of Delhi’s hectic Rajpath, the distinctive lighting signature identified the Endeavour from blocks away as we wound throughthe midnight traffic.
Ford Endeavour Inside The American Space and The German Precision
Step inside, and it is apparent why American vehicles are known for their interior roominess.
Second-row captain chairs are wider than before and, now, feature heating/ventilation, and easily fit my 6-foot-2 frame with more than enough room.
Four adults and all their luggage suffered few complaints during the 400 km night drive to Jaipur in the back seat.
Atop the dash, Ford’s latest SYNC 4A infotainment system runs on a 12.8-inch veritical screen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Unlike certain oversize screens that feel tacked on, this one feels designed in. The ambient lighting is in ‘Endeavour Blue’, traditional owners will love that.
Subtle sophistication has gone through the roof. It’s also pretty quiet on the road – with active noise cancellation and revamped insulation, the cabin remains hushed even at highway speeds.
Wind noise, a former knocking point, is all but gone. It was the first if rare occasion I’d heard him compliment an American interior; a rarer compliment still came from my colleague from
The Telegraph, who is no fan of American interiors and grudgingly offered “it’s actually premium-feeling.”
Ford Endeavour Power & Performance: The Heart is Still Beating Strong
The headline: that 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel, pumping out an impressive 210HP and 500Nm – figures few can even come close to.
But what struck me on this high-altitude test, near Manali, was the polish. The engine pulls smoothly from 1,500rpm - which makes overtaking on the straight far too easy, despite the high altitude.
Also worthy of special mention here is Ford’s new 10-speed automatic transmission.
In Bangalore traffic, where it can be stop-and-go driving madness, it shifted smoothly between gears without issue, and on the mountain passes, selecting manual mode allowed me to take complete control.
“The gear changes are 30 percent faster than the old model,” said a professional rally driver we consulted.
The off-road capability is still impressive. The Terrain Management System has expanded to seven modes from four.
The traction control and throttle response for the first time on a car by Ferrari saw the ‘Desert’ mode (more on that here) worked well while testing on the outskirts of the Rann of Kutch.
Even driving in the sand, which he used to find rather challenging, became almost second nature.
Ford Endeavour No compromise on Safety & Technology
Safety Amenities Ford hasn’t skimped on safety content. Endeavour now gets 8 airbags as standard feature on all the trims – a segment first. But the star is Ford Co-Pilot360, their ADAS package that comes with:
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Pre-collision assist system with pedestrian detection
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Adaptive cruise with stop-and-go
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Blind spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert 22 requires Driver and Front Passenger Upfitters Package.
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Lane-keeping assist
I tested these systems in real-world conditions, along the Yamuna Expressway, and these worked well too.
The pre-collision system detected stray cattle — a distinctly Indian problem — 50 meters distant, and warned me before I had even registered a conscious assessment of the hazard.
Pragmatic Issues: Indian Roads, Indian Wants, and other Considerations
The 2025 Endeavour demonstrates that Ford knows what Indians want. While the ground clearance is up from 225 mm to 227 mm, wading depth comes in at 850 mm.
Air suspension in top trims can raise the thing up more, never mind that I didn’t really take my testing from anything more than what you could call very extreme off-roading, I suppose.
Fuel efficiency, which is criticized by many on an Endeavour, gets better at 13.5 km/l on highways (claimed figures, real-world 12 km/l). It’s not segment-leading by any means but good for a vehicle this big and powerful.
Ford Endeavour Market Reality: Competition & Positioning So in the market
Despite its appeal, the Endeavour is up against the might of the Toyota Fortuner and the new-kid-on-the-block, MG Gloster.
But Ford’s lineage and its unrivalled on-the-road dominance of the Endeavour do have its own merits. Initial dealer feedback points to strong interest amongst current owners seeking an upgrade.
Prices start at ₹39.9 lakh and go up to ₹47.5 lakh (ex-showroom) and hence fall between the Fortuner and the more premium offerings.
On paper it does look like an attractive proposition – particularly if you factor in the cost of localisation.
The Human Factor
What struck me most during my review wasn’t just the improvements in hardware.
Ford had realized that the Endeavour was much more than a means of getting around for many Indians.
It was family milestone celebrations, weekend adventure enablers and business status symbols all in one.
A conversation with Mrs. Sharma in Mumbai, who has a 2018 model, and the twinkle in the eyes as I was describing the new features.
I have an Endeavour 179000 KM but getting regular service. When this will be released, then I will finally have a reason to upgrade.”
Ford Endeavour The Road Ahead
Ford’s comeback with the Endeavour is not just about reclaiming lost glory. It’s about demonstrating that the ability to understand a customer’s needs is not separated by nationality.
The 2025 edition is a success because it honours what made the Endeavour beloved, but corrects each legitimate criticism levelled against it.
Returning the key fobs after I reviewed the truck, the senior Ford executive I had been working with said something revealing: “When we pulled out of India, it was more than money that we lost.
We lost trust. The new Endeavour is the first step in regaining that.”
If my experiences are anything to go by, they just might.
FAQ
Q: What is the launch date of Ford Endeavour 2025 in India?
A: Ford is expected to introduce the 2025 Endeavour in the second quarter of 2025 and pre-bookings are likely to commence in April.
Q: What is the projected hybrid price range?
A: The Endeavour 2025 is expected to be priced in the range of ₹39.9 lakh to ₹47.5 lakh (ex-showroom).
Q: What would be the engine options in the new Endeavour?
A: The 2025 is powered by a 2.0-liter bi-turbo diesel engine making 210 HP and 500 Nm and comes with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Q. Will Ford service be able to be trusted after the comeback?
A: Ford is setting up special service centers in large metropolitan areas, teaming up with certain dealers from their old network to guarantee parts availability and trained technicians.
Q: How many air bags are in the Endeavour 2025?
A: 8 airbags are standard in all versions of 2025 Endeavour.
Q: How high is the ground clearance?
A: The default ground clearance is 227 mm but variable air suspension models can lift the car an extra 20 mm or more as required.
Q: Will there be a 4×2 model?
A: It does not, all 2025 Endeavour models are equipped with 4×4 as standard, keeping its true-SUV credentials.
Q: What is the real-life fuel economy?
A: You can expect approx 12 km/l when driven in Chennai bumper-to-bumper traffic and around 14 km/l on highways as per the test results.
