New Ford Endeavour vs Ssangyong Rexton W: Comparison Review

  • Sep 24, 2014
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Two behemoths. Both diesel automatics. And both priced at nearly Rs 30 lakh on the road. It's the new Ford Endeavour vs Ssangyong Rexton W

New Ford Endeavour vs Ssangyong Rexton

You'd agree that spending Rs 30 lakh on a depreciating asset isn't easy. And the job becomes harder when you realise the options you can choose from. For Rs 30 lakh one can have a luxury compact sedan or a hatchback (read Audi A3 or the Mercedes A-Class); an executive large sedan (Skoda Superb); or in this case two full sized SUVs that can seat seven but belong to the old-school of SUV building. There’s also the Toyota Fortuner one could look at, but we decided we’d look at less common options this time round.

New Ford Endeavour vs Ssangyong Rexton

Both SUVs in question use body-on-ladder construction, are heavy and not very efficient. And in this particular case, come with very average automatic gearboxes. One thing is for certain, neither the 2014 Ford Endeavour nor the Mahindra Ssangyong Rexton are vehicles you'd buy if refinement is one of your top priorities. The sole reason for buying these (and spending so much money in the bargain) has to be the love for old-school charm, ruggedness and size.

New Ford Endeavour vs Ssangyong Rexton

Exterior Design / Style

Neither SUV here is going to win your heart with their looks but between the two, the Rexton looks more polished, more upmarket and less dated. The Ford Endeavour might have received a facelift (the reason it is here) but changes to the headlamp or softening up the grille doesn't change the fact that it is a boxy SUV. And as a result, it looks a generation older than the Rexton.

Ford Endeavour: 2/5

Ssangyong Rexton: 3/5

Ssangyong Rexton Interiors
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Interior & Space

The Mahindra Ssangyong Rexton has an edge over the revised for 2014 Ford Endeavour here too. The interiors look more modern, the quality of plastic and fit and finish is better, and the Rexton actually comes close to feeling something more than just a utilitarian vehicle on the inside.

Ford Endeavour Interiors

The Ford Endeavour - though well put together - lacks the visual appeal of the Rexton. It also falls behind on the ergonomic front. And when it comes to seating, even though the Endeavour clearly has more space, the seats are just too close to the floor to offer any sort of thigh support. What you do get in the Ford is a bigger, more usable boot.

Ford Endeavour: 2/5

Ssangyong Rexton: 3/5

Ford Endeavour Touchscreen

Equipment & Features

The Ford Endeavour is due for a replacement next year. And when the new version arrives, it is expected to be packed to the gills; something we have already seen with the new Ford Fiesta and the Ford EcoSport. But the current version is seriously under equipped, especially for the price it commands. The only thing going for it is the touchscreen multimedia system which offers Satnav, Bluetooth telephony and a reversing camera display besides audio playback. But it could have looked better. There's also ABS and front and side airbags for the front two passengers. And you get a rear AC and power ORVMs.

Ssangyong Rexton Multimedia

What it needed, however, are power seats with memory, multifunctional steering wheel, a climate control system, automatic head lamps and wipers, cruise control and maybe even a sunroof, all of which comes as standard on the Rexton RX7 on test here. The Rexton also comes with electronic stability program. As you can tell, when it comes to equipment and features, the Rexton runs away with it.

Ford Endeavour: 3/5

Ssangyong Rexton: 4/5


New Ford Endeavour vs Ssangyong Rexton

Ride & Ease of Driving

There's no other way of saying this but if it's ease of driving you are looking at, look someplace else. Neither the Ford Endeavour nor the Ssangyong Rexton are particularly easy to drive. These are large, heavy SUVs and they feel it, even though these are both automatics. Picking gaps in traffic or squeezing into a tight parking spot isn't something these seven seaters do well. It's best then to get a chauffeur to take you to the local market or that brash wedding.

Both these SUVs score poorly on the ride front as well. There's unnecessary side to side movement and ride on both can best be termed as bouncy. The Rexton’s ride is comparatively more settled but over broken surfaces instead of flying over them as a Safari would for instance, the occupants on both these SUVs will find themselves being hurled around uncomfortably.

Ford Endeavour: 2/5

Ssangyong Rexton: 2.5/5

Ssangyong Rexton Engine

Engine & Performance

The Ford Endeavour has a slightly larger engine. But the Ssangyong Rexton makes more power and torque; nearly 30PS and 20Nm more. And because it weighs less, it is naturally quicker. It's faster off the line, in kickdown and it can clock a higher top speed; given of course you really want to push these SUVs way beyond their comfort zones. Just for the record the Rexton comes with a claimed top speed of almost 200kmph! Sadly, though the engines are torquey and willing, the automatic gearboxes on both SUVs let these engines down. These are slow witted and simply fail at letting the vehicle use the engine's potential to the fullest.

Ford Endeavour Engine

Ford Endeavour: 3/5

Ssangyong Rexton: 3/5

Ford Endeavour RWD

Handling & Braking

As we mentioned earlier both these SUVs use body-on-ladder construction. And this approach has its limitations; limitations that come to the fore the first time you approach a tightening corner at enthusiastic pace. Or, have to get on the brakes hard to avoid that truck who thought getting its nose on tarmac guarantees right of way. Believe us it's all very exciting trying to control near two tonnes of metal trying its best to get away from you, but if you get it wrong, it can get quite ugly.

Ssangyong Rexton AWD

It's a lot more dramatic on the Endeavour. The Rexton on the other hand is more controllable. The Endeavour uses a traditional 4WD system with a turn knob to choose between 2H, 4H and 4L, so most of the time it's a rear wheel drive SUV. The Rexton employs a more sophisticated all-wheel drive system which works all the time. And as a result, there's more grip into, through and especially when exiting corners. So while in the Endeavour you might have to battle both body roll and an excited rear axle, on the Rexton, body roll is mostly what one has to contend with.

Ford Endeavour 4x4 knob

Off-road there's no competition. The Endeavour is the vehicle to go for. Hardy, more capable and to be honest, more enjoyable as well.

Ford Endeavour: 2.5/5

Ssangyong Rexton: 3/5

New Ford Endeavour vs Ssangyong Rexton

Price & Fuel efficiency

Both the Ford Endeavour and the Mahindra Ssangyong Rexton are available in three trims. The base version of the Endeavour powered by the smaller, lesser powerful diesel engine (2.5-litre, 142PS) is priced at Rs 20.3 lakh. It also only comes as a 4x2 and is the only manual model of the Endeavour on sale. The mid variant powered by the larger 3-litre engine and coupled to the 5-speed automatic again only comes as a 4x2. It also has lesser equipment than the top of the line 4x4 version. This the 4x2 AT costs Rs nearly Rs 22 lakh. The car on test however, the top spec Ford Endeavour is priced at Rs 23.5 lakh, all prices ex-showroom in Delhi. 

The Ssangyong Rexton meanwhile gets all wheel drive in all its three trims. And trim for trim each of the Rexton variants are better equipped than the corresponding Endeavour. The base RX5 is priced Rs 18.8 lakh while the mid RX6 retails for Rs 20.0 lakh, again all prices ex-showroom in Delhi. Both these versions only come with a manual gearbox. The top of the line RX7 – on test here – comes with an AT and is priced Rs 21.1 lakh. As is clear, the Rexton is the more affordable of the two and as a result, better value. As far as fuel efficiency goes, the Rexton again has a slight advantage over the Endeavour.

Ford Endeavour: 2.5/5

Ssangyong Rexton: 3.5/5

New Ford Endeavour vs Ssangyong Rexton

Verdict

It’s an easy decision this: The Ssangyong Rexton, as our ratings reveal, is the winner. And for good reason. Not only is it more modern looking, more upmarket and one with the longer features list, it also rides and handles better. And to seal the win, the Rexton is also cheaper and more fuel efficient than the Ford Endeavour. Not all is lost for the Ford though because there’s a new generation Endeavour waiting in the wings. It is due next year and it will be a huge step up over the current SUV.

New Ford Endeavour vs Ssangyong Rexton

Ford Endeavour: 2.5/5

Ssangyong Rexton: 3.5/5


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