Ford India recently allowed members of the automotive press to test out the all-new, India-bound Ford Endeavour. The Endeavour was one of Ford India’s more successful vehicles back when the segment for full-sized, entry level, luxury SUVs was relatively small. With the Toyota Fortuner devouring market share with the same ease it did mounds and boulders, things didn’t look too good for the now outdated Endeavour. Ford has decided to change all of that with the new Endeavour which should arrive in India by the end of the year. Here’s what you need to know about it.

1. It’s a considerable step-up from the outgoing Ford Endeavour

We all love the Endeavour. Barring a misguided facelift, it’s been one of the more traditionally symmetrical and handsome SUVs on our roads. But it has been around for quite a while and it was starting to show it’s age. The new Ford Endeavour aims to make up for the outgoing model’s inadequacies by being an all-new product that doesn’t share anything with the current car. Ford’s teams from Australia, South America and Southeast Asia have worked conjointly to create a completely new car which is more powerful and sophisticated. It’s also packed with features such as the new Terrain Response System, ambient noise cancellation, traction and stability control etc.

2. It’s more commonly known as the Ford Everest

The vehicle retails across nearly 200 markets as the Ford Everest. However, owing to the existence of a spice making brand with the same name in India, Ford stuck with the more familiar Endeavour brand to avoid legal issues.

3. It looks pretty good

The car manages to mix contemporary design with traditional clean cut looks which befits an urban off-roader. The new Endeavour gets an imposing octagonal grille up-front with a smooth, muscular shoulder line, softer edges and a very proportionate silhouette on the whole. The Indian model will also get silver scuff plates, wrap around tail lamps and sharply cut 18” alloys, which add considerable value to the car’s aesthetics.

4. It’s packing heavy

The Endeavour coming to India gets two engine options, a 2.2 litre turbodiesel and a more powerful 3.2 litre turbo diesel engine. Power is sent to both via a 6-speed manual or an optional 6-speed auto box. The 3.2 litre engine will presumably be available on the high end variants and will pack all the luxury features the car has to offer, including the Terrain Response System. It’s got 198 bhp of power with 47 kgm of peak torque. The smaller 2.2 litre turbo diesel is a more city friendly unit, devoid of the Terrain Response System, however it still packs a 4×4 system with a low ratio transfer case, locking differentials and hill climb assist. A 2.2 litre variant with 4×2 powertrain will also be available.

5.   It’s quite plush on the inside

Some of the biggest upgrades the car receives are to be found on the inside. Everything is brand new in here, including a new dual-tone dash with a large touchscreen infotainment unit in the centre which features Ford’s Sync system, along with AUX and USB ports. The car also features climate control and electronically adjustable seats up front. The instrument cluster also features a large screen with system information on display. The car offers three rows of seating along with fairly decent room for luggage.

Although it hasn’t been launched yet, the car appears to be ready to take the fight to the upcoming next-gen Fortuner. Expect it to be priced a fair bit higher than the current range whose top-end model retails at Rs 27.10 lakh (Ex-Mumbai).