2014 Ford Endeavour is here. We introduced it to you, we spread the news of its specs, we reviewed it by our experts, and we reviewed it by you people as well. We compared it with cars of its capabilities and of even dissimilar ones and that leads us to its last but certainly not the least competitor in the market, the most premium SUV of the segment, Hyundai Santa Fe. One of the most expensive and Snob valued SUVs, Santa Fe is really in a league of its own. But watching our new rookie chasing it down for fame would be a pretty exciting job as well. Let’s have a look then.
Prices
In comparison with the Endeavour, if Fortuner sounded expensive then surely, Santa Fe with its price range of 25-28 lakhs in the market would seem blindingly insane whereas Endeavour comes cheaper at a price range of 19.5-23 lakhs.
Endeavour here is surely the choice of pocket friendly buyers but with a boot full of premium class features, Santa Fe is still a better bet if you don’t really have a budget limit.
Also See : Visit Our Ford Endeavour FAQ section containing all small-yet-useful info altogether for your convenience
Engine and Performance
Engine wise, Ford’s so called capable and top notch engines i.e. 2.5 and 3.0 ltr TDCi VGT/DOHC 16 Valve are nice performers with a max power of 153.86bhp @3200rpm and with torque rate 380Nm @2500rpm on the top-end variant. Where, Fe’s guardians have carefully plucked and placed a small but capable 2.2 ltr CDRi Diesel engine into its hood with a max power in all the three variants being similar and as good as 194.30bhp@3800rpm and a whopping and revolving torque of 420-436Nm@1800-2500 (depending upon variants) for lag free accelerations and constant outbursts of insane performance throughout the rides in all conditions.
Both the cars, have used a similar pattern in putting a 4×2 MT and AT option in the base and mid-models, where the 4×4 top variants of both the cars come equipped with an AT system. But here as well, Santa Fe with a 6-speed auto box (even the manual is 6-speed) goes smoother over up shifts and downshifts against the Endeavour’s not so bad yet slow-in-comparison 5-speed gearbox.
Comparing the mileage figures, then surprisingly with a small heart and more power churned out of it, the Santa Fe understands the Indian market’s craving for fuel economy and hence with the help of its 3rd gen FI system delivers a better fuel economy of 10.8 KPL in city and 14.66 KPL on open roads. Contrary, the Endeavour with its overall average of 11 KPL seems a bit thirsty here.
With performance figures like that in all angles, Santa Fe clearly seems to outplay the Endeavour’s a bit lazy appeal in terms of modern engineering.
Drivability and Handling
A car packed with fancy features and numbers is nothing if it doesn’t behave well on road. Hyundai knows this fact very well it seems like because it not just comes filled with all the general figures of safety and drivability but also preaches other SUVs of the segment about reaching surmounted betterment at it. Over Endeavour’s standard safety features like 8 Airbags, ABS with EBD, collapsible steering column, Ford’s patented Dynamic Safety Engineering etc. Santa Fe is crunched with some market astonishing features like Flex steer and Advanced Traction cornering control for roll free and easy corners, ESC, 4-wheel drive assist, lane Depart Warning system, VSM, 7-Airbags (one for the knee as well), Down Hill Brake Control (DBC), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC) for some fun filled off-road-rough-terrain plays and an ABS with BAS over the conventional safety barriers.
The Santa Fe not just handles well on road with 18’’ wheel set over Endeavour’s considerably small 16’’ wheels, but stays in control with front and rear ventilated discs in the wheels. Ironically, even the disc plates of the Santa Fe are bigger than the Endeavour’s wheel size which fits discs only in the front wheels making it a risky stopper in comparison. But still, the total ground clearance of the Fe is very less at only 185 mm where the Endeavour stands like a tall boy over it with a happy clearance of 210 mm.
And last but not the least, Santa Fe like in all the drivability quotients overtakes and leaves the Endeavour far behind with its improved and better performing front McPherson Strut suspensions and rear multi- link shockers with dampers for better and smooth handling and stability over Ford’s very basic Leaf and Wishbone suspension system.
Interiors and Exteriors
Both the cars if put against each other in a beauty pageant, then there is no doubt about it, that with its patented and revolutionary Fluidic Design and aerodynamic cues, the Santa Fe is a looker over Endeavour’s old and boxy design since ages. But with a freshly touched grille, chrome-bits, body decals and headlamps, it’s still in the league. Anyways, the Fe could not be compared still with the Endeavour with its aesthetically advanced exterior hues like Xenon headlamps with HID positioning lights, fog lamps with DRL, LED rear combi-lamps, rear sporty spoiler, front and rear skid plates and dual mufflers etc. while rear defogger, rear glass washer/wiper, ORVMs and foldable mirrors remain standard in both the cars. Santa Fe is a winner here.
Roomy and fresh, the new Endeavour is suave and sophisticated inside. But when it offers a pre-fixed dual tone beige look and metallic finish inside, Hyundai with its keyless operations through remotes and sleek pushes in the SUV makes you feel like a true British aristocrat with high-class options of customizations to choose from for the room, including an interior theme between grey, black, beige and brown colors for upholstery and compartment theme and an even exciting option between Cross Metallic and 3D Carbon for IP garnishing. Apart from that, a touchscreen infotainment system remains comparable in both the cars as a centrality. But when Endeavour uses a conventional and semi digital theme for clusters, the Santa Fe uses a more futuristic colored TFT LCD in meters for extra functionality.
Apart from that, Santa Fe is roomier than the Endeavour with a 6 and 7-seater cabin option to choose from. And an advantage of high-end market luxury saloon cars like features will always be felt in the cabin of Santa Fe with enough leather, panoramic sunroof, Ventilated seats for comfortable rides, power seats with 4-way lumber support and memory program makes it an even better and elite choice over the Endeavour which is still decent in comfort levels. But when you get creature comforts like that of some high-end Merc or Audi, you get spoilt easily. Passenger comforts are still well versed within the Endeavour with Climate control, Cup holders and rear AC vents and controls just like the Santa Fe.
With all these features and many more, Santa Fe seems a clear winner of the comparison when it comes to appeal and feel. But with a price tag like that, Endeavour still feels like a better bet with enough fancy features and easy and constant performance charts, it’s still considerable enough and trustworthy.
Pros and Cons
Endeavour Pros:
- Affordable
- Decent abilities
- Market prestige
- FORD’s name
Endeavour Cons:
- Still dull
- Lacks many features
- Spares and costing
- Body roll
- Mileage
- Handling could have been better and FORD level.
Santa Fe Pros:
- Elite class and premium feel
- Best in class features
- Driving appeal
- Safety features
- Hyundai’s service network
Santa Fe Cons:
- Expensive
- Too stuffed
- Maintenance
- Running costs
- No serious off-roader
Final Verdict
Santa Fe is a winner clearly for this comparison and it’s a car to buy if you want a combined saloon-SUV for rough terrains but it’s not a hardcore off-roader. Endeavour is a niche package but gives up really soon. So, with better engine and features ability, we pick Santa Fe to be a better car here.
