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Endeavour and Pajero Hit the Popularity Chart
Ford India's popular Sport Utility Vehicle ‘Endeavour’ and Mitsubishi's ‘Pajero’ are making a mark in the Indian SUV segment with their cutting-edge technologies, thoughtful designs, and excellent off-road capabilities. Though new SUV models are continuously adding to the competition, the Endeavour and Pajero continue to be a preferred choice among SUV lovers. World-class performance, functional interiors, unique styling, and abundant on-board safety equipment set them apart in the crowded Indian car market.
An ‘Endeavour’ for all Endeavours
Introduced in India in 2003, the Endeavour has been delivering a true SUV experience to car buyers. The SUV has been popular for its luxurious and versatile seven-passenger interior and excellent off-road driving dynamics. The car also draws attention on the road with its large and rugged appearance and ability to offer fantastic comfort during long distance travel.
Currently available in 2.5L XLT 4x2 and 3.0L Thunder+ 4x4 versions, the Endeavour comes with a standard five-speed manual transmission. The base XLT trim is powered by a 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine that delivers 141 bhp and the Thunder+ is equipped with a larger and more powerful 3.5-litre TDCi inline four diesel engine that makes 154 bhp. Two-wheel drive configuration on the XLT is ideal for city and highway driving and the All-wheel drive setup on Thunder+ is designed for serious off-roading activity. Anti-lock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution delivers quick braking response.
The Endeavour comes with exclusive interiors - luxurious leather upholstery, second row 50:50 split reclining and double folding seats, foldable and removable third row seat, six cup holders, dual sunglass holders, leather wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, power windows (one touch down for driver), tilt adjustable steering, instrument panel light adjustment, large glove box with illumination, and electrically adjustable outside mirrors.
On the exterior, the Endeavour displays a bright front-end, roof rails, clear lens multi-reflector headlamps, chrome decklid handle, large chrome radiator grille, rear spoiler with stop lamp, chrome door handles, rear spoiler with stop lamp, and an aluminum side stepper.
Security is abundant on the Endeavour with features such as dual stage driver and front passenger airbags, height adjustable front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters, engine immobilizer, anti-theft alarm, collapsible steering column, door intrusion side beams, and limited slip differential.
Pajero for Unparalleled Performance
The Mitsubishi Pajero is a capable and muscular SUV endowed with a world-class powertrain. In 2002, Mitsubishi in collaboration with its Indian partner Hindustan Motors (HM) imported the Pajero as a Completely Built Unit (CBU) and this continued until HM started manufacturing the 2,800 cc diesel Pajero at its Chennai plant. In India, the Pajero comes in a single variant called ‘SFX’.
The new Pajero offers a wider stance, larger tyres, and higher ground-clearance than its predecessors. The ground clearance of the six-passenger Pajero is an impressive 205 mm and tires are 265/70 R15 tubeless radials. The wide tyres offer excellent traction even on some of the most difficult terrains.
The SUV handles off-road situations with great ease and delivers an extra-smooth ride. It provides maximum all-weather performance – both on- and off-road. The Super Select 4-wheel drive (SS4-II) system offers four different drive modes (2H, 4H, 4HLc and 4LLc) with evenly distributed torque on demand. This simply means that for normal roads, the 2H is used; for rough and hazardous conditions, 4H; 4HLC for off-road handling; and 4LLc for steep inclines, snow, sand, or mud.
The 2.8-litre turbocharged intercooled Direct Injection Diesel engine is teamed with an efficient five-speed manual transmission. The well-designed powertrain provides all-round performance particularly at high speeds.
Powerfully built, the Mitsubishi Pajero sports a fresh design with bold lines, attractive dual tone shades, new headlamp cluster, chromed door mirrors, chrome door handles, power antenna, silver-coloured bumpers, and unique tyres. The headlamp cluster, dual tone wheel covers, stylish six-spoke alloy wheels, two-stage power antenna, and wider footboards are some of the newly added features.
The all-new interior offers leather wherever possible - plush leather seats with body coloured headrests, soft leather dual tone door pads, and leather-wrapped gear and drive shift lever. Ash trays are placed on the door sides. Soft brown panels, modern dials, soft dash lights, handy controls, map lamps, rear AC control, height and tilt adjustable front row headrest, tilt adjustable power steering, cabin heater, utility tool kit, extendable sun visor, power windows, rear door stopper, dual air conditioning with second and third row ducts, lockable glove box, front seats with lumbar support, rear cup holder, centre armrest with stowage function, magazine pocket, and tuner/MP3 CD player with USB constitute the wide array of comfort and convenience. The second row seats split-fold and provide easy access to the third row. The third row seats can also be easily folded up to make room for extra luggage. They can just as well be unfolded to provide extra seating space for passengers.
The Pajero is reinforced with multiple standard safety features such as front dual airbags, three-point Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) seatbelts, anti-lock braking system, anti-trapping power windows, disc brakes, child-protection rear door locks, and side impact bars. High-tensile steel beams and support pillars used throughout the Pajero's construction provide an extra-rigid protective frame to the cabin.
Summing up
Both the Ford Endeavour and Mitsubishi Pajero are powered by efficient intercooled turbodiesel engines that offer admirable performance and deliver a fun-to-drive experience. The unique interiors of both SUVs are comfortable, spacious, and loaded with a bevy of useful features. Slip into the driver's seat of either of the SUVs to feel a commanding presence on the road while feeling completely safe at the same time, surrounded by a thoughtful combination of essential on-board safety equipment.
