Spec comparo: Ford Endeavour Vs Toyota Fortuner Vs Chevrolet Trailblazer Vs Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Introduction

You know its important business when there is a new wrestler in the league of the big boys. The heavy weight category of the Indian auto market has got a new competitor. Yes, we are talking about the D-segment SUVs comprising vehicles like the Toyota Fortuner, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and now a new Ford Endeavour. In a bid to give you an idea what the segment stands like now, we have decided to pit the cars in a CarWale spec comparison.

Dimensions
A D-segment SUV is all about presence and being ladder on frame machines they are not short of it in any way possible. A simple glance at each fascia will tell you that all of them have an in-your-face design and usually have the ability to send little hatchbacks and sedans scampering out of their way.  

The Endeavour and the Trailblazer emerge out on top with the largest numbers thanks to their length of 4.82 meters and 4.87 meters.

The Fortuner and the Pajero Sport at 4.70 meters and 4.65 meters too are evenly matched in terms of overall length.

In such vehicles presence is further enhanced by ground clearance of which the Trailblazer manages to edge out the Endeavour significantly thanks to its GC of 241mm as compared to the latter’s 225mm.

It should also be noted that the Pajero Sport despite its aged design is not that far behind the Trailblazer when it comes to wheelbase.   

Equipment

When you reach this part of the market this list of standard equipment is now quite lengthy. It is all there in one form or another – power windows, climate control, touchscreen infotainment system, electric driver’s seat, electric ORVMs, reverse camera with sensors.

Clearly the Trailblazer and the Endeavour emerge out on top once again by virtue of being the newest and largest of the lot.

In terms of just plain numbers, the Endeavour and the Trailblazer are pretty evenly matched while the Pajero Sport is not that far behind leaving the segment leader (volumes wise), the Toyota Fortuner, to bring up the rear.

It (the Fortuner) also loses out because it is the only one with a black cabin while the rest have an airy shade of beige for at least one of half of the cabin trim.

Engine and gearbox
The Ford Endeavour that we have considered in this comparo is offered with a 3.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine that produces 197bhp, 400Nm of torque and is mated to a six-speed AT.

The Trailblazer sold in India is powered by a 2.8-litre mill that produces 197bhp, 500Nm of torque and sends power to the rear wheels via a six-speed AT.

The Pajero Sport, which is the oldest in the fray, gets a 2.7-litre four-pot mill that produces 176bhp/350Nm while the Fortuner gets a 3.0-litre mill that produces a ‘not-so-far-off from the Pajero’ 169bhp/343Nm. Both engines are offered with a five-speed AT.

It is pretty obvious that the Trailblazer blazes ahead thanks to the highest in segment torque. However, it is only RWD putting it at a bit of a disadvantage when the going gets rough. The same is the case with the Pajero Sport which in this version only comes in RWD format.

Price (ex-showroom Delhi)

We have used the top spec variants of each of these cars in the comparison.

The Toyota Fortuner is the most expensive of the lot at Rs 27.02 lakh while the Pajero Sport is the least expensive at Rs 25.35 lakh.

We believe that the Endeavour will be priced somewhere in the range Rs 24 lakh to Rs 28 lakh for the top spec  Titanium 3.2-litre 4X4 AT variant that we have used in this comparo.