Ford Endeavour TDCi 3.0 Thunder+ (Old)

Ford’s big boy houses a large common-rail diesel motor that displaces a big 2953cc. The Ford uses a modern common-rail direct injection diesel motor has the potential to deliver a massive TKO (technical knock out). Talk numbers and Ford’s 153bhp stands out. The direct injection Ford has substantially a lot of torque too.

We’d tested Ford’s 2.5-litre Endeavour last August and were floored by it. We expected more of the same from the new 3-litre motor that also uses twin overhead camshafts, 16 valves and a variable geometry turbo to help it breathe deeply. Thankfully, we weren’t disappointed.

The Thunder+ is a big, heavy car at almost two tonnes, but the on-demand torque means it doesn’t feel that way. Unlike the 2.5, that has the same gearing as this car and suffers from some amount of turbo lag, there is almost no waiting for the turbo to spool up. Put your foot down and the Endeavour lunges forward almost immediately, from even as low as 1200rpm. It has a massive 38.7kgm of torque available at 2500rpm and once you’re past 2000rpm both power and torque ascend rapidly, delivering a strong and sustained shove. The motor however starts running out of steam once it closes in on the 4000rpm mark.

The Ford has the tremendous straightline speed, power and torque. Breaching the 100kmph mark takes the Thunder+ a respectable 12.9 seconds. Ninety percent of this performance is available by using only 70 to 80 percent of the powerband and even shortshifting can deliver very strong performance. And because of all that torque, there is seldom any need to downshift on the slick Ford gearbox.

The Endeavor gives back 8.8kpl in the city and 18.3kpl on the highway.