In the year 2016, Ford launched the current-gen Endeavour in India. The potent SUV received accolades of appreciation from auto pundits and it still is one of the best, if not the best, packaged SUVs on and off the road in its segment. Come February 22, 2019, Ford India will introduce the mid-life update of the Endeavour. It officially broke cover in May last year and in markets like Australia and Thailand, where it is sold as the Ford Everest, it is already on sale.

On the outside, the Ford Endeavour facelift will come with a new front bumper, 20-inch alloy wheels and a new front grille. Inside the cabin, the dual-tone theme will be carried forward but with better fit and finish. The styling tweaks will also include subtle chrome inserts here and there. The list of gizmos will be expanded with hands-free tailgate operation. In international markets, the Endeavour facelift is sold with autonomous braking and pedestrian detection technology. India is unlikely to get that feature.

In the powertrain department, we are unlikely to receive any changes. The refreshed Ford Endeavour will borrow the engine-transmission combinations from the current model. Where the 2.2-litre, turbo-diesel mill has a 4-cylinder configuration and produces 160PS/385Nm, the 3.2-litre, turbo-diesel engine has 5 cylinders in its layout and generates 200PS/470Nm. Both engines are available with a 6-speed automatic transmission only. Only the larger mill will get the option of a full-fledged 4×4 drivetrain.

In international markets, the Endeavour facelift received a brand-new 2.0-litre diesel engine. With a single turbocharger bolted, the engine produces a 180PS/420Nm. However, the twin-turbo configuration of the same mill takes the power output to 213PS/500Nm. Transmission duties are handled by a 10-speed automatic unit. We’d love to have this smaller, gutsier and cleaner engine with us but it is unlikely to be offered at the time of launch. Maybe we’ll get it when the time to upgrade the engine to meet the stricter BSVI norms finally arrives.

Once launched, the Ford Endeavour will renew its rivalry with the likes of the Toyota Fortuner, Mahindra Alturas G4, Isuzu MU-X and the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. Other SUVs in the same sort of price bracket includes the Skoda Kodiaq, Honda CR-V, Volkswagen Tiguan and the Mitsubishi Outlander.