Toyota Fortuner vs Mahindra Alturas vs Ford Endeavour: Which is Best Premium SUV?

Mahindra recently launched the Alturas G4 7-seater SUV in India at a starting price of Rs Rs 26.96 lakh. The Mahindra Alturas G4 is in essence, a rebadged version the Ssangyong Rexton. In this post, we’ll take compare the Alturas G4, with its biggest rivals the Toyota Fortuner (starts from Rs. 27.23 lakhs) and the Ford Endeavour (starts from Rs.26.31 lakhs) and find out which of them is the best, at least on paper.

Dimensions

The all new Mahindra Alturas is the largest offering from Mahindra on sale today at least in terms of dimensions. The Alturas is 4,850 mm long, 1,945 mm wide and 1,860 mm tall. The wheelbase of the Alturas G4 measures in at 2,865 mm long and the SUV has a ground clearance of 244 mm.

The Ford Endeavour is the closest of the new Mahindra’s rivals that comes close to it terms of size. The Endeavour is 4,892 mm long, 1,860 mm wide, and 1,837 mm tall. The Endeavour’s wheelbase is 2,850 mm long and the American SUV has a ground clearance of 255 mm.

The Toyota Fortuner is the smallest of the three SUV when it comes to size. The Fortuner is 4,795 mm long, 1,855 mm wide and 1,835 mm tall. The wheelbase of the Fortuner measures in at 2,850 mm long and the SUV has a ground clearance of 215 mm.

In terms of size, the Alturas is a whole lot larger than its rivals. While the Endeavour may be longer in terms of length, it is shorter when the wheelbases are measured and the Toyota is positive. This means that the Alturas, which is both wider and taller than its American rival and should also offer more room inside the cabin thanks to the larger wheelbase. The Endeavour though offers better ground clearance. When it comes to size, the Fortuner doesn’t even seem to get close to the even second side.

Engine specs

Both the new Mahindra Alturas and the Ford Endeavour are offered with only diesel engines. The Toyota Fortuner, on the other hand, is offered with both petrol and diesel powertrains. The Fortuner is also the only SUV in the trio that is offered with a manual gearbox. All three SUVs offer four-wheel-drive with their higher-specced variants.

While the new Mahindra Alturas may have the smallest engine in terms of size at just 2.2-litres, the turbo diesel unit under its bonnet cranks out 178 Bhp and 400 Nm of torque. The Toyota Fortuner loses out here as well at least in terms of power with 174 Bhp though it offers its drivers 50 Nm extra torque compared to its rival from Mahindra. The petrol Fortuner’s 2.7-litre engine is only good for 164 Bhp and 245 Nm of torque.

Ford’s base engine version for the Endeavour is also a 2,2-litre turbo four diesel with only 158 Bhp and 135 Nm of torque on offer. The Endeavour’s larger 3.2-litre engine option it a five-cylinder turbo cranks out 197 Bhp and 470 Nm of torque. The Ford certainly has the most powerful engine on offer here.

Design, Features & Safety

Mahindra certainly has the macho large SUV design nailed thanks to the Alturas G4. The follows Alturas G4 comes with quite a few modern touches including LED headlamps and Mahindra’s signature lighting effect.

In terms of Design, it is once again the Alturas that ends up the winner here. While the Ford is a proper throwback to old-school off-roaders while the Fortuner looks like it is trying too hard to be cool.

The Interiors are another place where Mahindra has managed to differentiate itself from its rivals. The leather-wrapped dashboard is a first in the segment and takes levels of luxury and refinement to a whole new level thanks to features like multi-zone climate control, large touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity among many others.

 

Overall verdict

The New Mahindra Alturas is no slouch when it comes to a stat war for the best premium SUV in the country. With its aggressive price tag and feature-rich exterior and interiors, The Alturas is ready to give its rivals a bloody nose, though it does have a task ahead on its hands to get customers away from the reliable Fortuner.