Fair enough. The Endura has just five seats and the Territory had seven, and tows 2000kg versus 2700kg. Ford has its ute-based Everest for buyers needing seven seats and 3000kg tow capacity, so the Endura is the urbanite with decent boot space, features and safety.

It’s not cheap — and its sales have been eclipsed by the smaller Escape and burlier Everest SUVs. Our family of testers sampled the sporty mid-spec ST-Line grade.

First impressions

Jules: This doesn’t look like your average soccer mum Ford SUV.

Iain: Quite tough looking?

Jules: It’s massive. Chunky, a bit sporty and its front grille should have its own postcode.

Iain: It’s the ST-Line version of Ford’s lesser-spotted Endura. Gives you 20-inch wheels with black highlights, body kit, blacked-out trapezoid front grille and roof rails, twin exhaust tips and lowered, sports-tuned suspension.

Jules: Right. So it’s a sports car now?

Iain: A sportier version of what is otherwise a me-too large SUV. It has decent visual clout, I’d say.

Jules: It’s got bad-boy style. How much?

Iain: This one’s all-wheel drive and $57,990 drive-away. The two-wheel-drive’s $53,990 on the road. The entry-level Trend’s a mighty $9000 cheaper, doesn’t look as flash but is still well appointed.

Jules: Ouch. And its rivals?

Iain: Toyota Kluger, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-8 and Holden Acadia — all seven seaters.

The living space

Jules: Why no third row of seats? It’s a large family SUV.

Iain: It helps to deliver the spacious cabin layout. It works, too. The boot’s massive and rear passenger room is vast. Plus those rear seats recline to a relaxing angle.

Jules: Couldn’t you still fit two fold-down seats behind so as not to exclude seven-seat SUV buyers?

Iain: I asked Ford the same and was reminded they have the Everest for seven. They also reckon Endura buyers won’t need the +2 as they are prioritising luxury and space.

Jules: A lot of mums with two kids favour seven-seaters so they can give lifts to the kids’ friends too.

Iain: Get an Endura and swerve that. Who enjoys travelling with four or five kids in the car?

Jules: Textbook dad statement. On the plus side, the Endura feels huge inside and seats are suede and leather with endless electric adjustment. And will heat or cool my bum at the touch of a button.

Iain: It’s a mixed bag, the cabin. I appreciate the 10-inch digital driver display, eight-inch infotainment screen, soft plastics and the rotary dial gear shifter.

Jules: But?

Iain: It still feels a bit plain-old-Ford but its price is more premium, sort of VW or Mazda level. It’s not quite there. The dashboard’s plain and the centre console plastics and buttons should feel classier. There’s no wireless phone charging either.

The commute

Jules: It feels a big lump through town but, wow, isn’t this thing a comfy highway cruiser?

Iain: Here’s the premium feeling bit. Despite the lowered suspension and 20-inch alloys, it is beautifully quiet at speed and absorbs bumps and lumps well.

Jules: I’m not ashamed to say I checked if it was petrol or diesel. The diesel engine sits on next to no revs at 100km/h and whispers along.

Iain: The main commuter boxes are ticked. Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, satnav and adaptive cruise control are there but, mystifyingly, there’s no head-up display. That’s standard on all Mazda3s these days.

Jules: To show where your money’s going, it gets banging Bang & Olufsen audio and dual-panel panoramic glass roof.

Iain: Those are optional extras, at $1000 and $2500 respectively. Include these and you’re starting to move into prestige medium SUV money.

The shopping

Jules: Shopping in hand, a swipe under the rear bumper and the power tailgate opens. Love this tech.

Iain: The boot is huge, one of the biggest in segment with more than 600L just to the level of the luggage cover.

Jules: The lack of a 360-degree camera makes life tricky. It’s a big car to park and the edgy bonnet angles make it hard to see your front end.

Sunday run

Iain: For a big SUV, handling, steering and ride in this sportier ST-Line are commendable, and there is nowhere near the wallowiness of many family SUVs.

Jules: There’s a bit of delay in engine response but it launches well and feels powerful.

Iain: On paper the diesel’s 140kW/400Nm outputs aren’t huge but I never felt I needed more. A power bump would differentiate the ST-Line from the rest of the range.

Jules: It’s good on highways and corners, it carries the kids and loads of gear — it’s an ideal camping car.

Iain: Except it’s not a proper off-roader. It’s all-wheel-drive but won’t climb mountains. I’d save $4000 and get the 2WD version; it’ll still manage a dirt road. The AWD will be better for towing, but with a 2000kg limit, the Endura won’t be the choice of many towers.

The family

Jules: The kids had acres of rear space. No complaints there.

Iain: But, as discussed, no room for two friends. Safety kit is excellent, including auto braking with pedestrian detection, nannying traffic sign recognition and clever steering assist if the big Ford doesn’t think you’re avoiding a hazard rapidly enough.

Jules: The five-year warranty and cheap services are pluses. I was really impressed to get a return of 6.9L/100km for our mixed bag of driving.

Iain: Ownership costs are appealingly low but you’ve got to set that against the rather expensive purchase price.

The verdict

Jules: I like the styling, classy cabin features, safety and how well it drives on the open road, but if I’m getting a giant SUV I want seven seats. Otherwise I’ll stick with a medium SUV thanks.

Iain: Fair point. The Endura works well if you have two teenagers so they can enjoy spacious and comfy rear seating. Having only five seats not seven will put off many large SUV buyers. It’s a shame, as this Endura ST-Line is a lovely thing to sit in and drive. It’s just not quite the complete package.

Ford Endura ST-Line AWD vitals

Price: $57,990 drive-away

Warranty/servicing: 5 years/u’ltd km, $897 for 3 years/45,000km

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel, 140kW/400Nm

Safety: 5 stars, 7 airbags, AEB with pedestrian detection, traffic sign recognition, rear camera

Thirst: 6.7L/100km

Spare: Space-saver

Boot: 800L