Ford Philippines brought a completely new SUV model into the country last August: the all-new Ford Territory, a vehicle meant as a replacement to the defunct Ford Escape. Made in partnership with China’s Jiangling Motors Corporation Limited (JMC), the vehicle is made on the latter’s Yusheng S330 car model and is mainly designed for the urban setting.
In the Philippine market, one of the Ford Territory’s biggest rivals is the Mitsubishi Xpander. In this car comparison, we dive head first into the ins and outs of each model see which one deserves your hard-earned money more.
A vehicle made for the urban setting, the all-new Ford Territory is fitted with elements that complement the overall design, which includes LED bulbs for the, tail lamps and daytime running lamps, and headlamps, the latter which has an auto on/off and follow-me home feature. The new Ford SUV also has front and rear fog lamps, rear spoiler, roof rails, and a panoramic moonroof kind of makes it like a mini Ford Expedition.
The 2019 Xpander complements its sharply shaped sheetmetal with some attractive modern touches, making it a viable people carrier for the contemporary Filipino family. From its Dynamic Shield front fascia to its futuristic character lines, the all-new Xpander certainly looks more attractive than many other vehicles in its class. The LED position lights and combination tail lamps are easy on the eyes, and the 16-inch two-tone alloy wheels make a great introduction to the sleek and tasteful exterior.
Winner: Mitsubishi Xpander
For its interior, the all-new Ford Territory offers a refined riding experience, thanks to its perforated leather seat material, leather-covered center console with dual-lid opening, leather steering wheel with mounted controls, power door lock with central locking, speed sensing door locks, rear view mirror with auto-dimming and high-mount USB port, Smart Keyless Entry with Push Button Start, sunglasses holder, seven cup and bottle holders, wireless charging, and 12-volt power outlet. Infotainment is handled by a hands-free capable 10-inch touchscreen with multi-view function and Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless phone charging functionalities.
The 2019 Mitsubishi Xpander welcomes occupants to a modern dashboard that places great emphasis on ergonomics. This is matched by the use of high-quality surfaces that help the cabin look especially upscale for the price point. Key interior features include USB and 12-volt power outlets, Keyless Operation system, and a touchscreen six-speaker infotainment system equipped with GPS navigation (Xpander Cross, GLS, and GLX Plus trims only). Combine these with flat-folding rear seats, front passenger seat undertray, underfloor luggage storage, and bottle holders and pockets all around, and you get a car that gives you all the storage options you'll ever need.
Winner: Mitsubishi Xpander
The Ford Territory is powered by the Blue Oval’s signature 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine mated to a CVT transmission with Sport mode that delivers more than 141hp and 225Nm of torque. The same engine and transmission pairing is installed on the Territory’s two variants sold locally—the base Trend and the more upmarket Titanium+.
With four variants available, all Xpanders are equipped with a 1.5-liter inline-four 16-valve DOHC MIVEC engine that delivers 105hp and 141Nm of torque. The bottom trim GLX is the only manual transmission in the bunch--all the rest are backed by a four-speed automatic transmission. Suspension comes by way of a MacPherson Strut with Coil Spring and Stabilizer pairing up front and a Torsion Beam at the rear.
Winner: Ford Territory
The Ford Territory is major proof that a Chinese-made car is not of inferior quality, as many Pinoys are prone to think. For sure, safety is one thing that the Territory doesn’t scrimp on. The top variant’s got autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with forward collision warning, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, and active park assist. And there’s a lot more safety features to behold.
With regards to the Xpander’s safety features, expect driver and passenger airbags, three-point seatbelts on every seat, and an exceptional suite of traction and braking aids including traction control, hill start assist, and active stability control (Xpander Cross only). And the icing on the cake is Mitsubishi's proprietary Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) bodyframe that protects all occupants from forceful collisions and crashes.
Winner: Ford Territory
Retailed at an introductory price of PHP1.299 million for the Titanium+ and PHP1.179 million for the Trend, the Ford Territory is available in six hues including Ruby Red, Diffused Silver, and Panther Black for both variants, and exclusive colors including Star White for the Trend variant and Crystal Pearl White and Moonstone Blue for the Titanium+ trim.
As mentioned, the Mitsubishi Xpander comes in four different trims, namely: Xpander Cross, GLS, GLX Plus, and GLX. Color options include Sunrise Orange, Quartz White Pearl, Red Metallic, Jet Black Mica, Sterling Silver Metallic, and Graphite Gray. Color availability also varies per variant. Pricing for the Xpander range is as follows:
Winner: Mitsubishi Xpander
For our money, we’re picking the Xpander over the Blue Oval’s latest addition, thanks to its better looks, better options, and more affordable pricing. Not to mention, the Xpander Cross is a particularly enticing proposal in terms of an affordable car with upmarket creature comforts. But as you can clearly see in this comparison, the Ford Territory is better-equipped, with more safety features to boast of, and these are a priority for many Filipino car buyers. Ultimately, each vehicle has its own merits, and the better one boils down to what you’re looking for in a car.
Photos from Ford, Mitsubishi
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