Ford Territory

Inside the flagship, Ford Territory is a superior modern cabin. The 10-inch fully digital display instrument clusters come in 3 selectable themes according to your drive preference. It serves as the background for the leather-wrapped, multifunction steering wheel that is tilt and telescopic adjustable. At the center is a 10-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto partnered to an 8 speakers sound system. Under the center display are button controls, USB ports, gear shifter, wireless charging pad, and rear AC vents on the backside. 4 USB ports and a 12V power outlets are peppered inside the cabin as well as cupholders and other cubbies for gadgets, bottles, documents, and small stuff. The leather-wrapped seats with stitch accent matched with soft-touch leather trim around the cabin minimize the plasticky feel to attain a plush cabin feel. Ambient lighting with seven color options further heightens the modern experience. Cargo space is spacious and flexible as the bench rear seats with 60:40 split can be configured to fit both passenger and luggage needs.

This Ford crossover SUV marks its territory (pun intended) with gloss black front grille flanked with modern-looking upswept narrow LED headlights with daytime running lights. The bottom bumper gets air intakes, garnish, and fog lamps. On the side are aerodynamic creases, side mirrors with turn signal, and narrow chrome line accent on the window. At the rear are LED taillights with chrome accents, fog lamps, puddle lamps, and a Territory badge strategically placed at the tailgate which some might find a bit too much. Up top is a massive roof spoiler with stop lamp, shark fin antenna, roof rail, and panoramic moonroof with power twin slide function. The Ford Territory measures 4,580 mm long, 1,936 mm wide, 1,674 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,716 mm and 180 mm ground clearance. The Ford Territory Trend rides on 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in P235/ 55 R17 rubber while the Ford Territory Titanium+ gets a larger set of 18-inch alloy trims covered in P235/ 50 R18 tires. This Ford crossover SUV is available in six color options: Ruby Red, Diffused Silver, Panther Black, Star White, and with exclusive colors for the top variant—Moonstone Blue and Crystal Pearl White.

There’s a lot of expectation on the Ford Territory given that the American brand is known for producing balanced and powerful vehicles. However, the automaker somehow falls short on this, or maybe because expectations are set so high, the Territory somehow delivered a subpar performance as compared to other competitors despite its EcoBoost engine. But still a good performance nonetheless. The CVT is another issue. It would have been better if the transmission was automatic for a more suave transition in between shifts. But with the CVT, especially in stop and go traffic, there is a noticeable delay in response. Humps and bumps are cushioned thanks to the suspension system handled by a combination of McPherson at the front and multi-link independent suspension at the rear. But the soft and springy ride adds a bit more to the body rolls during sharp turns and cornering. For riding comfort, the center console that has a protruding backend makes it awkward for the rear middle seat passenger to sit on and takes some precious leg space. But the automatic AC with front and rear vents with activated carbon and pollen filters is a much-welcomed feature, especially on long rides. Front seats have cooling and heating features for added comfort.

This American brand crossover SUV is equipped with a 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine that delivers 143 PS of maximum power at 4,500 – 5,200 rpm and 225 Nm of peak torque at 1,500 – 4,000 rpm. The 1,490 cc engine is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with Sport Mode and electronic power-assisted steering. Despite promises of efficiency, fuel economy is so-so at 7.40 kmpl.

For safety, convenience, and driver-assist features, this Ford crossover SUV comes packed. Standard features include six airbag system including side curtain airbags, auto on/off headlamps with follow me home feature, smart keyless entry with push-button start, speed-sensing door locks, adaptive cruise control, electronic stability control, anti-lock braking system, electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control, hill launch assist, parking sensors, ISOFIX, and tire pressure monitoring with individual tire pressure display. The Flagship Titanium+ get extra safety features like enhanced active park assist system with parallel and perpendicular parking assist, high definition 360-degree camera, rain-sensing windshield wipers, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and blind-spot information system. 

The stopping power is handled by ventilated discs at the front and solid discs at the rear. The electronic parking brake system with auto brake hold function further enhances the stopping power. The top variant EcoBoost Titanium+ gets extra autonomous emergency braking wherein the system brakes for you when there is a potential collision with a vehicle in front and you do not react.

There is no doubt that the Ford Territory wows in terms of exterior styling, cabin features, security features, and infotainment technology which allows it to command a higher price tag than most compact crossover SUV on the market. It is a great family car for small families that is both roomy and versatile. However, buyers who have very high expectations for what the Ford brand is known for might be a tad disappointed with the power and CVT performance. But still, it does perform better than some competition and is a good crossover option.