Ford’s new Territory has landed in South Africa, aiming to re-establish the brand’s dominance in the mid-size SUV space.
Ford built the SUV in collaboration with its Chinese partner Jianling Motors Corporation (JMC) which has helped it keep the price tag down without compromising on style and luxury.
Pricing is bookended at R576,000 for the Ambiente rising to R707,000 for the Titanium, positioning the Ford in a heavily competitive segment against nameplates like the new VW Tiguan, Hyundai Tucson, Haval H6, and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro.
It might have a fight on its hands in the current landscape, but Ford has certainly given its Territory the right tools for the job.
Charting new territory
The Blue Oval didn’t mention how much involvement JMC had in the development of its new volume seller, but those familiar with Chinese products will see similar streaks running through the Territory.
The cabin is un-Ford-like, it’s more minimalistic than what the American brand usually goes for as well as more chic. Not that Ford’s own interiors are poorly made, they’re just usually not this, for lack of a more accurate term, fancy.
The front fascia is made up of a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and 12-inch digital instrument cluster huddled under one housing, complemented by a discrete set of touch-sensitive aircon controls, while wood inlays and integrated metal aircon vents provide the finishing touches – a layout that wouldn’t look out of place in something like the aforementioned Tiggo 8 Pro.
It is similarly big on software and luxuries, with the Titanium test unit offering automatic high-beam functionality, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, a wireless charger, a reverse camera, collision mitigation, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring.
The electric front seats are highly supportive and cladded in attractive blue/black leather, and the interior door handles have a very natural feel to them.
In short, build quality and attention to detail are on par with other Ford products so you don’t feel skimped in these areas, but it’s everything apart from this that gives the impression that Ford may not have had too much involvement in them.
Cabin space is where the Territory excels.
It may not seem that substantial when viewing the SUV from the outside, but you’d have a tough time finding a five-seater at this price point that is roomier than this Ford.
Not once was it necessary to move my seat when someone got into the back despite this being muscle memory in just about every other car I’ve driven before, and three passengers comfortably fit side-by-side on the rear bench with nary a mention of being cramped for space.
There is a sizeable storage console between the front seats and under the control hub where the transmission tunnel usually runs – another often-seen trait in Chinese and electric cars – and the 448-litre boot is more than considerable enough for an entire family’s everyday necessities.
A nice finishing touch, the frankly massive panoramic sunroof just amplifies the sense of openness.
The 1.8-litre EcoBoost powertrain and the bits surrounding it seem to be where Ford had the most input.
The unit delivers 138kW and 318Nm to the front wheels, supplying decent and responsive pulling power at most speeds.
Its thirstiness came out to 8.6l/100km which isn’t bad for a vehicle in this class and the reserve indicator only went on after some 530km of travels in mixed conditions.
The seven-speed automatic transmission is snappy, too, but it’s not the biggest fan of bumper-to-bumper traffic. On one particularly busy afternoon my usually 17-minute commute turned into one that lasted 45 minutes, and I noted the occasional clunky downshift crawling home at a snail’s pace.
A strong point, though, is ride comfort. The suspension system readily absorbs roughness in the terrain and keeps the body flat albeit riding on 19-inch alloys in the Titanium model, and very little noise intrudes the cabin from the outside world.
It does plenty of things right, but the Ford lives with similar inconveniences as its Chinese contemporaries.
For example, the buttons on the central display are small on certain pages and tough to click on the go, and the abundant use of piano black on frequent touchpoints means equally abundant fingerprint stains and hairline scratches.
You also don’t have any manual gear control and there’s no physical toggle for the Ford’s Eco, Sport, and Mountain drive modes so you must navigate through several sub-menus on the touchscreen to get to them.
One thing that irked my inner perfectionist is the fact that the centre of the steering wheel is simply not aligned with the centre of the driver’s display. It’s not that uncommon to see, but never have I seen it as conspicuous.
As a result, a section of the rev counter was hidden behind the steering wheel at all times from my point of view, whereas the speedometer was in full display with space to spare.
Best of both worlds
Ford has worked out a solid formula for the new Territory that should get a few heads turning its way and a few wallets open.
It has the style and amenities that have pulled many locals towards Chinese products in recent years, combined with the performance and peace of mind that comes with a well-established badge like Ford.
At such an attractive price, it’s hard to see why the Territory wouldn’t become one of the Blue Oval’s biggest hits in South Africa.
Ford Territory
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