
Ford recently announced the starting price of the new Territory SUV that is penned in to arrive in South Africa in the second quarter of the year.
At launch, the five-seater SUV will be available in three trim levels from a starting price of R610,000.
This means the entry-level Territory is just R3,900 cheaper than another new Ford that landed on our shores not that long ago, the Puma ST-Line Vignale.
An important distinction perhaps, the automaker labels the Territory as its new “volume seller” while the Puma is categorised as a “trend-setting sports utility vehicle” that meets the demands of “dynamic young individuals and professionals” – hinting that the two are aimed at separate audiences.
Be that as it may, with their prices so close together it begs the question: If you have around R610,000 to spend on a new Ford SUV in 2024, do you go for the Territory Ambiente or the Puma ST-Line Vignale?
Creature comforts
The new Territory Ambiente is delivered with an impressive level of kit despite its entry-level positioning in the line-up.
Those interested can expect LED headlights and daytime-running lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, dark “Domino” fabric seats, a multifunction steering wheel, manual air conditioning with rear-seat vents, a 7.0-inch instrument cluster flanked by analogue gauges, a 12.3-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and six speakers.
Building on this, it offers cruise control, rear parking sensors, hill-launch assist, hill-descent control, a tyre-pressure monitoring system, ABS with brake assist, traction control, and a total of six airbags.
Being smaller but more expensive than its namesake, the top-spec Puma brings all of the amenities of the base Territory as well as a few exclusive fitments.
Rounding out the crossover’s spec sheet is a leather flat-bottom steering wheel with red needlework, partial leather upholstery, a wireless smartphone charger, an 8-inch central touchscreen with smartphone mirroring, a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display, lumbar massage front seats, a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, climate control, lane-keeping aid with lane-departure warnings, front parking sensors, a hands-free tailgate, adaptive LED lights, rain-sensing wipers, distinctive 18-inch wheels, and sports suspension with specially-tuned springs and shock absorbers
The dimensions of the family-focused Fords are compared below:
Territory | Puma | |
---|---|---|
Length | 4,630mm | 4,207mm |
Width | 1,935mm | 1,805mm |
Height | 1,706mm | 1,537mm |
Ground clearance | 190mm | 164mm |
Kerb weight | 1,951kg | 1,468kg |
Cargo capacity | 448-1,422 litres | 456-1,170 litres |
Performance
Where the Territory pulls ahead is in the performance category, sporting a 1.8-litre, turbo-petrol motor churning out 138kW and 318Nm, a noticeable step above the Puma’s 92kW and 170Nm that is derived from its 1.0-litre turbocharged plant.
Both the Fords channel drive to the front axle via a seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission with fuel consumption sitting at 5.3l/100km for the smaller model and approximately 6.3l/100km for its bigger brother, but particulars such as their acceleration times and top speeds have not been made public.
The Territory additionally provides four selectable drive modes comprising Normal, Eco, Sport, and Mountain; compared to the Puma’s five settings which are Normal, Sport, Eco, Slippery, and Trail.
Join the discussion