Ford’s mid-spec Territory proves a worthy pick in the affordable mid-sized SUV bracket.
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Time spent: Six of six months
Distance covered: 17 905 km
Average fuel consumption: 9.72 L/100 km
We like: Competitive pricing, good looks, plenty of rear occupant- and cargo room
We don’t like: Not as efficient as we’d hoped, clunky transmission, infotainment gremlins
Thoroughly impressed with the Territory 1.8T Titanium we tested in our September 2024 issue, the CAR team was of the consensus that if we were to run a Territory for a long-term test period, our choice would be the Trend model, which sits between its entry-level Ambiente and range-topping Titanium siblings.
Our long-termer arrived at the office, sporting a striking monochrome appearance thanks to its Panther Black paintwork and privacy glass, with chromed detailing on the grille and window garnish providing some contrast. While the Titanium-spec model’s 19-inch rims, shod with 235/50-profile rubber, look a touch more purposeful than the Trend’s 235/60 R18 footwear, this higher-profile setup combined with the MacPherson front and multilink rear suspension to provide an impressively well-resolved ride.
Although the near-R75 000 price gap between the Trend and Titanium means foregoing niceties such as full leather upholstery, electric front seats, panoramic sunroof and an uprated sound system, as well as active safety spec that includes blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control with collision mitigation, these features aren’t dealbreakers, and the mid-tier model still feels comfy and well-equipped.
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The cabin proved more than comfortable for a family of four, allowing me to have two growing boys seated far enough behind mom and dad to not kick the seatbacks, even in their booster chairs. These roomy rear quarters were also appreciated by longer-limbed adults. Several of the Territory’s features really stood out when it came to bolstering its family-focused proviso. The faux-leather upholstery feels durable yet upmarket, showing little sign of wear and was easily cleaned – a boon when transporting younger kids. There’s also plenty of versatile packaging and storage sewn into the cabin’s spacious fabric. Valuables that need to be kept at hand, but out of sight, such as wallets or cards, can be stored in the centre console tunnel in front of the front USB-A and USB-C ports, or in the massive storage bin underneath. And when transporting outsized items necessitated stowing the rear seatbacks to free up the 1 240 litres of utility space on offer, that rear privacy glass does a great job of hiding valuables from prying eyes. The wireless charging pad up front often saved the day when my mobile phone’s battery was about to die during longer trips, but given the Territory’s family-friendly credentials, the inclusion of a single USB-A port in the rear seems like an oversight.
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The Territory’s 1.8-litre EcoBoost turbopetrol engine is a proven unit based on the 4G18F6E 2.0-litre unit that’s done sterling service in a range of Ford models, from medium- to large-sized SUV and sedan models, worldwide. With 138 kW and 318 N.m on tap, in the Territory it made easy work of overtaking slower-moving traffic during the daily commute and on longer journeys outside Cape Town, but it wasn’t without its caprices. The overly sensitive throttle and brake pedal calibration that we encountered in the Titanium test unit would accompany us over the next few months, although some of the initial off-the-line lurchiness could be mitigated by activating Eco Mode through the infotainment menu. Eco mode would also be instrumental in helping bring down the Territory’s average fuel consumption as our initial time with the car saw it returning an average of just over 10 L/100 km.
While the bulk of the Territory’s six-month stint with us was smooth sailing, it wasn’t completely without issue. In the last couple of months, there was an audible thump emanating from the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission while braking to speeds dipped below 20 km/h. Another intermittent irritation was the infotainment system’s tendency to play through just the right- or left-side speakers, and sometimes momentarily not play media at all.
These issues were addressed when I took the Territory in for its first annual service at NMI Ford Claremont. Although it was booked in for an express service, which promises a 60-minute turnaround time, our car needed a software update, which took more time. Post-service, and with the transmission now proving altogether more assured in its shifting, the Territory’s average fuel consumption dipped to a more respectable 9.72 L/100 km, though the transmission retains that pesky knock at low speed, whether cold or at peak operating temperature.
Despite the occasional hiccup, the Territory proved itself as a capable mid-sized SUV for families conscious of their budget and the Trend occupies the spec-related sweet-spot in the range value-wise.
Find the full feature in the May 2025 issue of CAR Magazine.
