5 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT THE NEW FORD TERRITORY
The Ford Territory has finally arrived in South Africa and is ready to take on the highly-competitive midsize SUV segment.
Described by Ford South Africa’s CEO as the biggest launch of the year, the Territory is the Blue Oval’s next big volume-seller intended to serve the family car market, in contrast to the Ranger and Everest catering to the off-road crowd.
I recently attended the launch of the new vehicle in the Eastern Cape on a two-day journey along the beautiful Garden Route and was impressed by these five things that will likely make the Ford a hit among consumers.
Tasteful styling
There are a lot of midsize SUVs in South Africa at this point, as it is one of the fastest-growing segments in South Africa.
Automakers have been bringing out all manner of eye-catching designs to help their product stand out, and the Territory is no different, with a great-looking front end with a chrome grille and slim LED headlights.
The interior is just as good, especially on the range-topping Titanium, where you’ll be greeted by two-tone black-and-blue perforated leather upholstery, and wood-effect detailing on the dashboard and doors.
Powerful engine
The Ford comes with a 1.8-litre, turbocharged petrol engine which is fitted to all three units in the range, meaning the base spec is just as potent as the flagship.
This is relatively unusual for the segment where most competitors have a range of drivetrains, which makes it even more noteworthy that the Territory’s engine is on par with the more powerful ones from other brands.
It produces 138kW and 318Nm – more than enough for easy overtakes – and features an Eco driving mode and a Stop/Start function that came in handy along the N2’s Stop & Go roadworks.
Spacious interior
A big selling point of the Territory is that it is one of the largest in its class, which affords it an incredibly spacious cabin.
There’s plenty of headroom, and both front seats have plenty of room even with the large centre console in between.
The back row can comfortably fit three adults, and the Titanium even has a panoramic sunroof to let in more natural light, making the space feel that much more accommodating.
Lots of tech
Each of the three models has a decent amount of tech, starting with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
It’s not quite on par with the portrait screens found in the Ranger and Everest, but is still a great addition and works with minimal input delays.
Other items like a reverse camera with parking sensors, cruise control, and keyless entry and start are all standard and make the Territory easy to live with, and the higher-tier units sweeten the pot with things like a wireless charging pad, a 12-inch fully-digital driver display, ambient lighting, and an electric tailgate.
Great price
Of course, it’s easy to lavish a car with all manner of nice-to-haves, but the hard part is ensuring that it all still comes at a price that is attainable to consumers.
The good news is that the Ford clocks in at a starting price of R576,000 (R590,000 with the optional service plan), positioning it as one of the most affordable models in its segment.
Again, this is impressive considering that there are no powertrain differences in the line-up, and the 1.8-litre engine has a similar output to more expensive options from other automakers.
Source: topauto.co.za