[ad_1]
We recently took delivery of a Ford Territory Dark Edition, which was our first encounter with the smaller (since the Puma has now left the SA listings) of the Blue Oval’s SUV offerings.
Ford used to be the brand of family cars. From Escorts and Cortinas to Sierras and Sapphires, Mondeos and Falcons. There always seemed to be a Ford sedan to accommodate your family. However, that has changed significantly in South Africa over the last few years. Aside from the Tourneo MPV, the only family car options are the Ford Everest and the subject of this review, the Territory. The vast majority of the Blue Oval’s portfolio consists of commercial options in the shape of the Ranger and Transit.
We were quite keen to get our hand on the Territory. Recent experiences of the Everest left us impressed, so we wanted to see how the smaller SUV stacked up. The latest Territory range was introduced to local buyers about a year and a half ago. The Ford Territory Dark Edition was recently added as a third derivative to the line up. It slots in at the top of the range above the Ambiente and Trend variants. Without further ado, here are five things we learned about the latest addition to the family.
Follow Double Apex on Instagram and Facebook where we share more car content.
- It doesn’t look anything like its siblings. The Ranger, Everest and, to a slight degree, even the Tourneo share design traits. However the Territory seems to come from a completely different design studio. There is a good reason for this. The latest Territory is the end product of a joint venture with Chinese firm Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC). As a result, the design aesthetic was driven by the tastes of that massive market.
- To live up to its name, this derivative has black accents and trimmings. Among these are a black grille, roof, skid plate, fog lamp accents and mirror caps. In addition it wears alloys that are 19-inches in diameter. These are also finished in black. The Dark Edition is only available in four shades white, grey, black and red. The treatment continues in the cabin that features black headliner and pillars, black leather seats and contrasting orange detailing.
- Another departure from the family is the lack of Ford’s SYNC infotainment interface. The system really impressed us when we used it in the Everest. However, for reasons unknown to us, the Territory has a more generic system. We’re guessing it is sourced from JMC as it has the same look and feel as similar systems we’ve encountered in other Chinese products. The cabin is, otherwise, a pleasant place to commute with comfy chairs and enough room for four adults. The boot space does, however, feel a little lacking when compared to others in this segment.
- Ford SA has kept the local Territory line-up simple by offering just one powertrain option, offered in the three trim levels. The engine is a 1,8-litre turbocharged unit that develops 138 kW and 318 N.m. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission sends power to the front wheels in all cases. The engine is powerful enough for this application. However, we found that the Territory’s accelerator pedal is poorly calibrated. Try to be gentle on pull-away and there is very little power on tap. Feed in more gas and suddenly whoosh, there is a glut of power. We suspect that is another side effect of the JMC joint venture as this is a similar critique we’ve levelled at other cars from China.
- The lack of progression from the ‘go’ pedal is echoed in the ‘whoa’ pedal. The brakes, we found, are extremely grabby in this car. It took us almost the length of the loan period to learn to just tickle the brake pedal to slow the car smoothly. We even spilled some takeaway coffee thanks to the grabiness of the braking action. From a dynamic perspective, the Ford Territory Dark Edition also has a rather firm ride. We found that the suspension is too hard for a car that is primarily meant for hauling around the family. Perhaps those 19-inch alloys are to blame. The standard 18-inchers with plumper tyres should provide more cushioning.
- Lastly, we cannot overlook the price. At a shade under R740k the Ford Territory Dark Edition is not going to be on many people’s radar. In fact, we did a double take when we first read it on Ford’s website. The Ford Territory Dark Edition should be priced considerably lower, considering its size, standard features and engine. The comparatively high price explains why you see so many Chery Tiggo7s and Havals (its main rivals) around as opposed to the Ford.
Model: Ford Territory Dark Edition
Price: R733 000
Engine: 1,8-litre inline-four turbopetrol
Transmission: seven-speed, DCT FWD
Max power: 138 kW
Max torque: 318 N.m
0-100 km/h: n/a
Top speed: n/a
Fuel consumption: 7,6L/100 km (10,2 as reviewed)
[ad_2]