Ford goes with the Territory

Ford is a major producer of sport utility vehicles and a large number of these models are comfortably cruising streets around the world. 

Apart from the Escape compact SUV, the American automaker recently expanded its line-up in Thailand with the Territory midsized SUV, which is imported from Australia under the Thai-Australian Free Trade Agreement. This means it enjoys duty-free privileges (compared to the usual 80-per-cent import duty), but then the Territory still suffers from a whopping 78-per-cent excise tax and interior tax. 

As a result, the brown Territory Titanium offered by Ford Thailand for today’s test drive retails at Bt2.99 million, but I must add that it also comes with a gratifying level of goodies that customers will enjoy. 

Grab a head-on look at the Territory for the first time and you’ll see the front-end appears impressive with a contemporary look that reflects the theme used across other Ford models. But walk around the vehicle and you’ll notice that its side profile is bland and bulky – a usual character of American-styled SUVs. The rear end, meanwhile, is clean-looking and features a rear windshield that can be opened, serving as a more convenient access to the luggage compartment. For instance, if you need to retrieve a small object, just open the windshield and reach in for the object instead of having to open that really heavy tailgate. 

The Territory is powered by a 2.7-litre diesel engine borrowed from Jaguar/Land Rover, which is capable of producing 190hp and 440Nm of torque. The Territory feels heavy, but thankfully the large amount of torque helps to move it around without much trouble. Part of the praise for this goes to the 6-speed automatic gearbox (with manual mode), although the gearshift lever requires a good amount of force to move back and forth between P, R, N and D. 

The Thailand version of the Territory has an all-wheel-drive system that helps it maintain traction on loose surfaces, plus a comfortable front strut and rear multi-link suspension and 18-inch mags. 

Despite the considerable amount of body roll, the Territory holds onto the road pretty well at highway speeds. Ride quality is good and it corners smoothly, while the steering offers an appreciative level of precision for an SUV its size. 

With the Titanium trim you get several attractive features such a DVD player with an 8-inch touchscreen, USB/iPod connection with Bluetooth (phone and music streaming). Attached to the ceiling is another DVD entertainment system from Alpine featuring a larger 10.2-inch screen. Leather upholstery, keyless entry, dual zone climate control, multi-function steering wheel, parking sensor with camera, automatic projector headlights, and cruise control are included. But there are signs of cost-cutting: for example, the driver’s powered window is automatic only in one direction (down) while only the driver’s seat is powered, plus you get the feel that the interior plastics don’t look too convincing for a Bt3-million vehicle. 

There is plenty of space inside but the third-row seats are intended for the kids since there is not much legroom in the area. The second- and third-row seats can be folded flat without too much effort. The second-row seats, which can also be moved forward and backwards, are comfortable and passengers have lots of headroom and legroom. Along with the extra seats, there is a large number of cupholders located around the cabin and as many as 30 storage spaces. 

Safety features include dual front airbags, curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag, ABS brakes with Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Programme with Rollover Mitigation, and Traction Control, all of which have helped the vehicle pass the Australian NCAP crash test with an excellent 5-star rating. 

The Territory is a SUV that will delight Ford fans seeking a roomy sport utility for the family that comes with good entertainment features and a no-nonsense ride, although the retail pricing of Bt2.99 million is not friendly by any means. 

 

 

Ford Territory Titanium 

 

Engine: V6 turbocharged commonrail diesel 

Displacement: 2,720cc 

Bore and stroke: 81.0x88.0mm 

Max power: 190hp/4,000rpm 

Max torque: 440Nm/1,900-2,500rpm 

Transmission: 6-speed automatic 

Ratios: n/a 

Suspension (f/r): McPherson strut, control link, stabiliser/control blade multi-link, stabiliser 

Brakes (f/r): vented discs/discs 

Wheels: 18-inch alloys 

Tyres: 235/65 R18 

Dimensions (mm) 

Length: 4,883 

Width: 1,898 

Height: 1718 

Wheelbase: 2,843 

Track (f/r): 1,626/1,597 

Price: Bt2.99 million 

Distributor: Ford Thailand