It’s been a while since Ford Philippines stopped selling the Escape crossover. Those who want to buy a Blue Oval high-rider are left with two choices: the smaller (and very affordable) EcoSport and the bigger seven-seat Everest. There isn’t anything in between.
Ford Philippines wants to fill that void now with the all-new Territory. No, this compact crossover isn’t in any way related to the Australian SUV with the same moniker. It’s a product of Ford’s joint venture with Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC) of China, now in the Philippines for the first time with the hopes of attracting crossovers buyers.
Design-wise, the all-new Territory comes with familiar cues from the Explorer, like the grille, the proportions, and the signature floating D-pillar. The compact crossover comes in two variants, Trend and Titanium+ — both come standard with LED headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, LED tail lamps, front and rear fog lamps, rear spoiler, and roof rails. The wheels (18 versus 17 inches) and the exterior door handles (body color versus chrome) are the only distinctions between the two variants.
Size-wise, the Territory sits between the Everest and EcoSport in terms of overall length, height, and wheelbase length, but it’s wider than both vehicles. Ground clearance is at 180mm, which is inferior to the EcoSport’s but gives the Territory a lower, wider stance than the pint-sized crossover.
Inside, perforated leather wraps the seats and most of the dashboard, while faux wood veneers accentuate the cabin up to the second row. These interior appointments are available across the range: panoramic moonroof, smart keyless entry with push-button start, cruise control, electronic parking brake with brake hold, leather steering wheel with mounted controls, power door lock with central locking, speed-sensing door locks, rearview mirror with auto-dimming and high-mount USB port (for dash cams), seven cup and bottle holders, and 12-volt power outlet. The 10-inch touchscreen infotainment is also standard, as well, along with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and four USB charging ports within the cabin.
Going for the top-spec Titanium+ gives you more, such as wireless charging, eight speakers, heated and cooled front seats, a 10-inch fully-digital display instrument cluster with three selectable themes (Normal, Sport, and Fashion), tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment, power windows with one-touch up/down function on all windows, and ambient lighting. More importantly, it has adaptive cruise control, which is a convenient feature to use when on a long highway cruise.
Under the hood, the all-new Territory comes with a 1.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost engine that makes 143hp and 225Nm of torque. This is sent to the front wheels via a CVT with Sport mode. According to Ford, this engine doesn’t require frequent servicing, which brings the number of dealership visits per year down to just one.
Other mechanical details include McPherson struts up front and multi-link independent suspension at the rear, plus ventilated and solid disc brakes for the front and rear wheels, respectively.
In terms of safety, the Territory is heavily equipped as well. Six airbags, traction control, stability control, ABS with EBD, hill launch assist, parking sensors and camera, tire pressure monitoring, and ISOFIX child seat tethers are all standard on both variants.
Again, the top-spec Titanium offers more with automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning working in tandem with the adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring, as well as an HD 360-degree-view camera and automated parking feature for both parallel and perpendicular parking situations.
The new Territory will be available at Ford dealerships nationwide starting today, August 14, with an initial price tag of P1,179,000 for the Trend and P1,299,000 for the Titanium+. According to Ford Philippines, this introductory pricing will be available indefinitely. What’s definite is the free 3-year preventive maintenance service that comes with every Territory purchase until September 15.Both variants of the Territory can be had in Ruby Red, Diffused Silver, and Panther Black, while Star White is solely available in the Trend variant. Crystal Pearl White and Moonstone Blue (the color you see here) are exclusively available in the Titanium+.
