The Ford Territory 2021 is the latest compact SUV from Ford Philippines. The SUV is as handsome as it gets and filled to the brim with features. Unlike other models in the same range, this one has a lot more to offer than most.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at the Ford Territory 2021 Titanium+ variant. Seeing as this isn’t what I’m normally used to reviewing (vehicle reviews are a lot more difficult than I thought), we’re going to approach this article from the point of view of a gadget reviewer, tech enthusiast, and run-of-the-mill driver. Let’s dive in.
Design and Features
When I was contacted by Ford’s PR agency to do a review of the Territory, I had no expectations coming in, apart from a quick Google of what it looks like. And when the actual review unit arrived on our doorstep, I was pleasantly surprised.
The Ford Territory 2021 is a very handsome car. The design is very modern with a lot of interesting details. It has LED headlights, which are fairly bright, fog lamps if you need more light, and LED daytime running lights that also double as turning signal lights. The addition of skid plates and a stylized grill add to the appealing aesthetic.
From the side, the Territory has a floating roof design. The window panels and pillars are blacked out, blending nicely with the rear windshield.
You have a very clean and streamlined appearance. It has chrome door handles and accents. You also notice the high ground clearance of about 180 mm or around 7 inches, and large 18-inch wheels with two-tone mags. The roof rails also add function as well as style.
The beauty of the Territory’s exterior easily matches the interior. From the inside, it looks very high class and, again, very modern. I am usually content with a clean and simple dash, but having something like this with the digital gauge cluster, wood paneling, and chrome finishes made me realize that I was missing out.
At the heart of it all is a 10-inch infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It has touch controls, but you can also use the buttons and knob at the center console.
Here, you can get a detailed 360-degree view of your surroundings, thanks to the parking sensors all around and the ultra-wide cameras at the front and back. It’s quite the experience that I honestly miss when they took the back the car.
The SUV features a panoramic moonroof, which opens all the way back and increases the feeling of a wider space within the vehicle.
At the back, the passenger seats have ample room and leg space as well. It has its own center console, rear-facing AC vents, a USB-A port for charging, and speakers on the rear doors.
All the way back is a cargo area that can accommodate up to 420-liters. The back seats can fold if you need more room of up to 1000 liters.
As I’ve said, the Territory is loaded with features. The ones that stand out to me include the following: a wireless charging panel for your phone (which I really like), parking sensors all around, digital AC controls, heated and cooled car seats (another one I really enjoyed having), powered seat controls, multiple cup holders, and those lights that shine from the side mirror to the ground to light up where you’re standing.
Comfort
Driving and riding comfort is another thing the Ford Territory excels in. Overall comfort is very impressive. The suspension is good, and you can feel the car flowing through bumps. The AC is strong, too, and you have more granular control over temperature and fan speeds.
SEE ALSO: Ford PH extends offers for Ford EcoSport, Everest, Ranger, and Transit
Ford also did a good job of blocking road noise. I mean, you can still hear outside sounds, but it’s dampened.
Performance
The Ford Territory has a 1.5L EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine with CVT. The only word I can think of to describe the driving experience is smooth. It feels great and, I guess, mundane (but in a good way). It’s fast to accelerate and easy to control.
The steering wheel is really light and quite easy to move. I drove larger vehicles with light steering before, but I was pleasantly surprised with how smooth this one is.
As for fuel economy, you get around 7 to 8 km/L in city driving with the usual traffic. Longer drives on the highway with clearer roads were about 15 km/L. From Paranaque to Tagaytay and back, we managed to burn through about a fourth of the gas tank.
Verdict
The Ford Territory 2021 Titanium model has a starting price of Php 1,310,000. The more affordable Trend is priced at Php 1,277,000. Given the difference, I recommend you consider the top-of-the-line model for the added features.
