2023 Ford Territory Titanium | Philkotse Philippines

Introducing the next-generation Ford Territory in the country is a no-brainer considering how well the market received the compact crossover. The new features and upgrades sound promising for the latest second-generation Territory – enough for me to think the vehicle is already a contender on paper.

2023 Ford Territory

But do the new features translate well when the crossover is out on the road? Fortunately, Ford Philippines handed us the key to the Territory Titanium, the entry-level model in its two-variant range. Here’s Philkotse’s 2023 Ford Territory Titanium full review.

Some, if not most, prefer the sporty aesthetics of the previous generation Ford Territory. I understand the sentiment, considering I was also a fan. However, I think the current iteration arrives with a more future-proof styling that won’t likely look outdated even if brands develop innovative designs.

LED DRLs come standard

Not many people might see it, but the new one still got the silhouette and design cues from the old one–at least somehow, from my point of view. I was even surprised to hear when I was asked by a non-car person, “Isn’t that the car you brought last time?” while pointing at the first-gen version. This, I believe, is a good touch from the design department.

The dimensions are increased by 50mm in length and 32mm in height, with the width being reduced by one mm only. It is also higher by 10mm in ground clearance, while the wheelbase has been extended by 10mm. All these changes complement the new boxy body of the crossover that looks larger even without confirming with the spec sheet.

It gets a larger grille

Compared to segment rivals, the Territory is larger than the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Peugeot 3008, with the Hyundai Tucson equaling the length at 4,630mm.

The increase in size is also matched with larger sets of wheels. Fitted in the Territory Titanium are 18-inch alloy wheels, which have a free-flowing design than the straightforward finish in the 19-inch wheels of the top-spec Titanium X. If you ask me, I prefer the latter as it looks better with the premium-looking exterior. But that’s just a subjective take.

18-inch alloys

The Territory comes with a wide range of standard exterior bits, though, including LED headlights, LED taillights, LED daytime running lights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, aluminum roof rails, and power-folding and power-adjustable side mirrors with a heater function.

Moving into the interior, the layout has undoubtedly improved. While the old and new appear to have the same premium-like concepts, the latter has a simpler and more organized cabin for me. Although, I enjoyed using the new and improved infotainment screen, which we will discuss later in the Tech & Safety segment.

Interior of the Ford Territory

As opposed to the gray accents in the top-spec variant, the Territory Titanium has blue accents, specifically “Peacock Blue.” The color combination didn’t grow on me, but at least it is better than the bland black finish in the previous generation. It still retained faux-wood accents, adding a premium touch.

Thanks to the increased dimensions, the interior offered more room than the old one, spacious enough even with five people onboard. The cargo area also has a lot of volume, capable of fitting four overnight bags without stacking them on each other.

The cabin gets Peacock Blue accents

New to the second-gen iteration is the dual-zone climate control. But for owners who prefer tactile buttons, the temperature can only be adjusted on the touchscreen. Capacitive touch buttons are available for fan speed, which had good feedback. It doesn’t have physical separators, making fan speed adjustment more challenging when on the go. Having no tactile buttons is not a dealbreaker for me, as I usually change the fan speed only.

As mentioned earlier, the new Territory is equipped with a new infotainment screen, particularly a 12-inch colored touchscreen as standard. It is connected to a seven-inch digital instrument cluster on top of the dashboard, with the top-spec variant getting a larger 12-inch digital instrument cluster.

12-inch touchscreen

What I can tell you is the system is way better than the previous one that had a quadrant-type layout. It was more responsive and easier to use, and I didn’t feel it had a learning curve. Another feature I appreciate is the standard integration of wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto.

But like most wireless Apple CarPlay, I had trouble reconnecting my smartphone to the system in moments it was disconnected. I tried switching the engine off and opening the door to shut the infotainment system off, but it still didn’t work. Other than that, the new system has been improved overall.

This has an electronic power assisted steering

One of the major trade-offs of opting for the entry-level Territory is the lack of an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). This means no adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency brake with pedestrian detection, lane departure, and lane keep aid in the Titanium. It does have cruise control, which I had no problem living with for a week.

At least the vehicle still has a 360-degree view camera, an active park assist, and a blind-spot information system with rear cross-traffic alert. I believe these are the only safety bits you would regularly use, so even though it doesn’t have an ADAS, I didn’t feel like it was missing something.

Now, onto my favorite part, which is the driving experience. The Ford Territory is powered by the same 1.5-liter EcoBoost (turbocharged) engine. But the power figures have been increased to 158 horsepower and 248 Nm of torque. For reference, the previous tuning made 141 horsepower and 225 Nm of torque. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) has also been discontinued in favor of a seven-speed wet-type dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Retuned EcoBoost engine

The most common issue I had with the previous generation was the delayed power delivery. Driving the new one made me feel the manufacturer addressed the issue as it responded quicker, and the rubber band effect was eliminated. Driving the old one was frustrating, especially when I was about to hit the brakes, and the power was just kicking in. I’m glad they got that out of the way.

But for prospective buyers who are not really into the whole powertrain stuff, they might find the slightly heavier steering wheel feels a drawback. I’m not saying it is now heavy like the ones in SUVs. It is still light but not as feather-like as what the old Territory had. If anything, I prefer this steering feel as it gave me better feedback and response.

It now has a DCT

In terms of NVH (noise, vibration, harshness), the crossover has similar characteristics as the previous version. It ran smoothly to the point that I barely had a gutted feel, even when tackling bumpy roads. The outside noise, including the engine noise, is barely heard, even when getting the revs high in Sport mode. You would feel some body roll, but it won’t be bothersome.

If I had one of the toughest drives in the previous gen, the new version gave me quite the opposite. I’m just not sure how the majority would receive it. But for enthusiasts like me, Ford did a good job updating what needs to be addressed to provide a better driving experience.

However, it seems like the engine tune-up affected the fuel efficiency. In the city, I could get 7.8 km/l while driving at an average 20 km/h speed. That is 1.0 km/l less than what we registered in our review of the old Territory. During this time, I was the only occupant with the fan speed at low settings.

The improved performance appeared to affect the fuel efficiency a bit

On the open highway, the next-gen Territory returned 13.5 km/l, which is at par with segment rivals. Based on our reviews, the Hyundai Tucson posted 14.3 km/l, while the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro gave us 15.4 km/l. All the said highway fuel economy figures were recorded while running at an average speed of 90 km/h.

After driving Ford Territory, the new one reminded me why it is still a rightful contender. It retained the characteristics that made the first-gen a commercial success while addressing some issues, including the underwhelming powertrain performance and laggy infotainment system.

The Territory just got more competitive

The addressed features are available in the Titanium and Titanium X, so I didn’t need to opt for the latter even if I had the money. For Php 1,335,000, you already get a crossover with improved performance, a modern exterior and interior, and better tech – and that is a bargain.

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