2021 Ford Territory Review | Philkotse Philippines

Let’s face it. The Geely Coolray’s arrival in the Philippines played a significant role in the crossover trend in the market. Its bang-for-the-buck features along with a potent turbocharged engine captivated Filipino car buyers that enabled Coolray to become a household name. 

Instinctively, rival car brands wanted to take a slice of the pie as they launched their respective crossover challengers. One of the car brands that launched a counter-attack is Ford Philippines in the form of the Territory compact crossover. 

While it doesn’t technically go head-to-head with the Coolray in terms of vehicle classification, it’s not a secret that Ford PH aims to flex its elbows out by reclaiming the segment that was once held by the EcoSport. 

The EcoSport has somehow lost its charm in the market due to the introduction of newer and smarter crossovers, which is why it’s a no-brainer for Ford PH to launch the Territory a couple of years back. With that, here’s Philkotse’s 2021 Ford Territory full review. 
 

The Territory is jointly developed by Ford and Chinese automaker Jiangling Motors Corp. (JMC). It is based on a JMC Yusheng S300 but Ford reiterates that the design, development, and testing are all conducted by the Blue Oval brand. That’s the reason why the Territory looks different compared to other Ford vehicles.

The Territory comes with a simple yet imposing front end

Traces of Chinese vehicle styling is evident in the Territory, which is not bad mind you. Ford’s crossover almost comes with the right combination of aggressiveness and well-composed exterior styling. Almost.

What I like most in the Territory is its front end since it has a confident aura that’s highlighted by the LED headlights, and the gloss black grille. It also has the right amount of sharp lines as seen on the bumper, which is integrated with daytime running lights, and fog lamps. 

It comes with crisp character lines

The side gets straight character lines, which are simple yet pleasing to the eye. The fender flares give muscle to the Territory making it look larger and more imposing. The Territory is also wider than the current Ford Everest offered in the market today by 74mm, which adds to its bold stance. The set of 18-inch alloy wheels on the Ford Territory Titanium+ complements its whole side profile.

The Territory is wider than the Everest

The Territory’s front and side profile are well-put but it’s a different story when it comes to its rear. I find the rear too busy design-wise, especially the black cladding that’s integrated with silver and chrome trim. It would have been better if the black cladding and the silver trim is toned down a bit to match how the Territory’s composed front end. Despite this, the LED taillights make up for the rather busy rear end, and the spoiler adds a touch of sportiness to the vehicle.   
 

The Ford Territory’s interior comes with a dark theme with wood-like accents, which gives a modern cabin feel. The overall interior layout and the abundance of tech features remind you of its Chinese roots.  

The Territory is loaded with tech features

Soft-touch surfaces are present inside the Territory, while perforated leather seats are standard to give a boost when you’re considering cabin comfort. Finding your most preferred driving position is also not a problem since the top-spec Ford Territory features a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. It also offers good cushioning that came in handy when I need to drive through stop-and-go city traffic.

The leather steering wheel feels nice to the grip, and it is mounted with controls for phone, and audio. It would have been better if the cruise control is also integrated into the steering wheel for easier access and operation. The cruise control is located behind the steering wheel, which is a bit challenging to use especially when you’re driving at highway speeds.   

It comes with a digital instrument cluster

I find the jet-like control design on the center console appealing, but most of the vehicle function can be accessed to the Territory’s 10-inch infotainment touchscreen. The use of piano black trims is also evident inside the Territory. While it elevates the premium-like appeal of the cabin, it’s prone to catch dust and fingerprints, which could be a problem for some individuals.   

The Ford Territory comes with a panoramic sunroof, which is sort of the standard in most crossovers available in the Philippines. Controls for the sunroof can be easily reached, located near the rearview mirror. 

Decent second row space

The Territory can accommodate up to five occupants. Rear passengers have generous leg- and head-room, especially when there are only two people seated at the back. It also has rear aircon vents, which is helpful to cool the cabin mode efficiently.

It can accommodate an assortment of items

As a crossover vehicle, the Territory has a lot of cargo space to boot. Loading an assortment of stuff can easily be done, and the rear seats can also be folded 60:40 in case you need more space for cargo. 
 

Similar to its Chinese rivals such as the Geely Azkarra, Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, and MG HS, the Ford Territory is loaded with tech features. Placed right at the center is the 10-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is a feature that’s not present in the Azkarra or in other Geely vehicles. 

At par with the Chinese crossovers offered in the market today

I also consider the Territory’s touchscreen to be the most interactive as compared to its segment rivals. You can play with the screen by hovering through its quad view interface. It also serves as the hub for vehicle functions such as climate control, entertainment/audio, and home screen. While it is interactive, it could also cause confusion for some people as navigating through the touchscreen could take some familiarization. 

I also had a bit of difficulty adjusting the aircon blower speed when I am using Apple CarPlay, mirroring apps such as Waze and Spotify onto the 10-inch touchscreen. As noted earlier, the screen hosts most of the vehicle functions such as climate control, which means that you have to settle on the current blower speed that you have set before heading out to drive. 

Yes, there’s a rotary knob and buttons for faster access that’s placed behind the gear lever but that’s a bit of a task to operate especially when you’re driving. A tactile button adjustment in the center console, placed near the touchscreen, could have been a nice addition to the Territory, especially for functions as mundane as adjusting your A/C’s fan speed. 

360-degree view

The Territory also has front and rear sensors, which makes parking duties easier as they work in combo with the 360-degree view feature. However, during the duration of my test drive, I noticed that the front sensors are a tad delayed in giving warning sounds. For instance, it sounds off an alert once a lane-splitting motorcycle has already passed or overtaken you along EDSA.  

Equipped with a panoramic sunroof

To make up for it, the Ford Territory comes with an enhanced Active Park Assist system, which can automatically park the car for you whether parallel or perpendicular. The instrument cluster is fully digital and it also has a built-in ionizer, wireless mobile phone charging, and blind-spot monitoring. To add, the Territory has six airbags, eight speakers, seven ambient lighting color options, and other safety features you can expect from a modern car. 
 

The Ford Territory is powered by a 1.5-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine that produces 141 hp and 225 Nm of torque. The engine is connected to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). 

Powered by a 1.5-liter gasoline engine

The Territory rides well when driven within the city. It can absorb road impacts within reason and is also stable when driving through wide turns giving you a pleasant drive. The steering wheel is light and responds nicely to the driver’s input, which lessens fatigue especially when you need to navigate tight urban streets. 

I also like the Territory’s forward visibility but the thick front quarter pillars hinder my peripheral view a bit. The 1.5-liter gasoline engine delivers adequate power while the transmission is smooth with minimum to no shift shocks. These qualities allowed Ford’s compact crossover to claim its territory in the urban jungle.

Claiming its territory in the urban jungle

While acceleration is relatively good, it’s noticeable that there’s a delay in power delivery, which is expected from a car with a CVT. But once it picks up power, the Territory can do some sprint allowing you to pass a slower vehicle on the open highway, albeit with good measure. Moreover, this crossover comes with a Sport mode in case you need that extra oomph.
 

When it comes to fuel efficiency, the Ford Territory posted 8.8 km/l while driving within the city at an average speed of 20 km/h. On the open highway, it yielded 13 km/l at an average speed of 90 km/h. The Territory’s fuel eco in city driving is a tad better than the Geely Coolray Sport Limited, which posted 7 to 8 km/l. However, the Coolray gets the upper hand when it comes to fuel efficiency on the open highway as it registered 18 km/l. 

The Ford Territory has enough arsenal to flex its muscle in the local market. In fact, it has already claimed the compact crossover segment as its territory with more than 6,000 units sold last year. The Ford Territory also secured a 55 percent market share in its segment and was the Blue Oval brand’s second best-selling vehicle last 2021 behind the Ranger midsize pickup. Indeed, the Territory has accepted the challenge head-on.  

2021 Ford Territory Titanium+

Priced at Php 1,310,000, the top-spec Territory Titanium+ managed to captivate car buyers in the Philippines despite having a trace of Chinese engineering. There are things that need to be improved in the Territory, one of which is the functionality of its tech features. But if you’re willing to look past these kinks, especially with the amount of car you get for the price, it should be more than enough into driving home a Territory.