Ford Territory

Ford Territory TX, TS and Titanium

If anything, the technical changes under the skin are comprehensive indeed. This is an update to keep the Territory fresh for years to come -- and hopefully for Ford, not as many years into the future as the seven years between the launch of the original SX model and the introduction of this new car.

As an alternative to the existing 4.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine, Ford has sourced a 2.7-litre diesel V6 from its European division to meet the demands of SUV buyers in the Territory's market segment. The diesel, which first saw the light of day in Land Rover's Discovery 3 and is still available in the latest Discovery 4, has been the subject of an in-depth program to eradicate driveline noise and vibration in the new application -- the Territory being the first Ford-branded vehicle anywhere in the world to be powered by this engine.

The introduction of the diesel V6 in the new SZ model is the key factor in the Territory's rebirth, but it's by no means the end of the story. For a start, there's a new six-speed automatic specified for the diesel powerplant. Codenamed 6R80, the new transmission is sourced from Ford in North America.

It doesn't end there. The electric power steering of the new model Territory contributes to the vehicle's improved fuel efficiency, whether powered by diesel or the revised 4.0-litre inline petrol six. In addition, the new steering system irons out any irregularities in levels of assistance at differing road speeds, while complementing the carefully calibrated suspension geometry.

Then there's the new high-tech equipment added to the car's standard specification list, among other things comprising an eight-inch touchscreen for mid-range and flagship models and better integration of MP3/iPod/Bluetooth connectivity. 

Close to seven years after the release of the original SX Territory, the better-late-than-never SZ Territory has what it needs to retake lost ground in the market.

Toyota reduced prices of the Kluger late last year, in concert with a mild update. Was the Big T anticipating that the sole medium SUV built here would pull something out of the bag in the new year? Hard to believe otherwise...

For $39,990, the base model Territory comes with the upgraded 4.0-litre petrol six, now driving through the ZF six-speed automatic transmission previously reserved for all-wheel drive variants, but the entry-level car remains rear-wheel drive. Standard features in this level of trim include: 17-inch alloy wheels, climate control, four-way electrically-adjustable driver's seat; electric windows/mirrors, reverse parking sensors with acoustic guidance, Interior Command Centre (ICC) and a 5.8-inch monochromatic LCD screen.

ICC operates a single-disc CD audio system, which features input facilities for USB and 3.5mm external music sources, and is also compatible with iPods and Bluetooth mobile phones/audio devices.

Specifying the diesel V6 in lieu of the petrol inline engine adds $3250 to the cost of the car, with the all-wheel drive system bumping up the price a further $5000. The petrol six is not available with the all-wheel drive system, so buyers wanting more traction from their Territory will need to factor in the extra $3250 for the turbodiesel. Pricing is thus $43,240 for the TX RWD TDCi (diesel) variant and $48,240 for the AWD diesel in the TX grade.

As the mid-range level of trim, the TS grade of Territory starts off priced at $46,990 for the petrol RWD variant -- $50,240 for RWD diesel and $55,240 for AWD diesel -- and for that money the TS raises the equipment level to include: 18-inch alloy wheels, reversing camera, front fog lights, revised front bumper, front grille painted in satin silver, premium ICC featuring an eight-inch colour touchscreen and a seven-speaker audio system with 150-Watt amplifier and subwoofer.

Topping the range, the Territory Titanium replaces the Ghia nameplated employed since the Territory's launch in 2004 to denote the flagship model. Prices range from $54,990 for the petrol variant, through $58,240 for the diesel RWD variant, to $63,240 for the AWD version.

Standard features in addition to the specification of the Territory TS include: unique front bumper/chrome detailing, LED daytime running lights, Alpine rear-seat entertainment system, leather trim and satellite navigation with Traffic Message Channel.

The engine is built by Ford in the UK and was jointly developed -- originally for the Land Rover Discovery 3 -- with PSA Peugeot Citroen as a partner in the project. It's now seven years since the Discovery 3 was launched in Australia with the diesel V6, but the engine apparently has a lot of life left in it. According to Ford's vehicle line director for Territory and Falcon, Russell Christophers, the V6 turbodiesel's design life is expected to run 15 years.

The V6 is rated at 8.2L/100km in the rear-wheel drive Territory, according to the standard combined-cycle fuel consumption test (ADR 81/02). In the same cycle, the RWD diesel emits 217g/km of CO2. All-wheel drive variants with the diesel powerplant recorded fuel consumption figures of 8.8L/100km (TX, TS) and 9.0L/100km (Titanium). CO2 emissions figures for the AWD Territory models are 232g/km for TX and TS or 236g/km for the Territory Titanium. Ford claims that the diesel Territory, with a 75-litre tank, can travel a distance of over 1000km in open-road touring.

As per our news story, the turbodiesel drives through Ford's 6R80 six-speed automatic transmission, in both rear- and all-wheel drive variants. This transmission is also fitted to the North American market's Mustang and F-Series models NVH considerations necessitated the use of an active transfer case for the diesel -- the only engine for the all-wheel drive models and therefore the only engine requiring the new transfer case for the front drive components. To accommodate the new transfer case, Ford Australia's product development team came up with an all-new front subframe that required a new crash-testing program.

Rear-wheel drive versions of the Territory -- both petrol and diesel -- drive through a differential with a ratio of 3.23:1 ratio, but all-wheel drive models run a 3.46:1 diff ratio.

The petrol Territory variants are more economical to run, following Ford's decision to specify the six-speed ZF automatic transmission as standard. Fuel consumption has been reduced by around 10 per cent for the petrol models, from 12.0 to 10.6L/100km. Other changes to the petrol engine itself have contributed to the improved fuel economy figure and include a new intake manifold, a fast-burn cylinder head and earlier spark timing. Ford estimates the engine tweaks alone are worth a 1.5 per cent gain in fuel efficiency.

Peak power for the petrol six in the SZ model is 195kW and torque measures 391Nm on regular (91 RON) fuel.

Other than the introduction of the diesel engine option in the new Territory, the big news is the development of EPAS (Electric Power Assisted Steering) for the SUV. Based originally on a system developed for the Mustang, EPAS has been re-tuned for the Territory application and hardware components are unique to the local Ford.

Principally adopted for its discretionary power consumption -- and therefore fuel efficiency -- EPAS also offers light steering when required (at lower speeds) and more feel at higher speeds, but smooths the assistance curve at the threshold between higher and lower road speeds. Ford has also set up the system to compensate for misaligned front suspension and learn how the driver steers the car to ease the effort required by the driver to keep the car on the straight and narrow.

In standard form, the Territory will tow 1600kg, irrespective of drivetrain, but when optioned with a heavy duty towpack, the all-wheel drive variants are rated up to 2700kg -- 400 more than the 2300kg figure for the rear-wheel drive models.

For this reviewer, the steering column rake adjustment needed to be set to its highest setting. Even so the minor instruments in the outboard portions of the instrument binnacle were slightly obscured. Seats were comfortable and supportive, with the car's H point meeting an optimal standard for easy access.

In the rear, the Territory's packaging follows the precedent set by earlier models. Adults will find the headroom and legroom in the second-row seat is more than abundant. As for the superseded models, the SZ Territory's second-row seat slides fore and aft, as well as folding flat. With the split-fold second-row seat moved forward there's more room in the third row seats for those occasions you're transporting four to five small adults or a similar number of flexible teenagers.

The Ford, despite the lack of a diesel until now, and something of a reputation for thirst, outsold the Holden Captiva during the month -- and by the margin of 325 units -- but the Captiva is Territory's only serious rival approaching the Ford's sales numbers, other than the romping, stomping Toyotas.

Ford is quietly confident it can peg back both the Kluger and the Prado, as well as put the Captiva squarely back in its place. There is, however, one other threat to the Territory's sales success -- the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Jeep only sold 202 units last month, but it's a very well priced package and a diesel option for the Grand Cherokee is not far away. Depending on how that vehicle is priced may yet decide whether the Territory can recoup the sort of market share it enjoyed in the past.

In point of fact, however, it's not so much a question of luxury SUV rivals that threaten the medium SUV Territory. As you'll read below, it's the Territory that represents a threat to the higher priced SUVs in the segment above. Simply put, the new Territory is good enough to score a few hits against one or two crossover SUVs from Europe and America, but the question remains, how many people considering such a vehicle would condescend to buy something better -- wearing a Ford badge and designed in Australia?

It's not for us to say, we just reckon that's how buyers think.

Having driven the new diesel Terri, that's believable. There are at least a couple of more expensive European passenger cars driven in recent times (and we're not talking SUVs either) that are also embarrassed by the Ford's suppression of noise and vibration. Even at 3500rpm with the right foot firmly planted the engine did not dominate the cabin ambience and conversation continued without raising voices. Nor was there any vibration or labouring from the engine at lower engine speeds.

During the drive program for the new locally-designed and manufactured SUV, monitoring fuel consumption from each car's trip computer revealed that a diesel all-wheel drive was averaging 10.3L/100km and a rear-wheel drive Territory powered by the same diesel V6 was using around 9.8L/100km. A rear-wheel drive model with the petrol inline six posted a figure of 12.3L/100km, without much environmentally responsible driving as a factor in that number.

Despite the sensational refinement, the diesel in the Territory is an engine we don't see cannibalising all the petrol Territory's sales. Here's why: fabulously low NVH and commendable fuel economy aside, the diesel doesn't provide the ready performance that the inline six does. While there's plenty of torque from the diesel, the power to deliver that torque on demand can't compare with the petrol engine's.

Furthermore, with the diesel, there's some turbo lag from launch, although no worse than any other diesel on the market, and the performance for overtaking at speeds of 80km/h and above won't match the locally-built petrol engine's. It's a lazy sort of engine -- the diesel -- with low-speed slogging torque to suit all sorts of driving situations -- but the petrol six is more powerful... by a significant margin. The inline six has long been the engine that Aussies have associated with effortless torque and breathlessness at higher rpms, but up against the diesel it's practically a screamer.

Displacing 4.0 litres, the inline six, combined with the excellent ZF box provides lively performance and fuel consumption that Ford claims is 10 per cent better than the fuel consumption of equivalent-spec SY II Territory models. Given that SY II models made do with the DSI/BTR four-speed automatic, the 10 per cent fuel consumption reduction is bound to be largely a consequence of the more sophisticated German transmission, which demonstrated its capability during the drive program by changing down to a lower gear as the driver was punting the petrol Territory downhill and into tighter corners -- at exactly the right moment in each case.

It's like the ZF box reads your mind, it's that adaptive and intelligent. Frankly too, while Ford's 6R80 six-speed automatic coupled to the 2.7-litre turbodiesel V6 is no slacker, it's shaded by the simply superb German transmission in the petrol variants.

Here's how the sales split is likely to work, presumably. Urban drivers who possibly spend more time picking up the kids from school or loading up groceries at the local shopping centre may find the diesel Territory suits their purposes better -- and the TDCi variants will also provide torque in the appropriate measure at the right engine speeds for towing.

Country drivers, for whom fuel economy will be influenced by more open-road driving, will possibly opt for the petrol model, which can also tow quite capably and will accelerate faster across a wider rev range, but is limited to rear-wheel drive. It remains hard to ignore petrol Territory's overtaking ability and the highly competent ZF transmission already mentioned.

As noted already, the Territory (powered by either engine) is very quiet overall, but there's a modicum of tyre noise on coarse-chip bitumen, although wind is the primary source of noise at open-road speeds.

Irrespective of the engine fitted, the rear-wheel drive Territory felt much the same in the bends as the all-wheel drive diesels. One point of distinction was the way the rear-drive cars responded to the gentle application of power on the exit from corners; the rear-wheel drive models settling into a wider line, which wasn't the case with the AWD variants.

Everything is relative though. Both rear- and all-wheel drive variants were very capable in the bends and mustered front-end grip that could be clearly felt through the wheel. Turn-in for the Territory reminded the driver of the FG Falcon's steering response. In the bends the Territory can be held in a constant arc with little to no correction in the turns. For a two-tonne SUV the Territory's manners are impeccable -- and its cornering ability even shames cars boasting a much lower centre of gravity.

The electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) is a new highwater mark for a local engineering team. It was as light as any shopping trolley's helm at parking speeds, but the reduction in assistance as speed arose was closer to linear than many 'pedigree' cars. Brakes impressed immediately with their soft-stop action and pedal feel.

Ride comfort in the Territory is a marked improvement on the previous model's, based on our previous drive of the Territory Ghia. Spring and damper ratings for the SZ model are the same across all three grades (and rear or all-wheel drive variants), but Ford's suspension development team has specified higher pressures for the tyres fitted to the Territory TX's 17-inch wheels, offsetting the firmer sidewalls of the lower-profile tyres fitted to the 18-inch wheels of the Territory TS and Titanium.

Ford's event team selected one of the most atrocious sealed roads in the country to highlight just how adept the Territory's suspension is. Smaller ripples in the surface of the coarse-chip bitumen were literally undetectable and the Territory would also ride in a progressive way across the lumpy, truck-ravaged bitumen (including patchy potholes on the left). Damping was fitting for this sort of road surface, which is probably among worse case scenarios for country driving.

A sudden dip in the road, with railway tracks crossing diagonally before the road headed back uphill again and into a slower right-hand bend was simply shrugged off by the Territory, travelling at 100km/h. On dirt the Territory's ride quality also showed up over mid-corner corrugations. And on a trailing throttle, the SUV would step out gently around corners on dirt, but there was never any sense that the Territory was wayward, and the grip at the rear set a high standard for other SUVs on loose gravel.

What was utterly apparent from this drive program is that Ford is backing another winner with the introduction of the SZ Territory. It's a car that fits snugly into the company's critically praised product lineup and deserves to be on the shopping list of any family looking for a properly resolved blend of comfort, safety and dynamic ability.

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