Ford finally fills the gap between their EcoSport and Everest with the new Territory. It’s one size bigger than the EcoSport but without much increase in price, starting at P1,179,000 and tops out with the Titanium+ variant at P1,299,000 – which is only P109,000 more than the top of the line EcoSport.
It could’ve been a walk in the park for Ford but the Territory faces stiff competition immediately upon landing in our shores. In this 4-way matchup, we’ll compare the Territory Titanium+ against other cars its size with a 1.5L turbo engine, which are the MG RX5 Alpha, Chery Tiggo 8 Luxury, and also new in the market Geely Azkarra Premium. With Filipinos now more open to exploring new brands, can Ford’s new Territory stand out?
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NEW DESIGNS
With the three out of four competitors coming from relatively new brands in the Philippines, it’s a refreshing sight to see new design languages in the crossover market. Styling is pretty much a personal taste so we’ll leave it up to you but feature-wise, these boys are neck and neck with each other.
Everyone has LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, fog lamps, and panoramic moonroof. Only the RX5 doesn’t have automatic headlights, and the Azkarra doesn’t have heated side mirrors. The Territory is only one step ahead with its rain sensing wipers.
PLUSH INTERIOR
It’s an all-leather affair for the four crossovers, but Azkarra makes it more exclusive with its Nappa leather outfit. The Territory more than makes up for it though by having a 10-way power adjustable seat for the driver (the rest only have 6-way), and the front seats can be heated or cooled which is perfect for our climate.
Speaking of cooling, the Tiggo and Azkarra both have dual-zone climate control while the RX5 has a single-zone electronic, and the Territory has an automatic electronic air conditioning.
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In terms of modernity, both the Azkarra and Territory have wireless charging and the Geely has a bigger head unit at 12.3-inches compared to the Territory’s 8-inches, but the latter has the advantage of both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for a seamless mobile experience in and out of the car. The RX5 also has Apple CarPlay but it came up short due to lack of wireless charging and Android Auto.
POWER
The Azkarra takes the top spot here with 177hp and 255Nm of torque, coupled to a 6-speed automatic. Second place goes to the RX5 and its 167hp and 255Nm of torque with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT). The Tiggo takes bronze with 145hp and 210Nm on a 6-speed DCT. The Ford Territory misses the podium with 141hp and 225Nm mated to a CVT.
TECH
The RX5, Tiggo 8, and Azkarra are in a dogfight when it comes to tech. All have cruise control, full suite of ABS and traction control features, Hill Descent Control, front and side airbags, rear sensors, and a rear camera. The Tiggo tries to be a little fancy by having active guide-lines with its rear camera but the Azkarra has a 360-degree camera going on. However the RX5 and Tiggo both have Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems – something the Azkarra lacked.
The Ford Territory almost has everything the other three has except the Hill Descent Control. It more than makes up for it though with its 360-degree camera, Adaptive Cruise Control with Front Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Active Park Assist with parallel and perpendicular assist, Blind Spot Information System, and Autonomous Emergency Braking.
PRICE
After everything is said and done, let’s now look at what you’ll pay for. The Chery Tiggo Luxury is the cheapest of the bunch at P1,280,00 — yet it’s the only 7-seater here. The Ford Territory Titanium+ and MG RX5 Alpha are only P112 apart, with the Ford at P1,299,000 and MG at P1,298,888. Meanwhile, Geely’s new Azkarra is the most premium of the pack at P1,438,000.
The Ford Territory might not have the most seats and most powerful engine, but it knows its strengths and capitalizes on it by going way beyond its price point. Of course, personal factors like styling, handling, driving response, and interior feel would still come into play but knowing just how much you’re getting for the price, it already gives the Ford Territory a big headstart in your test drive list.
