Three years after entering the competitive Philippine market, Ford has reached the 20,000th customer milestone for the Territory. The compact crossover is no doubt one of the automaker’s volume drivers, and the Blue Oval isn’t showing signs of slowing down.
Making a splash at the 2023 Manila International Auto Show is the next-generation Ford Territory, also known as the Equator Sport in other markets. The all-new model enters the crossover slugfest with a heavily revamped interior, more aggressive styling, a more powerful engine, and a brand-new variant.
The 2023 Ford Territory has undergone significant upgrades that deserve a closer look. Its exterior has a large hexagonal grille that gives it a more aggressive look than the previous model. The daytime running lights are integrated into the grille, adding to the Territory’s confident front end.
Meanwhile, the side profile has more character lines, with prominent wheel arches emphasized by black cladding and a continuous sweeping line that runs from the front fender to the rear bumper.
The top-spec 2023 Ford Territory Titanium X comes with 19-inch wheels, while the Titanium comes with an 18-inch set. The vehicle’s rear has a cleaner and toned-down design, with simpler-looking yet more distinctive LED taillights.
The Ford Territory has grown in size, with 50mm added to its length and 32mm to its height compared to the previous model. The wheelbase and ground clearance increased by 10mm. To put things in perspective, the new Territory is now longer than the Honda CR-V.
The Territory’s interior has a straightforward dashboard layout, giving a modern appeal to the revamped interior. The whole cabin feels premium, I should say. The unified screen features the digital instrument cluster and the touchscreen infotainment system, providing better user operation. The interface has modern-looking icons, with a separate panel for climate control for faster and easier access. There’s wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well, which are both partnered with a wireless charger by the center console. I appreciate that the wireless charging pad has chocks to secure smartphones; my iPhone 14 Pro Max isn’t needlessly moving around while in transit, plus it didn’t disconnect from charging with slight movements. That’s pretty nifty.
Ford has also placed a dedicated panel for adjusting the A/C blower speed, which is located above the wireless phone charging hub, and the touchscreen buttons come with haptic feedback.
The rear passengers are greeted with good legroom, and the two Ford Territory variants have rear A/C vents. As the Territory has grown in size, the cargo space is not a problem, with enough room to fit two balikbayan boxes at the back. Even better, the Territory Titanium X has a hands-free power tailgate.
The Territory’s safety features include six airbags, ABS with EBD, stability control, hill start assist, hill descent control, traction control, and front and rear parking sensors. The top-spec Territory Titanium X adds a 360-degree camera and an advanced driver assistance system, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to test these things out, except for the around-view monitor’s crisp and high-resolution display, which is at par with what you’ll find in the new-generation Ranger.
The new 2023 Ford Territory is still equipped with the 1.5-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine, but with a power boost that packs a punch. With additional 17hp and 23Nm of torque, the Territory now churns out an impressive 158hp and 248Nm of pull. These figures are now sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (DCT), which should promise better driving dynamics than the previous model’s continuously variable transmission (CVT).
I had the chance to test the 2023 Ford Territory even before its public debut, albeit, it was admittedly quick and didn’t even last an hour. During my limited seat time, I immediately noticed the improvement in the all-new model’s driving performance.
Thanks to the 7-speed automatic, the power delivery was spot on and acceleration from a standstill felt less sluggish. And, since DCTs are known for their finicky trait during stop-and-go traffic situations, it was one of my main concerns when testing. That said, I’m happy to report that the DCT-equipped Territory passed my “EDSA rush hour traffic” test with flying colors. It responded well to varying accelerator input, which made it predictable and easy to drive.
Moreover, the steering wheel has a bit more weight now, which promoted better control and road feedback especially when taking turns at speeds. The new model also feels more stable compared to the outgoing model. And while the suspension is slightly firmer, it still delivers a comfortable ride, even more, comfortable than the outgoing model.
Overall, the Territory was livelier to drive than before, though one question remains: will the jump to using DCT instead of CVT affect fuel efficiency greatly? We’ll see when Ford gives us a longer period to test the car.
The 2023 Ford Territory has a starting price of P1,335,000 for the Titanium variant while the top-spec Titanium X trim has a sticker price of P1,599,000. And yes, we noticed the significant price increase. We asked the executives from Ford Philippines what constitutes this massive hike, to which they pointed out the additional tech and better build quality of the all-new model.
After having a go at the crossover, I’m leaning towards believing them and agree that the price gap was well worth it – at least those were my initial impressions. We’ll see after we’ve had the car for a more in-depth assessment.