Ford is in need of a shake-up: after retiring Fiesta , Focus , Fusion and Ranger flex , and ending its entire truck operation in Brazil, all in less than a year, the brand seeks to renew its product range as quickly as possible possible to regain lost ground. It is in this scenario that the medium SUV Ford Territory arrives .
The big launch of the year for the brand is actually a response to clamorous requests from the dealership network for a new product.
For this very reason, it was offered for sale almost on a contingent basis, even imported from China, while two other medium SUVs (one conventional, the other coupe) are being developed by the manufacturer to hit the streets, with domestic production, between 2022 and 23.
Therefore, the responsibility of this SUV with an intermediate size between a Jeep Compass and a Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace is great. Will he get the job done?
The start was promising: even without having had a full month of sales in August, Territory sold 248 units, according to Mobiauto data from the network, which has already put it ahead of rivals such as Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross in the ranking.
Lean, the range consists of just two versions: SEL, R$ 165,900, and Titanium, R$ 187,900. It was the latter, the most expensive, that our report knew. Find out now how she fared in our garage.
Design: Mom, I want to be an Evoque
Just by looking at the new Ford Territory, you can capture the visual inspiration in Land Rover SUVs, in particular the first generation Range Rover Evoque.
Despite the fact that we are talking about a look that the Evoque itself has already left behind, the gamble seems to have been successful, as the Territory made a good first impression among all the people who saw the car and came to make comments about it to our team.
Interestingly, the Territory derives from the Chinese sports utility Yusheng S330, manufactured by JMC. This company, in turn, also owns the Landwind brand, famous in China for its blatant copies of… Land Rover models. Ah, this small world…
Inside, the imposing seats, the micro-perforated leather in a pastel tone, the soft-to-the-touch stripes spread across all trims, the ambient LED lighting with seven color options and the two huge digital screens on the dashboard reinforce the flirtation with the luxury segment. Lux.
Space: can spread the legs
In addition to the premium footprint, the Ford Territory’s cabin is spacious. Even with the use of front seats with thick lumbar backrests, the legroom in the rear row is less than two palms closed when the front seat of the SUV is adjusted for a passenger of average height. In other words: you can even sprawl your legs on board.
Likewise, Territory scores points for being a wide SUV and thus ensuring good shoulder clearance for adult occupants in the back row. There just isn’t that much room for the head. Not that he’s bad, but he’s not as generous as the other two members of the corps.
Performance: Exciting…until you finish the first second
The 1.5-cylinder four-cylinder turbo gasoline engine is sold by Ford as part of the EcoBoost family, but this is a mere formality. In fact, its origin goes back to Mitsubishi, having been used a few years ago by JMC in China.
It has a Miller cycle (same concept as the Atkinson, but with a turbocharger), which means it tends more towards energy efficiency than necessarily high horsepower. There are 150 hp of power and 22.9 kgfm of torque.
The tight ratio of the first gear ranges of the CVT (which simulates eight gears, but, like all continuously variable transmissions, has infinite ratios) and the aggressively direct throttle response (even a little too much) give the feeling that the new Territory has plenty of breath.
However, if in the city the performance is even sufficient, although it is far from enchanting, just enter a highway to feel its lack of elasticity, in addition to the effort caused by the more than 1,600 kg of weight.
No wonder, the 0 to 100 km/h of the Territory is officially accomplished in almost 12 seconds, well above the 9.5 seconds announced for the VW Tiguan Allspace 250 TSI and the 10.6 s achieved by the Jeep Compass 2.0 flex. At that time, the charm of the luxury SUV begins to wane.
Engine: 1.5 turbo gasoline, 150 hp (at 5,300 rpm) and 22.9 kgfm (at 1,500 rpm). CVT transmission, 8-speed simulation. 0 to 100 km/h in 11.8 s.
Driveability: very quiet, not so much ergonomics
The Ford Territory’s great asset is silence on board. Engine, wheel bearing, wind and suspension noises are very well contained. Speaking of suspensions, these do a great job of curbing lean in corners, as well as tackling ditches at lower speeds.
As the digital speedometer pointer rises, the softness gives way to slightly drier strokes, the result of the use of a multilink rear suspension with overly wide trays, in addition to 18-inch alloy wheels shod in low-profile tires (235/50 R18).
Remember how we talked about overly direct throttle response? It contrasts with a more anesthetized brake pedal, demanding firm steps with each braking. It gets to be curious to have to use a pedal “at the tip of the hooves” and use the other much more vehemently.
Another point that displeased was the ergonomics of the front seats. Despite being wide, thick and with the option of heating or cooling, they do not “hug” the body as one would expect. In addition, the headrests have tough and not so friendly height adjustments, while the electric adjustment is only for the driver.
Consumption: frentist’s friend
The Miller cycle engine prioritizes efficiency over performance, as already explained. But that wasn’t able to make the Territory a necessarily economical SUV. Its wide and bulky size, in addition to the drag coefficient of around 0.365 Cx and the already mentioned high weight, impairs the results in this aspect.
There are 9.2 km/liter registered in the city and 10 km/l on the road, according to Inmetro. As a comparison, the Tiguan 250 TSI reaches 10.1 and 11.7 km/l, respectively, in the same cycles of use with petroleum-derived fuel. Even the Compass flex, which loses in the urban test (8.1 km/l), has slightly better consumption in road use (10.5 km/l).
In other words: with the new Territory, contact with the station attendant must be frequent. In addition, its fuel tank is one of the smallest in the segment, which compromises its autonomy compared to the competition.
Technology: it brakes on its own, and reaccelerates too
One of the coolest devices on the new Ford Territory is adaptive cruise control. This is because it not only respects a continuous distance (in four levels) to the vehicle in front, reducing speed or braking as this vehicle slows down or brakes.
It is also able to resume to the set speed as the speed of surrounding traffic also increases, even when the Territory brakes to a standstill in a traffic jam. To do so, traffic needs to start moving again within three seconds of stopping. Otherwise, you will need to press the accelerator pedal.
The SUV also has an involuntary lane change alert, but this does not actively act to correct the trajectory on the steering wheel. In fact, it emits only sound and visual signals.
The 10-inch 100% digital instrument panel is eye-catching, but its functions are basically the same as a common digital on-board computer combined with analog gauges. And, during our test, the system crashed a few times when we tried to change the design between the three available arrangements (classic, fashion and sports).
On the other hand, the Territory Titanium has a 360-degree camera that is very welcome in maneuvers (after all, it has almost 12 meters of turning diameter), in addition to the following safety equipment and technology:
· Six airbags
· Stability and traction controls
· Ramp start assistant
· Tire pressure monitoring
· Anti-glare interior mirror
· LED headlights, daytime running lights and taillights
· Headlights with automatic lighting
· Automatic air conditioning with outlets for the rear seat
Collision Alert and Autonomous Emergency Braking
· Blind spot monitoring
· Automatic parking assistant
· Rear and front parking sensors
· Cell phone wireless charger
· Rain sensor
· Panoramic sunroof