Ford Territory crossover

Ford’s new Territory crossover vehicle has been dominating column inches in newspapers across Australia for months. Now it's time for the hyperbole to stop and the Territory to speak for itself. Has Ford built a winner or a waste of time?

Sorry Holden fans; the Territory delivers on its promise of combining the practicality of a people mover with the versatility of a 4WD. It also handles the bitumen as well as any comparably sized 4WD on the market. Ford’s goal was to satisfy those who like the looks and abilities of a 4WD, but don’t habitually bash bushes. In fact, the vehicle is likely to spend more time city-side, so it’s gotta handle and ride like a regular passenger car.

These buyers are also keen for a bit of interior practicality and versatility but can’t stomach the stigma often attached to traditional people-movers. Oh, and they’re after proper performance - not four-pot fuel economy and less power than a deposed dictator.

Ford’s not convinced we need 4WD either, so it’s delivering two three-tiered Territory model ranges to market: one driving all four wheels, the other a rear-wheel drive (RWD).

All versions share the same five-door wagon body, which measures marginally shorter overall than a Falcon sedan, yet is taller and wider. Inside there’s a familiar Falcon dashboard, seats for five or seven (extra $1500), and plenty of head and shoulder room. In five-seat configuration the boot is enormous, although the buttons on the boot-lid are poorly placed.

Falcon’s 4.0lt straight-six engine sends 182kW of power and 380Nm of torque to the driving wheels through Falcon’s four-speed automatic gearbox.

Before you ask, there's no V8 option or manual version. Why? Ford says it just didn't have the time or manpower to develop them for launch. But never say never...

Entry price for the Territory TX is $38,990 in RWD guise; add $4000 for the all-paw model. It’s a similar 4WD system to that of the Holden Adventra, which sends 62 per cent of the torque rearward and 38 per cent to the front. In times of slip, the system brings the brakes in to reduce wheel-spin. At best it’s a light-to-medium-duty 4WD system that can’t beat locking diffs in low-traction conditions.

However, we had no real problems with it on sand and in mud, apart from the traction control's tendency to shut down wheel-spin. Sometimes keeping the revs up is more important than braking wheels and, for those times, you'll want to turn the traction control off.

The Territory is certainly no lightweight: it drops 2027kg on four custom-made Goodyears, yet it's only rated to tow up to 1600kg with the standard tow pack, which costs an extra $415 fitted. There’s no denying the Falcon’s engine has enough torque to drag a combined weight of up to four tonnes, but don't expect blistering acceleration. And don't expect a big range from the 75lt fuel tank either. Ford reckons the Territory will return 13.5lt/100km, but on our three jaunts - in the city, country and extreme outback - we never managed less than 14.2 on the highway and nearer to 17s around town.

Territory's smart gearbox allows the driver to select gears manually to make towing easier, as does the vehicle’s high riding position.

So does the Territory deliver? Yes, it does. It rides superbly, handles like a passenger wagon and is comfortable and practical - c'mon, there's no less than 31 separate storage bins! Best of all, it's great value for money - much better than any comparable vehicle bar the Toyota Kluger. We haven't gone in-depth on the vehicle’s strong points because this mag's about boats, not cars. So, if you want to read more on the Territory, check out CarPoint.com.au for a comprehensive review and competitor comparison.