If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Ford Territory tested
The car world is changing. Faster than you’d ever imagine. If ever there was a car that encapsulates that, its this Ford Territory. It’s the Car of the Future. No its not to do with looks, tech or future ideas. It’s how, and where this Ford is made, that makes it a pioneer.
Why? Well, the 2025 Ford Territory is Made in China. Built by Jiangling Motors Co, or JMC in Nanchang and based on the JMC Yusheng S330, it’s also cousin to Landwind’s X7 Evoque knock-off. Reimagined and restyled with input from JMC JV partner Ford, its sold in the Chinese market as the Equator Sport and in South Africa and other markets as the Territory. All of which makes it the setter of what can only become a most significant new trend.
The range starts with the R590K Territory Ambiente, steps up to the R646KTtrend and tops off with this R721K Titanium. Take off fifteen grand, if you don’t want the service plan. It rivals the Toyota RAV4, which sells for between R712 and R825K in front drive petrol form, the new R664 to 852K Volkswagen Tiguan, the R622 to 823K Kia Sportage, and Hyundai’s R589 to 859K Tucson.
Territory bridges the Great Wall
Which means it also competes with real Chinese badges. Like the R492 to 679K Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Max, the R479 to R679K Haval H6, R549 to R679K Jaecoo J7, and the R519 to R559K GAC Emkoo. As you can see, it’s pretty wild in the R679-odd grand middling SUV market!
Taking top models like this car then, Territory sits in a most interesting position. It undercuts it’s adopted traditional rivals by a hundred grand. But it comes at a forty grand premium to its Chinese homeland cousins. That’s not a very big jump, for the comfort of your trusted Ford dealership, one of the world’s biggest and oldest car badges on the bonnet and an onboard system that actually communicates in English, is it?
And that’s why this is the Car of the Future. Ford is first to figure that if you can’t beat them, join them. This Chinese Territory addresses many of the lingering concerns punters have about yellow metal, by planting a Ford badge on the bonnet of a Chinese car subtly refined to deliver what traditional buyers will expect. And it charges a quarter of the premium its pukka traditional rivals do, for the favour.
Then watch the puppets dance!
The Territory is only forty grand more expensive than its home based cousins. The Toyota, VW and the Koreans add an extra hundred grand to the price of the Chery and Haval. Almost three hundred to the GAC. How long can those premium rivals keep competing with upstart rivals that are almost as good but cost a quarter less? Put a VW or Toyota badge on that Emkoo for R599K and then watch these puppets dance!
Which is why we reckon it won’t be too long before most carmakers will not be able to compete without a significant proportion of their cars being developed and built by the Chinese. With a little nip and tuck to make it, well corporate and traditional enough. The Ford Territory is just the first such thing…
So what about this Ford Territory? Well, we decided to forget that it’s just a JMC Yusheng S330 in drag and drove it as if it was a Ford. Personally, I’ve owned many Fords over the years. My XR3, Cortina and Courier bakkies, Sapphires and more. Among them, some were even made out of Mazdas. Ah, my Laser 1600 Sports! Most groaned and moaned when they first put the Oval on a Mazda. In the end, who really cared?
Territory replaced fiery Kuga
Most carmakers share their spit these days anyway. So much so that it’s difficult to keep up. Ford divorced Mazda and hooked up with Volkswagen. Why should it be different with Jiangling, as it is with this Territory, which basically replaces the fiery Kuga in the vital five-seater small SUV space?
Ford calls its rebadged Chinaman stylish and compelling with proper space, comfort, smart tech and safety. And you know what? We can’t really argue. Sure, that’s not quite Ford’s latest face, considering it’s Everest’s kid brother. Adopted, of course. And that lack of rear track makes it look a little like your anorexic auntie in a midi skirt. But this one’s 19-inch alloys win a bit back. Overall, it’s a solid effort in its own right.
Our Titanium packed it all into its multicolour LED ambient lit two-tone ‘peacock blue and domino’ leather trimmed cabin under that gaping panoramic moonroof. 10-way power driver and four-way power front passenger seats set the scene, while the broad 12.3-inch landscape high-definition digital touchscreen and instrumentation sit proud on the soft-touch double-decker console.
Territory cabin a luxury, leathery space
The eye-catching space features Bluetooth, CarPlay and Auto rich infotainment with a wireless phone charger and three front and a rear USB port, as well as fine eight speaker audio and a proximity camera backed by front and rear parking sensors. There are enough buttons in there along with the steering controls and centre console knobs and a rotary controller to deliver a decent balance between swipe and touch control.
Territory’s actual digital displays are another significant step above the average Chinese rank and file. They’re clear, concise and logical. Best of all, they present in pretty well queen’s English, rather than last season’s google translate Mandarin that’s common to most of its thoroughbred Chinese cousins. The spacious 448 litre boot expands to 1422 litres via the flat-folding 60/40 split bench. Our Titanium added heated power folding wing mirrors and puddle lamps too.
Fire it up and the 138kW 318Nm 1.8-litre turbo four-pot with EcoBoost badges on its tappet cover comes to life with an earthy growl. Its auto start-stop seven-speed dual-clutch transmission turns the front wheels, backed by four Normal, Eco, Sport and Mountain modes as well as hill start and descent controls. And don’t forget the alphabet soup of driver and safety assistants.
The Ford Territory is a motoring pioneer
138 kilowatts ad 318 Newton metres is juicy. It translates to a pretty handy 8.8 second 0-100 on out test strip and a surprisingly virile attitude on the road. Its reasonably damped, if a touch distant in feel, but responsive and enjoyable, while still pretty economical too. It’d be much quicker if there was a way to temper the nannies. We did feel hemmed in by all the electronic control. We’d prefer a simpler way to switch what we don’t want off, too.
But that’s cutting straws. The Ford Territory is more than just a worthy rival to all the rivals we mention up top. Over and above all the other Ford add-ons, a genuine four-year 120 000km Blue Oval warranty with a two-year unlimited service parts plan offers optional extended Ford Protect Service or Maintenance plan upgrades.
Which leads us to conclude that this Territory is a landmark car. It blends it new world Chinese roots with enough true blue Ford traditions to make its subtle premium over its home badged Chinese rivals more than palatable enough. And pretty much a no brainer over its hundred grand dearer ‘first world’ rivals, to anyone with real world budgeting to contend with.
Which is why we call this Ford Territory the Car of the Future. How long will it be before they’re all Made in China? – Michele Lupini
Images & testing: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TESTED: Ford Territory 1.8T Titanium
Engine: 138kW 318Nm 1.8-litre turbo petrol I4
Drive: 7-speed double-clutch automatic FWD
TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 4.21 sec
0-100 km/h: 8.84 sec
0-120 km/h: 12.73 sec
0-160 km/h: 23.54 sec
400m: 16.5 sec @ 139 km/h
80-120 km/h: 8.06 sec
120-160 km/h: 11.27 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 210 km/h
Fuel: 7 l/100 km
CO2: 161 g/km
Range: 860 km
Warranty/Service: 4y 120K/2y unl. km
LIST PRICE: R721K
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