Ever since Ford Philippines launched the Next-Gen Territory, it’s caught the attention of pretty much everyone. From long-time Ford owners to first-time Ford owners, you cannot deny that the brand has struck the nail on the head with the nameplate ever since it was introduced as a value-packed and affordable crossover for the Philippines.
4.0 / 5
Performance
Engine Output (HP), Acceleration, Transmission, Handling 4.0/5
Engine Output (HP), Acceleration, Transmission, Handling 4.0/5
Design
Exterior & Interior Design, Quality, Fit and Finish, Ergonomics 4.0/5
Exterior & Interior Design, Quality, Fit and Finish, Ergonomics 4.0/5
Ride Comfort
Cabin Comfort, Suspension, NVH Insulation 4.0/5
Cabin Comfort, Suspension, NVH Insulation 4.0/5
Safety and Technology
Convenience Technologies, Active and Passive Safety Features 4.5/5
Convenience Technologies, Active and Passive Safety Features 4.5/5
Value for Money
Amount of the vehicle you get for the price, Fuel Efficiency 3.5/5
Amount of the vehicle you get for the price, Fuel Efficiency 3.5/5
What You Will Like
- Adaptive cruise and additional safety features are polished
- Remarkable improvement over last generation's looks
- Reliable wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
What You Won't Like
- A pricey upgrade over the base Titanium
- No additional exterior enhancements aside from wheels
- Transmission is a bit sluggish in traffic
We already reviewed the base Titanium Territory, which was already good enough and well-suited as a volume seller for the brand. It’s also the most affordable option in the lineup, picking up where the previous-generation Territory’s price left off which was set at about P1,300,000. Now with the Titanium X in the mix serving as the new top-of-the-line variant for the Blue Oval, is it better? That’s the frame of reference that we had in this review and a question that bugged us ever since its launch. Having tested the model extensively, we’ve gathered some thoughts.
A big price jump
The base Ford Territory Titanium would be one of our picks if you asked us what crossovers deliver a good amount of value, however, the Titanium X commands a P264,000 premium over the base Titanium (at the time of writing). It’s with that price difference that we have to ask ourselves whether it is really worth it because, in practice, both cars should drive the same and have the same amount of practical amenities inside.
Given that both cars operate on the same platforms, have the same engines, and have roughly the same interiors, we questioned whether forking over or saving the P264,000 will be worth it given that the Titanium is such a great value already.
The better Titanium
The Territory Titanium X has a lot of things going for it but the additional equipment over the base Titanium starts with the exterior. We get a new set of 19-inch wheels on the outside that’ll tell people that you had more money to burn at the time of purchase. It will also come with a variant-exclusive badge because Ford likes to give you a little indicator that you got their top-of-the-line offering. The difference? Well, it’s an additional X after the Titanium badge. Other than that, however, you still get the same LED headlights and taillights, the same suspension, the same ground clearance, the same gorgeous design, and the same front-end clip, but the fact that both variants look almost identical is good for the Titanium buyer, perhaps not so much for the Titanium X buyer.
Either way, we still like the exterior design of the Titanium X. Same as the Titanium, you’re getting the Next-Gen look and also the rather imposing presence that the Territory manages to achieve thanks to a big grille and its very striking LED headlights and DRLs. All things considered, and without the other Titanium in the mix, this generation of Territory is as eye-catching as ever.
The biggest changes are inside
You will see where your money is going when you step inside. The inside’s where it is at thanks to the white leather that Ford used. It’s a good quality just like the lower trim (which has navy blue leather) but it might be an acquired taste. Things are very striking, and there are other things too like the panoramic sunroof, the bigger screen for the driver, and the ambiance that the light colors provide. It makes the car seem a lot more premium even if it is from a mainstream brand.
However, we do have to touch on the staining that may or may not happen with this white-colored leather. You have to be a little more cautious with this trim level. While we didn’t stain anything, it’s something that you still have to consider if you end up buying this car as tested.
We liked our time in the Territory Titanium X, though we would have been slightly less on edge if the interior was not in a light color. We don’t doubt that it is durable, but we took extra care while we had it. The upside here is that it is full leather whereas the base trim has half leather and half cloth seats.
Apart from that, it’s still spacious. The base Titanium got it right so the Titanium X gets it right as well. For a five-seater, it has space that we can only describe as “fit for Americans,” which it to say that we had no problem crossing our legs and getting in the right driving position. The seats are also motorized, so getting comfortable is as easy as flipping a switch and waiting a bit for the adjustment. The rear cargo area as previously tested can fit up to four balikbayan boxes with the rear seats folded down, which is great for a compact crossover.
Another con before we move on, the piano's black plastics are okay. It’s a bedazzling amount in the center console where the gear selector knob is so keep a microfiber handy. The AC controls are also touch-sensitive which we weren’t too fond of in the Titanium, and here too in the Titanium X.
You also pay for more tech
Tech and safety systems are what you pay for by going up a variant in the Territory lineup. The Titanium X is the most loaded variant right now, and it comes with everything that you will need and would want. From things like a bigger gauge cluster to the capable infotainment system that’s also found in the Titanium, to the adaptive cruise control and more, you can’t help but feel like you got the long end of the stick with this one. The gauge cluster alone is what you will notice first because it grew from seven inches in the Titanium to 12 inches in the Titanium X. The look of the cluster and the amount of information on it at any given time is much richer and nicer to look at in comparison, and it’s one of the features that make the Titanium X a worthwhile upgrade.
Given that we still had cruise control in the base and all the screens anyway (albeit a bit smaller), it didn’t seem like we were losing too much utility. However, for those who really drive and want to control the ambiance of the interior, perhaps use the panoramic sunroof, or perhaps go for a long drive with the added benefit of the adaptive cruise, then this is the variant to get. In addition to that, the hands-free power tailgate is a great bonus to have but the hands-free function took a little getting used to. When we dialed in our technique to get it open without touching anything, it worked fine with perhaps one or two hiccups from time to time. You’re still going to use the button more, anyway.
Apart from that, the other specifications and features of the Ford Territory Titanium X are class-leading like the 360-degree camera, which can also be found on the base model. Apart from that, it’s a great package of tech and safety features. Adaptive cruise is what makes top-of-the-line models too and Ford knows how to program the system to behave well so no complaints there.
Finally, safety in the Titanium X has six airbags, ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic detection, Auto High Beam, Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Brake with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Aid, and a Collision Mitigation System. Aside from the airbags, all of these features are exclusive to the Titanium X.
Performance and handling as expected
It’s a Territory, it’s a Ford, but the Titanium X badge doesn’t make it any better or worse. It’s the same engine and transmission combination in this one, plus it is all on the same chassis. Though, does the 19-inch wheel set make a difference? As tested, we didn’t notice a big jump in performance or comfort, and the steering was as light and easy to turn as before. Compared to other cars, it’s lighter than most and devoid of a good amount of feel. We prefer more steering feel, but others would rather have a lightweight wheel to work in the city or in traffic. Either way, it’s still a relatively direct drive at speed, but exceedingly easy to pilot in traffic. It seems at home in the city, and it can definitely leave it for less congested roads. On the open highways, it was as stable as ever. The body tracked true and the steering wheel tightened up on the faster roads.
The engine is one thing that we’re happy to report is an improvement over the previous generation with 158 hp and 248 Nm of torque, but compared to a number of rivals, it’s so-so. Comparing its transmission to the previous generation, however, we found that the seven-speed automatic transmission was a bit on the sluggish side to respond and shift. We know that the engine was primed and ready to go, but the transmission played a bit safe when it came to immediate response. That being said, the car would lurch forward in traffic a bit, which required a bit of adjustment on our part to get comfortable.
Apart from that, the comfort in the cabin was superb. The NVH insulation was good, the engine was smooth, and the suspension handled everything without question. Regardless of whether we were in or out of the city, the suspension handled whatever we threw at it. It comes with 190mm of ground clearance which was more than enough to roll over potholes and go over humps without any issues. Before filling up, we managed an in-city fuel economy figure of about 8.5 kilometers per liter, mirroring that of the standard Titanium variant. Meanwhile, we did get around the same score as before with 16 km/L on the highway.
Finally, the adaptive cruise control and the other safety systems are well-tuned. The minimum distance that you can set for the adaptive cruise system is on the safer side of things (as usual), and it responded without missing a beat or hard braking for no reason. The system works well with the collision mitigation system, which is a win in our books and something that you won’t experience in the base Titanium because it doesn’t have it.
At the end of the day, having all of these safety systems and additional tech is a great add-on, but we will say that the pricing of the Titanium X is a bit far from the base Titanium based on how we used the car anyway. We will admit that the systems are well-tuned and are great when you use them, but how often will you be on an adaptive cruise, looking at the gauge cluster, and using the additional safety nets?
Based on our use, the Titanium was enough for our needs, but the thing is, the Titanium X is more of a want in comparison. You want the bigger wheels, you want the bigger screen, you want the longer laundry list of specifications, and you want to pay a premium for the “X” on the badge. However, we can’t help but feel that there is a missing X factor with this trim. Ford has the Ranger, which has two top-spec trims namely the Wildtrak and the Raptor, and those two trucks have that X factor.
Perhaps it would have been more worth it if the Blue Oval gave us a little more flair on the exterior front. Perhaps a more striking front bumper, or a dazzling new grille, or perhaps a shapely rear that would further differentiate the Titanium X. With the top-of-the-line Territory, you kind of want to it be a little more special compared to the base model considering that the most affordable one is already “complete.” Yes, the Titanium X is “more complete” as far as a modern car goes, but we think that Ford should have given it a few more exterior enhancements to justify the price difference. However, if it’s already good as it is we think that the additional safety equipment is worth the price increase but not P264,000 over the base model.
Exterior Photo Gallery
Interior Photo Gallery
Specifications
Engine
1.5 LFuel Type
GasolinePerformance
158 hp @ 5,400 rpmTransmission
Automatic-
Summary
-
Name Ford Territory 1.5 Titanium X Body Type Crossover Price ₱1,599,000 Transmission Category Automatic -
Engine
-
Engine Size 1.5 L Displacement 1,500 cc Number of Cylinders 4 Number of Valves 16 Transmission Type 7-speed Automatic Transmission with Rotary E-Shifter -
Performance
-
Drivetrain Front-wheel Drive Max Output (hp) 158 hp @ 5,400 rpm Max Torque (nm) 248 Nm @ 1,500 rpm *estimated -
Economy & Environment
-
Fuel Type Gasoline Emissions Standard Euro 4 Fuel Capacity 60.0 L Combined Fuel Consumption 11.5 km/L *estimated -
Dimensions
-
Length 4,630 mm Width 1,935 mm Height 1,706 mm Wheelbase 2,726 mm Turning Circle 11 m Ground Clearance 190 mm Trunk Capacity 448 L Number of Doors 5 Number of Seats 5 -
Safety & Security
-
Driver's Airbag Front Passenger's Airbag Side Airbags Curtain Airbags Knee Airbag Auto Brake System Electronic Brake Distribution Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) w/ Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
Immobilizer Security Alarm Stability Control Electronic Door Locks Speed Sensing Door Locks ISOFIX Lane Departure Warning System Blind-Spot Detection System -
Features
-
Cruise Control Front Parking Sensors Rear Parking Sensors Leather Upholstery Push Start Button Wheel Size 19 in Wheels Metal Type Alloy Airconditioning System Dual-Zone Electronic Air Temperature Control with Air Anion Generator Entertainment System 12” Colored Touchscreen with 8 speakers Connectivity AM/FM, Bluetooth,USB, AUX, Voice Recognition, AppleCarPlay, and Android Auto Navigation Ready Warranty 5 Years (150,000 km) Keyless Entry Roof Rack Sunroof Electric Adjustable Seats Power Steering Power Windows Power Outlet Steering Wheel Audio Control -
Technology
-
Active Park Assist Hill Start Assist AWD Modes n/a Tire Pressure Monitoring Heads-up Display Power Liftgate Start-stop System
Colors
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