Announced last year, the Territory returns to South Africa as Ford's Kuga replacement after a 15-year hiatus. Image: Ford
Announced last year as making its return to South Africa in the second quarter of 2024 after bowing out in 2008, Ford has started teasing the all-new Territory by confirming not only the trim level structure, but also the starting price of the range-opening Ambiente.
Essentially an adapted version of the Chinese-market Equator Sport that debuted in the People’s Republic three years ago, the return of the Territory in a radically different capacity than the Falcon-underpinned Australian original sees South Africa become one of the first right-hand-drive markets to receive it as replacement for the ill-fated Kuga.
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Itself derived from the seven-seat Equator that also premiered in 2021, the Territory is the result of a joint venture between the Blue Oval and Jiangling Motors Corporation (JMC) with seating for five similar to the Kuga, and a single powertrain option.
On the specification front, Ford has carried over the denominators used in the Middle East; Ambiente, Trend and Titanium, all powered by a new 1.8 EcoBoost petrol engine not offered in Brazil, China or the Philippines where a smaller 1.5 EcoBoost provides motivation instead.
Commencing the range, the Ambiente’s array of features comprise 18-inch alloy wheels, a seven-inch TFT instrument cluster display, multi-function steering wheel, a six-speaker sound system, LED headlights and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
On the safety side, the base Territory gets six airbags, cruise control, rear parking sensors, a tyre pressure monitor, Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control.
Upping the ante, the Trend receives a wireless smartphone charger, vinyl as apposed to cloth upholstery, rain sense wipers, an electric tailgate, electrochromatic rear-view mirror, a leatherette steering wheel, auto on/off headlights and, in place of the Ambiente’s standard air-conditioning, dual-zone climate control.
At the range’s summit, the Titanium swaps the vinyl trim for a two-tone leather finish, the TFT display for a full 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and the 18-inch wheels for 19-inch alloys.
Also part of the spec sheet is a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, folding and heated electric mirrors, ambient lighting, an eight-speaker sound system, puddle lamps, chrome inserts and a leather covered steering wheel.
Building on the Ambiente and Trend, added safety and driver assistance systems in Titanium comprise front parking sensors, Forward Collision Warning with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Monitoring, Adaptive Cruise Control, Traffic Jam Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Autonomous Emergency Braking.
In terms of practicality, 448-litres can be stored in the Territory’s boot, which increases to 1 422-litres with the 60/40 split rear seat folded down.
Set to measure the same 4 630 mm long, 1 935 mm wide and 1 706 mm tall as the Equator Sport, while riding on a 2 726 mm long wheelbase, the Territory, unlike the original and Kuga, won’t have the option of all-wheel-drive or a manual gearbox.
Instead, the EcoBoost, whose outputs have been bizarrely detuned by two kilowatts and two Newton Metres from the unit sold in the Middle East, sends its 138kW/318Nm to the front axle only via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Regardless of the trim grade, all variants receive a drive mode selector as standard with four settings; Eco, Normal, Sport and Mountain.
In total, seven colours can be chosen from;
As mentioned, only pricing for the Ambiente has been confirmed from what Ford calls an “indicative” starting sticker of R610 000.
This makes the Territory cheaper than expected with a price less than R4 000 up on the top-spec Puma ST Line Vignale that retails at R613 900.
Exact pricing for all models will be announced closer to the eventual launch date later this year.
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