First drive: Ford Territory Hybrid

For those paying attention to the current state of the global and local automotive industries, it is clear that hybrids are on the rise. 

The rise of electrification has been underway for some time now, but in the Philippines, it gained momentum this year when brands sought to introduce models as a response to the Toyota Corolla Cross and Yaris Cross HEV trims. 

This year alone, locally present brands have already introduced the likes of the MG ZS Hybrid, Honda HR-V RS e:HEV, Suzuki Frox, and Subaru Forester e-Boxer Hybrid, and many others. 

In September 2025, Ford Philippines answered the call for a hybrid crossover with the updated Territory, now featuring an electrified powertrain and loads of new features. 

Initially, many were skeptical of The Blue Oval’s move to shake up its tried-and-tested crossover offering. However, with Zigwheels Philippines having the opportunity to join a media drive up to Baguio City using the Ford Territory Hybrid, we discovered whether it is indeed a good option for those seeking a brand-new crossover. Here’s how it went. 

Exterior

Appearance-wise, the new Ford Territory Hybrid clearly lost the aggressiveness of its predecessor. This observation is mostly true for its front end, which now sports softer edges all around. Even its grille is now integrated into the curve of the vehicle’s front nose - a contrast to the huge one that was present on the older version. 

The new model still sports a full complement of LED lighting, but its LED daytime running lamps get a softer, more straight cut shape compared to the eagle-eyed pair on the older internal combustion-only version. 

As for the rest of the vehicle, it looks quite similar to the older Territory. It still carries a high-riding roofline, a set of subtly-placed character lines, and an appropriate amount of black plastic cladding. The new Titanium X trim’s 19-inch wheels, however, received an interesting design that can be linked to improving the vehicle’s aerodynamics. 

For reference, here are the dimensions of the new Ford Territory Hybrid:

Length (in millimeters)	4,685
Width (in mm)	1,935
Height (in mm)	1,706
Wheelbase length (in mm)	2,726
Ground clearance (in mm)	185

Apart from its quieter-looking design, it's apparent that the new model didn’t scrimp on exterior features. It has a power sunroof, a new soundproof windshield, a power tailgate, puddle lamps, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic headlamp functionality. 

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Interior

Step inside the new Ford Territory Hybrid, and the layout will feel familiar. It still has ample space for up to five passengers, with the same digital screen setup. Its higher-end variants also feature contrast stitching. 

Notable features carried over from the previous version include leather upholstery, a dual-zone automatic climate control system, a dial-type gear selector, and front and rear armrests - among others. 

Positioned neatly on the dash is a 12-inch infotainment display and a similarly sized digital gauge cluster. The said infotainment system has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and is linked to an eight-piece speaker set. 

Other noteworthy equipment present inside the Ford Territory Hybrid Titanium X includes, but is not limited to, the following: 

• Wireless smartphone charging pad
• USB ports
• Power-adjustable driver’s seat
• Push-to-start button
• Front seat ventilation
• 60:40 split-folding rear seats
• Electronic parking brake
• Drive mode selector

New to the model is an Arkamys Sound Stage, which significantly improves sound quality. Otherwise, most control surfaces are well-arranged and easily accessible to the driver. Space in the front and rear cabins is also generous. 

Particularly noteworthy is the new Territory’s ability to effectively isolate noise and harshness. The rear seat is a bastion of calm, even when our media drive group was going all out for our ascent through Kennon Road and our descent on the winding Asin Road. 

If there’s anything to complain about, a majority of the air-conditioning controls are tied to the model’s touchscreen. Sure, some functions can be toggled using a strip of touch controls, but the cockpit could’ve been better if Ford had opted to provide the vehicle with physical knobs dedicated to temperature and fan speed instead. 

Safety

We didn’t get much time to use the new Ford Territory Hybrid’s lineup of safety gear, but they are certainly good to have. 

For its basic kit, the Ford model comes with six airbags, anti-lock braking, hill launch assist, hill-descent control, electronic stability control, and traction control, rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree view camera.

The aforementioned are supported by several advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS), which include: 

• Adaptive cruise control
• Automatic high beams
• Forward collision warning
• Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keep aid
• Automatic high beams

As far as its ADAS goes, the adaptive cruise control works well, especially on wide-open routes like the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). The forward collision warning, however, can be a bit overzealous, though one will learn to tune out its audio prompts eventually. 

Interested in the Ford Territory Hybrid? Check out these exclusive offers from Zigwheels Philippines.

 

Powertrain, driving

The crux of the Ford Territory Hybrid is its new powertrain. It uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 gasoline engine paired with an electric motor and a 1.83-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery. Power is sent to its front wheels via a two-speed dedicated automatic transmission. 

At maximum, the 1.5-liter mill can produce up to 148 horsepower (hp) and 230 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. Its electric motor, meanwhile, can put out 215 hp and 314 Nm of torque. 

Ford shared no total output figures until now, but the performance of the Territory Hybrid was very palpable during our climb up to the City of Pines. 

While in “sport mode,” the hybrid crossover’s engine becomes rev-happy, and acceleration on the straights is abrupt. Moreover, the two-speed transmission, which feels like a continuously variable transmission (CVT), feels responsive and does not return any lag between throttle inputs. 

On our descent on the Asin Road, we also felt the vehicle’s improved stability. Mostly, the said quality of the vehicle is thanks to its “Comfort Braking” feature, which combats dive and squat during hard braking. But on top of that is the model’s ability to stave off body roll. 

The new steering modes were also a nice addition. Sure, it doesn’t provide much road feedback like other modern cars, but making its steering feel a tad heavier under Sport mode can result in a more engaging drive. 

For reference, here are the basic mechanical specs of the new Ford Territory Hybrid: 

Engine	1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 hybrid
Fuel type	Gasoline
Transmission	Two-speed dedicated hybrid transmission
Horsepower (ICE)	148
Torque (ICE)	230 Nm
Horsepower (Electric motor)	215
Torque (Electric motor)	315 Nm
Front suspension	MacPherson strut
Rear suspension	Multi-link
Brakes	Front and rear discs

Final thoughts

As detailed above, the new Ford Territory Hybrid is similar in vein to its ICE predecessor when it comes to providing comfort, practicality, and safety. Those on their own will make it attractive to a lot of buyers. On the other hand, its less aggressive design might not be for everyone - a potential weakness, since for many people, a considerable portion of car-buying boils down to the immediate first sight impression and the subsequent emotions it entails. 

However, the Ford Territory Hybrid will comfortably outperform its ICE predecessor. It is a more engaging vehicle to pilot, and in our eyes, it has effectively shed the image of being a humdrum “A to B” crossover with middling power. Sure, it isn’t a high-performance crossover by any means, but its drivability makes it well worth its asking price.

For reference, the model is available for P1.399 million for the entry-level Trend, and P1.599 million for the top-spec Titanium X. So, if you like what you’re seeing from this Ford nameplate, we highly encourage you to give it a test drive. 

Also read:

Ford Everest Sport Special Edition: ‘tough’-tier SUV

2024 Ford Explorer Limited: reliable 6th man

Ford Ranger Wildtrak 4X4: rugged, refined

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