Exploring the Ford Territory 1.5L EcoBoost Titanium+ CVT

At just P1.299 million, the top-of-the-line, China-made Ford Territory 1.5L EcoBoost Titanium+ CVT is priced extremely competitively in its segment and is a great proposition for compact crossover buyers.

Despite being a model that is positioned in between the EcoSport and the Escape (the latter not offered in the Philippines anymore), it is longer, wider, and a has a longer wheelbase than the latter and is priced almost half a million pesos less than the 2015 Ford Escape 2.0L EcoBoost Titanium.

Buyers get more space, higher ground clearance (compared to sedans), a smaller engine designed to be more fuel efficient, a good amount of driver-assist technologies, modern cabin amenities, all in a crossover body that’s so popular in the country.

Setting it apart from majority of Ford’s SUVs is the gloss-black mesh grille with chrome inserts it uses instead of the standard two-bar grille seen on the Everest and EcoSport, plus the body sports more expressive lines as seen character line and rocker panel.

It has slimmer LED (light-emitting diode) headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, auto on/off headlamps with Follow-me-Home feature, front and rear fog lamps that uses a stylized housing similar to the Explorer, and LED taillights.

On the sloping roof are roof rails, a shark’s fin antenna and a rear spoiler leading to the tailgate with the chrome bar spanning the middle of the hatch right between the taillights.

It comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels that go with 235/55 R18 tire, rain-sensing windshield wipers, power-adjustable/power-folding and heated sideview mirrors with turn indicators, chrome door handles, puddle lamps, rear windshield wipers, and a panoramic moonroof.

The chassis uses a MacPherson multi-link independent front and rear suspension, vented disc brakes in front and solid disc brakes at the rear, and electric power-assisted steering. Ground clearance is 180mm.

Under the hood is a 1.5L EcoBoost engine derived from the JX4G15 four-cylinder gas turbo engine of the Yusheng S330 – the vehicle that it is based on from JMC (Jiangling Motors Co., Ltd.) Yusheng. This is not the same EcoBoost engine of the Ford Focus or Ford Escape.

It sends 141hp and 225Nm of torque through a CVT (continuously variable transmission) with Sport mode straight to its two front wheels. Fuel tank capacity is 52 liters.

The Ford Territory is a five-seater. Access to the cabin is via a smart keyless entry system with Push-Button Start.

Cabin and convenience features include a 10-inch fully digital display in the instrument panel with three selectable themes, steering column with tilt and telescopic adjustment, power windows with one-touch up and down function on all windows, cabin pollen and PM (particulate matter) 2.5 filter with activated carbon, ambient lighting with seven color options, heated and cooled front seats, 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, four-way manually-adjustable front passenger’s seat, wireless charging, and eight speakers.

It also comes with perforated leather seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel with mounted controls, power door locks with central locking system, speed-sensing door locks, a 10-inch touchscreen with adjustable quad view, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, four USB ports (one data and three charging ports), auto dimming rearview mirrors with a high-mount USB port, air-conditioning with automatic temperature control and second-row air vents, driver and passenger sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors, sunglasses holder, leather-covered center console with dual-lid opening, seven cup and bottle holders (one in the first row, two in the second row, and four on the door trims), luggage tonneau cover, trunk light, and an auxiliary 12-volt power outlet.

Safety, security, and driver-assist features are Autonomous Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control with Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Enhanced Active Park Assist with Parallel and Perpendicular Parking Assist, Blind Spot Information System, front and rear parking sensors, a high-definition 360-degree camera, tire pressure monitoring system with individual tire pressure display, Electronic Stability Control, Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Traction Control, Hill Launch Assist, six airbags (driver, front passenger, side, and curtain), two adjustable three-point ELR (emergency locking retractor) seat belts with pre-tensioners in front, three three-point ELR seat belts in the rear, a high mount stop lamp, and child seat ISOFIX anchorage points in the second row.

The Ford Territory 1.5L EcoBoost Titanium+ CVT comes in five colors, Ruby Red, Diffused Silver, Panther Black, and exclusively Crystal Pearl White, and Moonstone Blue.

Servicing of the Ford Territory 1.5L EcoBoost Titanium+ CVT is once a year or every 10,000 kilometers, whichever comes first.

Photos from Ford Philippines