New Ford Territory: model by model

There will be something for everyone when the facelifted Ford Territory arrives in April, with three model grades - TX, TS and Titanium
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While most of the phenomenal growth in the SUV market has come from vehicles in the $25,000 to $40,000 price range, Ford wants to take the new Territory upstream to better compete in the $50,000 to $60,000 bracket when it arrives in showrooms in late April.

The company believes there is a groundswell of customers who've owned Territorys or similar vehicles for years who want to upgrade to new levels of luxury – without leaving the medium-SUV class.

The arrival of a diesel is also likely to lure some buyers from other prestige models, while the richer mix will also help Ford's bottom line.

There will still be a base model Territory, of course, and we're tipping Ford will at least match if not better the current runout pricing of $38,990 drive-away when the new model arrives – because its rivals are selling for several thousand dollars below that amount.

As before there are three models in the new line-up: TX, TS and Titanium (which replaces the Ghia nameplate).

The good news for those on a budget is that the base model Territory doesn't look like a pauper pack. It gets the same projector headlights and wide-mouth grille as the rest of the range, and new sleek tail-lights.

But buyers of the base model Territory TX may be miffed that they miss out on the 8-inch touch screen display that the two other models come with. Instead, the basic Territory makes do with a smaller, 5.8-inch screen that must be operated with the piano-key buttons below it.

This seems an odd oversight for a company that usually has an eye for such detail; a $32,000 Holden Commodore has a touch screen as standard equipment, so why would it not be standard on a $38,000 (or thereabouts) Ford Territory?

There are some other nice touches, though. The Territory gets an all-new dash, and the new steering wheel and instrument display borrowed from the latest Ford Falcon.

But perhaps of more importance is the fact that one of the Territory's consoles now houses a tissue box holder, as the Falcon has done since 2002. Ford designers have made it fit the newer, larger Kleenex tissue box (the box changed a couple of years ago making the Falcon cubbie redundant). So, finally, drivers of the Ford that carries the most number of kids can now give them a wiping, or a swiping.

Ford has not confirmed it, but we believe all three model grades will be available with diesel or petrol engines, in two-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive. Automatic is the only transmission offered.Importantly from a safety viewpoint, all three grades will also get rear park sensors (at least -- rear camera will likely make it to standard kit by launch time) and seven airbags. The trim panel under the new Territory's steering wheel had a 'airbag' badge even in the base model -- well, the cars on display at Ford's unveil anyway...

Based on what we've been told so far, here's how the new line-up compares outside and in:

Ford Territory TX (most affordable model, third image)

How to pick it from the outside:
Black upper grille
Satin finish on lower grille mouth bars
Black skid plates front and rear
Black rear bumper insert
Black fender feature that houses side indicator lamp
17-inch alloy wheels

How to pick it from the inside:
No touch screen (5.8-inch screen uses 'piano-key' buttons)
Black upholstery
Black steering wheel-mounted controls
Satin door handle releases


Ford Territory TS (middle of the range, second image)

How to pick it from the outside:
Satin finish on upper and lower grille mouth bars
Satin skid plate front and rear
Black rear bumper insert
Black fender feature that houses side indicator lamp
Front fog lights with chrome housing
18-inch alloy wheels

How to pick it from the inside:
8-inch touch screen
Black upholstery with suede-look side bolsters
Satin steering wheel-mounted controls
Satin door handle releases

Ford Territory Titanium (top of the range, first image)

How to pick it from the outside:
Chrome finish on upper and lower grille mouth bars
Satin skid plate front and rear
LED daylight running lights with chrome housing
Black rear bumper insert with fake chrome exhaust outlets either side
Body colour fender feature with chrome flash
Side indicators in mirror scalps
Unique 18-inch alloy wheels

How to pick it from the inside:
8-inch touch screen
Leather seats (black or beige)
Satin steering wheel-mounted controls
Chrome door handle releases
Satin and chrome highlights on switchgear

Paint: choose your hues

There is only one non-metallic colour (white). The rest of the selection is:
Lightning Strike (silver)
Chill (silver-gold)
Smoke (dark silver)
Havana (warm mocha)
Seduce (red)
Vanish (blue-black)
Edge (gun-metal grey)
Silhouette (black)

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