Ford Territory TS Diesel AWD 2014 Review

The arrival of the Territory in 2004 seemingly signalled a bright new future for Ford Australia. Just 10 years later we are contemplating the final edition and the departure of the Blue Oval from local manufacturing within two years.

The astonishing thing is the Territory is still competitive in its class. To drive it is to believe and also to understand the size of the achievement of the hard working 'true believers' who brought Australia's first and only 'proper' SUV to us.

Compared to the FG X makeover, the Territory SZ II is pretty darn minor. Some new equipment, highlighted by the SYNC2 infotainment system, some meaty price cuts and some very minor styling changes wrap it up.

Mechanically, apart from the 4.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine’s swap from the ZF 6HP26 to lower torque-rated 6HP21 automatic transmission, there is not much of note.

You can read the full detail of the Territory range's pricing and specification elsewhere. Here we’ll stick with the mid-spec all-wheel drive TS diesel, which was the model sampled by motoring.com.au at this week’s media launch.

It drops in price a substantial $6000 to $49,990, making it instantly competitive. For instance, the TS is now positioned between the Hyundai Santa Fe Elite and Highlander models and undercuts the cheapest Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel, the Laredo, and the most expensive Kia Sorento, the Platinum.

You might be thinking that listing Territory up against that lot is a bit of a stretch. After all, it has been around since 2004 and has had only one significant update (SZ) in 2011, when the 2.7-litre V6 turbo-diesel was added to the line-up.

But our drive of the TS on northern Victorian roads is enough to bring any waverers into line – which is appropriate considering the Territory has the best steering and handling of any medium-large SUV this side of a Porsche Macan.

And its ride is still as good as just about any SUV going.

Yep, it’s too heavy and top-heavy to be called lithe, but the tune of the suspension and the electrically-assisted steering means you can still pilot the Territory with a confidence, surety and enjoyment normally alien to most SUV owners.

That weight takes the edge off the performance of the now-ageing diesel, but the NVH work done for the SZ keeps the ruckus to a minimum as the throttle pressure increases.

Past experience tells us that if you don’t need the light duty all-wheel drive system then just take the cheaper and lighter option of rear-wheel drive. It’s more economic and that touch more nimble.

The rest of the package is as we have known it for so long – functional, flexible and spacious... All of which explains why it continues to be so popular with Aussie families.

Just two more years to go... How saddening -- and angering -- it is that there will be no locally developed and built replacement.

2014 Ford Territory TS AWD Diesel price and specs:
Price: $49,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engines: 2.7-litre V6 turbo-diesel
Outputs: 140kW/440Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.0L/100km (ADR combined)
CO2: 236g/km (ADR combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP)

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