Territory 1.8T Titanium 2025 review

Territory 1.8T Titanium proves how much a Ford nameplate can change. Possibly no other model range has altered its positioning so much in South Africa.

The previous Territory was a large crossover before crossovers were really a thing. Built on a big sedan platform (the Falcon), it was perhaps a bit ahead of its time. In the 2000s, the idea of a sedan-based crossover, especially a large one, wasn’t really a thing for brands like Ford.

This latest version is a futuristic effort from Ford, in many ways. Since Kuga’s withdrawal from the local market, Ford hasn’t had a bridging product between its compact vehicles and the Everest large SUV. That’s where its new mid-sized crossover comes into play.

Yes. It is Chinese

Customer preferences in China have reshaped global car design. Ford’s not been immune to these trends. In 2018 it signed a cooperation agreement with Jiangling Motors Corporation Ltd. The product outcome of that cooperation is Ford’s Territory 1.8T Titanium.

The configuration change from legacy Territory (rear-wheel drive, with a 4-litre in-line six) to the new version (front-wheel drive, with a 1.8-litre turbopetrol four), is significant. In effect, Ford’s 1.8T Titanium is a badge-engineered Jiangling, and in a world where the Chinese car industry has become all-conquering, that’s not a bad thing…

Design details are sharp, without any of the pastiche chrome that is often such an overdone influence with mid-size crossover design.

Ford UX without SYNC?

All car companies know that infotainment has become the differentiator and atop the hierarchy of customer needs. Ford’s been an infotainment pioneer with its SYNC system, leveraging talented ex-Blackberry software engineers and UX specialists. But this new Territory is so interesting because it’s a Ford with huge screens, but without SYNC.

Digitisation is a specific advantage of Chinese car companies. the depth of capability available there to develop amazing in-car UX is huge. The Territory 1.8T Titanium’s infotainment system will feel different for loyal Ford SYNC users, but it’s not lesser.

The infotainment screen’s resolution, direct sunlight contrast and update rate are excellent. At 12.3-inches it is generously sized and the icons and UX design are legible and intuitive. The app connectively plays nicely with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

For my slightly middle-aged UX sensibilities, it worked great. But if you are an absolute SYNC devotee, the Chinese infotainment suite might take some getting used to.

Performance and fuel consumption

The power- and drivetrain combination matches a 138kW 1.8-lirte turbopetrol, with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. It’s a clever solution for Ford, because that dual-clutch transmission always has the correct gear pre-selected, for acceleration or economy, optimising efficiency and performance.

Performance is mild, as intended. Benchmark acceleration ranks in the mid 8-second bracket for the 0-100km/h sprint. In real-world driving conditions, the throttle response always feels quite keen because the transmission’s internals are so rapid at changing gears to the ratio you need.

It is a refined highway cruiser (helped by sensible 235/50/19 tyre specification), and the turbocharged engine delivers honest performance regardless of altitude. Fuel consumption? Fair for a vehicle of its size, weight and aerodynamic profile. We averaged around 8l/100km, in a mix of highway and urban driving, at the coast – where air density slightly enhances the overall efficiency.

Chinese with the Ford touch

The benefits of partnering with Jiangling bring great cabin architecture and UX to Ford’s Territory 1.8T Titanium. Without some of the annoying calibration issues, which can afflict Chinese cars.

Perfecting driveability isn’t easy. Engineers earn that intuition and feel for how much weight and responsiveness controls need with thousands of hours testing. And it’s an aspect where traditional car company engineers, like those at Ford, still rank superior.

You can’t simulate the real-world driving knowledge and feel of an experienced vehicle development and calibration engineer.

Some of the new Chinese car brands on offer in South Africa offer dazzling infotainment and UX, but the driver assistance systems are wildly interventionist. Creating a driving experience that feels too artificial and unpredictable at times.

The Territory suffers none of this. Its throttle calibration is excellent, without the lag-and-surge throttle response issues that some similarly sized turbopetrol rivals from China suffer. And much of the credit for that must go to the Ford finishing team, which cooperated with Jiangling on the latest version of Territory.

Territory 1.8T Titanium price

There are many crossover options in that R600- to R800 000 price segment. But if you are piqued by the idea of Ford’s storied brand history, tidy design, airy cabin and Chinese infotainment tech, the 1.8T Titanium gets a lot right.

At R721 000, its pricing is quite full, but there is a tidy allocation of standard equipment. I’m not a fan of glass in the roof, because South African summers are just too hot for a sunroof. But if you love all that natural light, there is a dual-sliding moonroof. Wireless charging. A very decent 8-speaker sound system and full leather cabin trim.

Safety tech is comprehensive, too. Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Forward Collision Warning with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Change Assist. There’s also Traffic Jam Assistant, Adaptive Cruise Control and the invaluable Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), which works terrifically in South African conditions, with unpredictable pedestrian, cyclist and animal behaviour.

More compact and with a distinct digital edge to its in-cabin experience, Ford’s new Territory is a vital crossover presence in the local market. In the Jenga tower, which is Ford’s product hierarchy, it’s a crucial block.