Ford South Africa faced a small dilemma when they opted to discontinue the Figo, Fiesta, Focus, EcoSport, and Kuga as they had culled off most of their passenger vehicles. They were left with the Ranger, Everest, Mustang and Tourneo, which are hardly commuter-friendly options, especially for those with less driving experience. The first replacement was the Puma, and in early 2024, Ford gave us the Ford Territory.
Related: How much are car repayments on a new Ford Territory?
The Territory is a joint venture with Chinese firm JMC, which builds a range of Ford models under license for its domestic market. Branching out into the export scene, the Territory lands on our shores as a 5-seater compact SUV that offers modern tech, ample size, and a road presence that appeals to the younger buyer.
Three derivatives are on offer, all powered by the same 1.8-litre EcoBoost petrol engine and paired to a 7-speed Dual-Clutch (DCT) gearbox for automatic shifting. Power is sent to the front wheels in all three derivatives. Trim levels consist of the familiar Ambiente, Trend, and Titanium. Find out more about the Ford Territory's performance here.
Which is the best variant of the Ford Territory?
The Ford Territory has a rather robust array of standard equipment and safety features, irrespective of the trim level. All Territories are equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control (TCS), Antilock Brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control, and Tyre Pressure Monitoring (TPM) system. They are all fitted with LED headlights and ISOFIX child seat anchors and have 6 airbags.
The usual list of electric windows, power steering, electric mirrors, and an adjustable steering wheel is complemented by the remote central locking with easy access on all variants. All models are fitted with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality, and all trims come with a multifunction steering wheel. However, there are a few differences between the trim levels.
Here is a brief, but certainly not exhaustive, comparison of how the trim levels vary.
| Ambiente | Trend | Titanium | |
| Air Conditioning | Yes | Dual Zone Climate Control | Dual Zone Climate Control |
| Upholstery | Cloth | Artificial Leather | Leather |
| Steering Wheel | PU | Artificial Leather | Leather |
| Seat adjustment | Manual | Manual | Electric |
| Tailgate | Manual | Auto/Electric | Auto/Electric |
| Wheels | 18-inch | 18-inch | 19-inch |
| Mirrors | Fixed | Fixed | Folding |
| Sunroof | No | No | Sliding Panoramic |
| Headlights | Manual | Auto | Auto |
| Wipers | Manual | Auto | Auto |
| Reverse Camera | No | Yes | Yes |
| Park Distance Control | Rear | Rear | Front & Rear |
Furthermore, the Titanium trim level also hosts a comprehensive array of driver assistance and supplementary safety systems, including Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Forward Collision Warning with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Change Assist. This package includes Traffic Jam Assistant and Automatic Emergency Brake (AEB).
Ford Territory Price
| Ford Territory 1.8T Ambiente | R576 000 |
| Ford Territory 1.8T Trend | R632 600 |
| Ford Territory 1.8T Titanium | R707 000 |
Verdict
The Titanium's safety and driver assistance systems make it hard to ignore. The Territory is still competitively priced, so if you can stretch the finances to cover that, we highly recommend the Titanium version.
The Trend specification adds just the right amount of creature conveniences, but in all honesty, the Ambiente variant offers the best bang for your buck.
