FAIR dinkum: Ford Territory Trend Review

To get the full context of the Ford Territory Trend, you must remember that the top-of-the-range Titanium we drove a year and a half ago cost R721 000. Woah, cars shedding R130 000 off their sticker price is pretty unheard of in this economy. Of course, for older blokes, the name Territory conjures images of red dust, heat haze and Aussies saying ‘no worries, mate.’

That’s because the original was an Australian product, built for wide-open spaces. The one you can buy today was built in China, as part of Ford’s joint venture with Jiangling Motors (JMC). Same badge, entirely different life story. But the same question remains: Does the Ford Territory Trend honour the pragmatic, family-hauling spirit of its ancestor?

FORD TERRITORY TREND

Well, a bit like most American-badged cars, it’s like it was designed to within the nearest foot, not the nearest inch. There’s nothing that’s delicate or finite about the Territory. At 4 685 mm long, and with a 2 726 mm wheelbase, the Ford Territory Trend is properly big. Like, you can proudly park it next to any other full-size SUV at the weekly parkrun and you’re equal, if not superior, to the lot. Ground clearance is a handy 190 mm, too.

No wonder that cavernous cabin space is a big selling point here. Five adults, or more, fit comfortably, and rear passengers get generous leg and shoulder room. Boot space is 448 litres, expanding to 1 422 litres with the rear seats folded. And with them flat you can bring along any leisure lifestyle item that takes your fancy: surfboards, mountain bikes, you name it … 

ENOUGH ENGINE, MINIMAL DRAMA

Power comes from a 1.8-litre turbo petrol GTDi EcoBoost four-cylinder with 138 kW and 318 Nm. Drive is sent to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. It’s not sonorous and it isn’t particularly economical. In our Titanium test, which uses the same drivetrain, the sprint to 100 km/h took 8.5 seconds, and the torque arrives low enough in the rev range without turbo lag.

Ford claims 7.4 l/100 km, with real-world use landing between 8.5 and 9.5 l/100 km depending on conditions and how much of a hurry you’re in. One gripe carries over from our 2025 Titanium test. The gearbox, while smooth and mostly unobtrusive, has no manual mode or paddle shifters to override it, so it holds low gears way too long when coasting downhill. You feel like you’re at the mercy of its programming. And this almost certainly adds to its thirst.

WHAT THE FORD TERRITORY TREND GETS

Here’s what the Ford Territory Trend gets over and above base Ambiente. In practice, we found it wanting for very little compared to the Titanium we tested last year:

• 12-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto.
• Wireless smartphone charging.
• Power-operated tailgate.
• Dual-zone automatic climate control.
• Automatic headlamps and rain-sensing wipers.
• 18-inch alloy wheels.

Moreover, its semi-autonomous driver aids are where this car punches above its price. Adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist are included for the price. In practice, we found the cruise feature reassuringly competent, particularly the binnacle display showing the distance to the car ahead. However, the self-steering system can be a little over eager, and we opted to switch that off on anything other than an arrow-straight road.

THE VERDICT

As mentioned, this Ford Territory Trend is all contextualised by its price. R584 900 versus R721 000 for the old top-spec represents a gap of R136 100. An absolute no-brainer. Then there’s the Ford factor. You buy this with the reassurance of a long-established dealer network and genuine brand equity, something the phalanx of new market entrants still have to build up to.

THE FIGURES

• 2026 Ford Territory Trend 1.8T EcoBoost 7AT
• Engine: 1.8-litre turbo petrol
• Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
• Power: 138 kW
• Torque: 318 Nm
• 0-100 km/h: 8.50 seconds
• Fuel consumption: 9.5 l/100 km (tested) / 7.4 l/100 km (claimed/combined)
• Price: R584 900