Clear view ahead

Call me nosy – as a journalist I prefer curious or inquisitive.

With the advertising for the Territory focusing on how unlike a truck it was – I was initially dismayed, I wanted the truck – I wanted to be sitting higher and able to look down.

First things first – I wanted the mums at school to check out my rig and give me envious looks.

Monday morning and the household student had a first-class ride through the school gates right up to the office – no bus for her. Private schools are not the best place to employ this tactic – there are luxury cars and 4WDs everywhere so I didn't stand out too much.

We did stand out at the airport, though. After collecting our visitor, piling her luggage into the 4WD was never an issue.

Neither was fitting anything else in – the Territory has more than 30 storage spaces and mega-room with the optional third row of seats down – there are storage solutions to rival Ikea.

The problem lies with the fact I am not known for my fantastic co-ordination – and the split tail-gate did nothing but highlight this. Push a button on one side and you can split the tail opening rather than opening it as a whole with the button on the opposite side.

So, the top pops up – and Sam wears a crack in her head as she tries to work out what's going on. Nah ... really it didn't hurt ... much, because I am a tough almost-truckie now.

I say almost because it really is like driving a car. The steering isn't heavy and it doesn't take two days to hit 60km/h with the six-speed auto.

You almost don't think about how big it actually is while driving along until someone points it out – or it slaps you in the face. I never had to worry too much about tree branches in my low-to-the-ground regular car, so I didn't think too much about driving with the windows down while being so high up.

Until I did get hit in the face with a few leaves and a twig large enough to sting a little.

As passengers laughed, I used the steering-wheel controls to turn the music up to drown out my hoarsely whispered cursing.

I didn't realise just how roomy the Territory was inside until sitting in the car parked outside a friend's place.

As I sat in the passenger seat for a different perspective, I could almost have been in another room.

Reverse parking was the only real issue I had with the Territory – and there was no pain involved.

While manoeuvring into a parking space, there are a couple of blind spots, but you are kindly helped out with the reversing sensors that bleep when an object is near.

Reluctantly handing the keys back – I knew I was going to be one of those who needs to keep her own car clean as the other nosy 4WD-ers look down on me at the traffic lights.

I also managed to hit my head getting in and out of my own car – not having the extra room.

LOVE IT LEAVE IT

Ford Territory

Price: $51,330

LOVE IT

Being able to peer down on everyone.

Not feeling speed bumps.

Surprising fuel economy

Storage – a place for everything.

LEAVE IT

The reversing alarm sensitivity.

Blind spots.