Ford Territory TX RWD 2004 review

But this Territory TX certainly did and the verdict is in – it's Car of the Year material.

I picked up the bright green Territory from the Ford Motor Company plant in Melbourne, loaded in four large suitcases and my nuclear family and set off for the Victorian Alps for a few days of skiing, followed by a figure-eight journey around the state.

In all that time, we did not encounter one problem with the all-wheel-drive vehicle.

However, first impressions weren't favourable. We thought we had stepped back in time to a 1970s lounge room with beige velour upholstery and contrast orange stitching. It was certainly comfortable, more so than leather, especially when you are slipping into a car in below-zero temperatures.

Front row has ample leg room, fully adjustable seats and pedals that are quickly adjustable for reach to accommodate the tallest or shortest driver. Just depress the button on the steering column and the pedals move up or down.

And the teenagers seemed comfortable in the back – they slept for much of the journey without complaint, so that's a solid testimony.

Their slumber also was aided by the low cabin noise; something you don't expect from a low-spec wagon. Apart from a low amount of wind noise from the A pillar, transmission noise was non-existent and road noise at a minimum on the 60 per cent profile 285mm tyres.

Fully loaded with four large suitcases and passengers, the Territory felt a little "tippy". However, after adjusting the 17-inch tyre pressures for the extra load, handling improved remarkably and we were able to keep pace with lighter sedans even along the twistier stretches of road.

Despite the full load on board, I found the straight six a willing powerplant that required little need to kick down a ratio on the dependable auto box.

Out of the blocks there is a launch feel in the electronic throttle that takes a little bit of getting used to. Steering felt sharp, but a little light at speed, and the turning circle surprised for this size vehicle.

Dashboard, centre console and instruments are Falcon functional, if a little austere.

The speedo was the most accurate I have come across recently, being about 3 per cent conservative. With the $660 optional cruise control set at 110km/h, it registered as 107km/h on the overhead radar warning on the Hume Highway.

I could only find one small complaint after two weeks with the Territory – the key and remote are separate. It tends to clatter around in your pocket and on the keychain when the key is in the steering column.

Surely it's time for an all-in-one key fob like the Commodore, but one that folds away neatly like many Euro cars.

Critics of the Ford Territory say it guzzles fuel. However, spirited driving across some steep and winding roads with a full complement of passengers and luggage revealed a reasonable average of about 13.5 litres of normal unleaded fuel per 100km.

And a 75-litre tank ensures a range of about 550km. From the airport up the flat and straight Hume Highway 181km to Benalla took 24.47 litres at 13.5 litres per 100km. Here petrol cost $1.08.9 a litre.

From Benalla 332.5km to Omeo across the winding Great Alpine Road used 48.9 litres at 14.6l/100km and cost $55.212 to fill up at $1.12.9 cents a litre.

From Omeo near the end of the Great Alpine Rd across 434km of largely flat highway driving to the next top-up at Yellingbo in the Yarra National Park required 54.9 litres at 12.6l/100km. Petrol cost $1.04.6 cents/litre.

I didn't get a proper "mileage" readout after our trip down the Princes Highway and 458.5km across the Great Ocean Rd to Port Campbell because I only poured in 22.6 litres after baulking at the bowser price of $1.18.9 cents a litre.

After that, I lost interest in economy figures. But daily driving with lighter loads and less commitment to getting to your next destination before all the motel rooms have been let should yield much better economy figures.