Ford Territory Ghia 2004 review

All-wheel drive adds $4000 to the price of the wagon but you also get some other goodies thrown in, chief among them stability control.

The rear wheel drive model makes do with less sophisticated traction control.

The most obvious difference between the two cars is that the Ghia has coloured coded bumpers and mouldings.

It gives it a chunkier look and some people commented that they liked this, but we prefer contrasting trim.

Alloy wheels are also standard but there is nothing wrong with the way the steel ones look.

Inside, the Ghia gets leather and all the trimmings, including dual zone climate airconditioning, extra adjustment for the power driver's seat and side curtain airbags plus an upgraded trip computer and premium sound system.

It all adds up and an all-wheel drive Ghia is going to set you back $53,290 before on road costs, compared with $38,990 for the entry level rear wheel drive TX.

A mid-spec TS model will soon be available, but Ford is going to have trouble filling the orders it has first.

Although Territory is selling its socks off, we have not seen many on the road probably because dealers are still awaiting delivery.

Latest industry figures show Ford has sold 4099 of the wagons so far this year, almost 1700 of them last month.

The most surprising thing about the heavier, equipment laden Ghia is that it returned better fuel economy than its lighter, rear wheel drive stablemate – about 14.3L/100km compared to 14.7L/100km – and over roughly the same test route.

On paper at least the rear-wheel drive model is supposed to get slightly better fuel economy, at 13.1L/100km compared to 13.5L/100km.

The all-wheel drive model is targeted at people who are more likely to go off road with their vehicles.

Having said that, the rear wheel drive wagon is going to take you just about anywhere you're likely to want to go without getting the car scratched.

Where all-wheel drive really comes into its own, however, is in the wet, where its value cannot be overstated.

It's a full time system which distributes torque 62 per cent to the rear axle and 38 per cent to the front, with a rear wheel bias that Ford says is favoured by customers.

Add in stability control or Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) as it is called, and Territory offers impressive levels of ride and handling, particularly for a vehicle with a high centre of gravity.

DSC draws on the he services of the car's traction control and ABS brake systems to monitor and check wheel spin at each corner.

Throw it at a corner and you will be surprised at how unflustered it remains.

After taking the rear-wheel drive model paddock bashing, we saw little point in taking the all-wheel drive over the same ground.

However, we hope to report further on Territory's off road prowess, with some Outback testing coming up in the next couple of weeks.