2004 Ford Territory Reviews

How times change. On my recent visit to Blinman, South Australia, the Saturday night line-up outside the pub resembled the yard of an upmarket four-wheel-drive dealership.It's easy to be cynical of the 4WD trend. Often these leviathans go no further off-road than where I took that faithful old dual-cab 14 years ago.But, driven properly, they have minimal impact on national park access tracks. By maintaining traction, 30 big 4WDs do less damage to a rutted track than one wheel-spinning 2WD. They can also convey a family and its camping equipment and provisions in comfort.The great divide between the 4WD segment and the rest of the motoring public is being broken down by "all-wheel-drives". Even Australia's major car makers have joined the trend, which is why I found myself in Ford's top-spec Territory Ghia AWD a week after it hit the market.Initially, I thought I would become Joe Cool and have rugged outback types running out of the mulga to shake my hand and say "that's a Ford, well done mate". But the reaction of the bloke at the first fuel stop in the southern Flinders was typical.As the dusty Territory glided up to the pump, he walked outside, slowly circled the wagon, sniffed, then returned to his cash register.Oozing understated European-style and features, this all-Australian-made newcomer ensures the family wagon will never be the same again. It uses a surprising amount of Falcon parts, including engine, drivetrain and some cabin components, but is in a different class. The top-shelf Ghia is priced from around $53,000 (depending on options) and includes anti-skid brakes, traction and stability control, leather trim, CD stacker, three-position-memory on the driver's seat, and reversing sensor.Options include a third row of seats to make it a true people mover, and satellite navigation.It's a lot of car for the money and it could even challenge some similar vehicles in the imported luxury AWD market.Frankly, though, I struggle with some of this new technology. The sat-nav can direct you to a street number in a city but I'm someone who lives in terror of the children altering the settings on my television/video.On beautiful Angorichina station, I spent an hour trying to program the sat-nav. When I asked it for the five nearest cities, it replied: "No cities within 50km."I gave up when a commercial jetliner suddenly appeared in the skies above us. One member of our party jokingly suggested I may be interfering with a civil aviation satellite.Call me old fashioned, but I also question the headlong rush by some manufacturers to have electronic sensors on everything, particularly on vehicles designed to be used on rough, unsealed roads.While the Territory handbook stresses this Ford is not an extreme off-roader, typical Flinders Ranges conditions of vibrating corrugations and water crossings are a test of electronics.The Territory was totally reliable in three days of dirt driving and developed no body rattles. The cabin was dust-free but dirt collects around the lip of the rear hatch and falls on to the unfortunate person who opens it.The day after fording a river followed by an overnight thunderstorm, campsite observers noticed water pouring out of the front left mudguard when we drove off in the morning.Those campsite observers all owned large 4WDs and tended to look down on the Territory.The Territory will never find people trading down to it, rather it is aimed at owners of 2WD wagons or people movers looking for a slightly upmarket allrounder with similar load space.Certainly, the Territory is undemanding to drive if you are used to big cars.It came into its own on fast dirt roads. It was unaffected by corrugations, didn't show any signs of body roll in corners and its suspension soaked up washaways without a hint of drama, despite its near two-tonne weight.It took just 10 minutes in a 4WD ute to realise the extent of development of four-wheel-drives.I was being driven back to pick up the Territory from the start of a bushwalk. The ute felt extremely skittish and uncomfortable over corrugations that the Ford had earlier sailed over.It was a bit like the previous night at the Parachilna pub. The public bar of the Prairie Hotel was much as I had remembered it when I last had a beer there 14 years ago. The difference was a $500,000 avant-garde accommodation wing out the back.Yes, the Outback has changed and new vehicles have been developed to conquer this territory.

People want to know what it costs, how it drives, the quality, the comfort and, most important, if they should buy one. The quick answers are: from $38,990, like a car, classy, comfy and yes.It's just a pity we didn't pick up the commission on the half-dozen deals we've closed. Then again, we've had reports of dealers slashing the price and that's about the worst possible news for Ford.The wagon is far better than just another cut-price 4WD. In fact, we'd recommend it ahead of almost every 4WD we've tasted lately, even the BMW X5, our soft-road benchmark.The Territory does just as well for a lot less money, though there is no way of putting a price on the BMW badge.But that gives you an idea of how we feel about the Ford that's going to become the blueprint for Australian family cars in the 21st century.It is certain to shaft Ford's Falcon wagon and will lead the way as Holden and Toyota – and hopefully Mitsubishi – create high-rider wagons based on their locally made family cars.This is our first true test of the Territory and we decided to start at the bottom, driving the basic rear-wheel-drive Territory TX with five seats.From here you can go all the way up to the AWD Ghia with seven seats and all sorts of options, from waterproof seat covers to a DVD system.The rear-drive starter car sets the direction and will be a huge seller. And it could mean the death of the traditional wagon.The Territory comes with only a six-cylinder engine and automatic, though eventually there will be an XR Turbo version.And customers have the choice between traditional rear-wheel drive and an all-paw system with open differentials.No crawler gears or transfer cases or limited-slip diffs because the system uses reverse application of the anti-lock brakes to force drive to the wheels with the best grip.There is an old saying in motoring: "If a car looks right, it is right."It definitely applied to the AU Falcon, which was disastrously wrong, and it applies to the look-right and feel-right Territory.The Territory even looks stylish and compact, despite running taller and wider than a Falcon.On the road, it drives most like a Fairmont Ghia and that's a big wrap. It is quiet and comfortable.Best of all, for the many women who will find themselves in the driver's seat, the view is great. And it's the easiest four-wheel drive we have parked.What's not to like? We're still not convinced by the four-speed automatic, even with its touch-change manual mode, but that's just because it lags behind the rest of the vehicle.And the fuel consumption can run away if you work it hard, although we managed a respectable 13.7 litres/100km during our test. And that's about it.A lot of people asked about the difference between the rear-drive and all-wheel-drive models. The quick answer – and the cost-effective one – is that most people should stick with two-wheel drive.It makes the car lighter and easier to drive and, really, very few 4WD owners ever go anywhere where they really need the grip.Ford says about 70 per cent of Territory deliveries will be four-wheel drive. But we are convinced that, if people used their heads, it would be round the other way with $4000 left over for extras.Our basic TX only came with $1860 from the options' list, picking up good-looking alloy wheels and cruise control.The cabin is Falcon-style comfy – although the steering wheel sits lower and needs a different setting – and there is plenty of space in the back. Our tester didn't have the third-row seats, which are a touch cramped, but there is room for youngsters and a little luggage.We loved all the storage spaces, from the cupholders in the doors to the hidden compartments in the boot, and the design of the luggage holder which turns into a shelf for barbecues. All very clever.How does it rate against its rivals? We've already given the all-wheel-drive car the nod over the Holden Adventra and Toyota Kluger and the rear-drive car rates the same way.For people who like the look of a four-wheel drive, with the high-rider seats and space and general heft, the Territory is a clear winner.Why, then, does the Territory TX rear-wheel drive only rate 18 out of 20? Because we have to leave ourselves some margin for the arrival of the Territory turbo.

Forget the hype: it is time to discover which of Australia's big three brands has the best crossover wagon.The new wave of all-wheel-drives have been tagged the ultimate vehicles for drivers who spend most of their time in the city, but want to head for the hills at the weekend.The only way to find a winner was to run the Ford Territory, Holden Adventra and Toyota Kluger through the ultimate Australian test.We subjected all three to rush-hour traffic, highway cruising, a charge through the forest, a river crossing and a steep hill climb to find a winner.The Kluger is based on the Camry and is imported from Japan, while the Adventra (built off a Commodore wagon base) is built in Adelaide and was developed here with a budget of $125 million.Ford's Territory was developed locally for $500 million, shares its drivetrain and some other components with Falcon, and is built here in Victoria.Adventra is currently only available with the GEN III 5.7-litre V8, with a new V6 arriving late this year. Ford uses the Falcon's 4.0-litre twin-cam in-line six, while the Kluger has a 3.3-litre V6 from the Lexus RX330.For our test we chose a Kluger CVX, Adventra CX8 and Territory Ghia all-wheel-drive which lined-up on price.Holden AdventraIgnore the styling, because this Adventra is more than just a Commodore wagon with cladding. It can handle some serious off-road work and has tough under-body protection.Holden engineers have done a good job with a limited budget to turn a regular wagon into an all-wheel-drive machine fit for the Australian Outback.But the Adventra lags behind when it comes to refinement and comfort.It can crash and bang over harsh ruts that the Kluger and Territory cruise over, but rides well on less brutal bumps on tarmac and dirt.The Adventra's automatic transmission is too harsh for stop-start traffic and the steering is too heavy.The engine grunt is brilliant, but the V8 is the thirstiest engine of the three and still doesn't sound like a V8. A V6 would have fared better.The Adventra, along with the Territory, feels heavy (because they are) and Holden engineers will no doubt look for ways to reduce the weight.Interior space is a step behind its rivals, and the lack of a fold-away third row of seats counts against it.Kluger and Territory can be used as legitimate people movers, the Adventra is not so suitable.It is also rather expensive when you compare prices and specifications, but much of this extra price is due to the V8 premium.Our Adventra suffered no underbody damage but it broke down when the alternator died, along with the ABS module. Holden says the module was a pre-production part which didn't have the right seal, and is investigating the alternator failure.Toyota KlugerToyota has an enviable reputation in Australia for producing four-wheel-drives that are tough, capable and reliable. It is also known for building cars that can function well, but are mundane to drive and to look at. The Kluger reinforces all of these impressions.In some ways, the vanilla car is the pick of the bunch.It survived our torture test with the least damage, just some minor dents to the under-body cladding and is the best when it comes to tougher off-road duty, with its soft suspension absorbing many of the jolts and bumps.It is quite refined, has seven seats and is comfortable enough, but the Kluger is not fun to drive.The soft suspension means there is more body roll in turns and the Kluger feels more truck-like than the others.The steering is light and you feel little connection with the road.It also drives like a front-wheel-drive when pushed hard and can tend to push through corners.The Kluger's 3.3-litre V6 will be enough for many commuters, but it lacks the pull or punch of the Territory six or the Adventra's V8. You have to push it hard if you want to keep up the pace and the automatic can tend to hunt around for the right gear.Passenger comfort is excellent and there is a quality feel to the interior, which is spacious, and the fold-down third row of seats is a good standard feature in the CVX.Value for money is reasonable and you will spend less on fuel, but options push the price up.Ford TerritoryThe Territory is not as much fun to drive as a Falcon, but for an all-wheel-drive, it's great.Ford has managed to make the Territory sit flat through corners, rather than roll like a traditional four-wheel-drive.The engine is reasonably thirsty, but is well suited to the car and has loads of torque.The Ford was the first to scrape on the ground over tough terrain and it is obvious that engineers chose to sacrifice a higher level of off-road ability for driving pleasure, but the Territory can still go further on the dirt than all but a few owners would venture.The Ford's interior is the best – a lot of thought has gone into handy spaces and wet storage areas in the back.The third row of seats is excellent, though access from the second row could be better, and there is plenty of interior room.The steering is a little light, but the Territory is the best handling car of the bunch.On slippery dirt tracks, the Territory's stability control system shines and works constantly to keep it in control.The optional hill-descent control ($865) works a treat and the side curtain airbag (standard on Ghia) is an excellent addition.The Territory is the best value. The Ghia AWD lined up with the cheapest Adventra and mid-range Kluger, while the TX Territory costs less and the TX rear-wheel-drive is the cheapest of all at $38,990.But there were some dramas with our Territory after it bumped through a rutted mud-pool.Its metal fuel tank cover bent and rubbed against the driveshaft (above) but we were able to fix it with a tyre lever. Ford says this problem has been sorted for the production car. The Ford also went into "limp home" mode after the water crossing, but dried out and continued as normal.The Herald Sun are giving you a chance to win one of two four-wheel-driving courses at the Melbourne 4x4 Training and Proving Ground at Werribee Gorge. See this week's Herald Sun CARSguide for details.

They are the new station wagons – mid-sized soft-roaders with city manners and Aussie buyers can't get enough of them.CarsGuide took three of the best away for a shakedown and put them through their paces on Sydney city roads, on highways, back roads and on the dirt.For the first time Ford's brand-new Territory was tested head-to-head with its only Aussie-made rival, Holden's Adventra, and the one-most-likely to wear an Aussie-made sticker before too long, Toyota's Kluger.With a huge disparity between aspects of the cars – the Adventra LX8 is V8 only, Territory Ghia sports a 4.0-litre straight six, while Kluger's CVX powerplant is a high-tech 3.3-litre V6 – raw figures were never going to provide a level playing field.Instead, we have attempted to rate the performance of the three models on real-world standards; their strengths and weaknesses in areas where a buyer would most likely be interested.Each of the testers was asked to rate various aspects of the vehicles out of a possible five points. Each vehicle was left with a score out of a possible 330.The dynamics of the vehicles – driveability in various conditions, ride, manoeuvreability, NVH – were scored out of a possible 105 points; the interior aspects – design, functionality, quality of materials, comfort, fit and finish – were worth 75 points; safety earned a possible 60 points; with drivetrain, wheels and tyre choices and exterior presence and design making up the balance.DYNAMICSTerritory 88 | Kluger 85 | Adventra 79Territory scored high marks for its city behaviour and manoeuvreability with sedan-like handling and turning circle. It also rated well on open roads but lost some ground with NVH, mainly through tyre roar.Kluger set benchmark NVH levels and also scored well for life around town with light steering and a comfortable and compliant ride without giving up on handling.For Adventra there were some big mark-downs with heavy steering and poor manoeuvreability in the city but the car came into its own on the open road and particularly on unmade and broken surfaces. The Adventra is very much a country lad.INTERIORTerritory 62 | Adventra 60 | Kluger 59Territory touched out the opposition here through consistency rather than any special feature – although the 32 storage nooks and crannies were hard to beat. Lots of clever ideas, mid-range quality not likely to offend.Holden's feel-at-home interior scored strongly for the Adventra as did the comfort of the big seats. Most controls were well placed and the general layout of the interior was good. Could lose the dash-mounted tilt gauges.The Kluger interior is very Toyota – inoffensive and generally well laid out. Some centre console controls are a little difficult to reach. Overall it is something you could live with and there are a few nice touches spread through the cabin.SAFETYTerritory 56 | Adventra 53 | Kluger 53The inclusion of curtain airbags, a full-functioning dynamic stability control and an adjustable pedal box gave Territory the leg up.Adventra and Kluger both rated well for general passive safety but Kluger lost a little ground with a less-than-convincing brake-pedal feel. The optional safety pack for Kluger – curtain airbags and stability control – was included to bring the mid-spec CVX up to par with the other pair.Overall an impressive performance.DRIVETRAINTerritory 36 | Kluger 36 | Adventra 36The three contenders scored well here but in some markedly different areas.Adventra's power and torque gave the Holden major credit points but it lost more than a few of them when the fuel figures, a tad over 20.0l/100km average, came in.Territory also scored well for the flexibility of its straight six while its 16.6l/100km average was better than Adventra but not brilliant.Kluger kicked a goal at the petrol bowser with a 13.4l/100km average. The V6 is a very nice unit and coupled to the five-speed automatic it provides a very useable drive.WHEELS/TYRESTerritory 29 | Adventra 29 | Kluger 29All three should be commended for including a full-size spare on an alloy rim. Tyre choices were middle-of-the-road with tread patterns leaning towards a life in the city but with enough versatility to make soft-roading a viable option. Kluger's drop-down storage of the spare wheel made getting to it a little easier when the boot was loaded.EXTERIORTerritory 13 | Adventra 13 | Kluger 12The Kluger suffers from being the oldest of the three, having been launched overseas in 2001.Adventra's familiar Commodore wagon lines cannot be hidden under the extra plastic bits and raised ride-height.Territory's edge is that the look, while generically a 4WD, is all new and works. On the road the car is eye-catching with a rear three-quarter profile to envy.Both Territory and Adventra won praise for the lift-up rear glass giving the option of dropping shopping or small items into the rear without having to open the tailgate fully.THE VERDICTSFord TerritoryPrice:TX RWD $38,990TX AWD $42,990TS RWD $44,790TS AWD $48,790Ghia RWD $49,290Ghia AWD (model tested) $53,290Engine: 4.0-litre in-line sixPower: 182 kW@5000 rpmTorque: 380 Nm@3250 rpmFuel consumption on test: 16.6 litres/100 kmTransmission: Four speed automaticGround clearance: 178mmDimensions: Length: 4856mm; Height: 1676mm; Width: 1898mmWheelbase: 2842mmCARSguide team verdictsKevin Hepworth: Go straight to the top of the class. Versatile, stylish and displays the benefits of taking longer and getting it right.David Fitzsimons: Tough, solid vehicle that looks like a small 4WD. Performs well on the highway and on the dirt. Bold BA Falcon interior.Jaedene Hudson: Very tough off-roader, handles like a more sophisticated 4WD on the rougher terrain. More pockets and storage compartments than you'll probably ever use.TOTAL TEST POINTS: 284 (1st) Toyota KlugerPrice:CV $45,990CVX $48,990 (model tested)Grande $58,990Engine: 3.3 litre V6Power: 172kW@5600rpmTorque: 328Nm@3600rpmFuel consumption on test: 13.4 litres/100kmTransmission: 5 speed autoGround clearance: 184mm (Grande 187mm)Dimensions: Length: 4690mm; Width: 1825mm; Height: 1735mm (CV 1680mm)Wheelbase: 2715mmCARSguide team verdictsKevin Hepworth: Nice lightweight performer showing a little ageing around the edges. Hits the mark in the normal day-to-day driving that will dominate this style of car's use.David Fitzsimons: Lighter ride, softer, smaller and much quieter inside than its competitors. Nonetheless it handles all conditions well. Interior dashboard arrangement is looking a bit tired.Jaedene Hudson: The quietest of the bunch. Nice light ride and steering but still handles the terrain without any fuss.TOTAL TEST POINTS: 274 (2nd) Holden AdventraPrice:CX8 $52,990LX8 $60,990 (model tested)Engine: 5.7 litre V8Power: 235 kW@5200rpmTorque: 460Nm@4000rpmFuel consumption on test: 20.0 litres/100kmTransmission: 4 speed autoGround clearance: 200mmDimensions: Length: 5036mm, Width: 1934mm, Height: 1654mmWheelbase: 2948mmCarsGuide team verdictsKevin Hepworth: Launched in a flurry with tough, Outback images to the fore. Has some issues with city living but out in the big country it is hard to fault - pity that is not where the majority of these cars will operate.David Fitzsimons: Looks like a beefed-up Commodore wagon, has a great V8 sound and loves the open road and long dirt stretches. However the level of road noise is annoying and it is thirsty on fuel.Jaedene Hudson: Dirt roads are what the Adventra was made for and it shows. Nice comfortable ride. Noise interruption on the open road is intrusive. Overly heavy around town and to manoeuvre.TOTAL TEST POINTS: 270 (3rd)Which car would you buy? Let us know in the comments below.

Ford's all-singing, all-wheel-drive Territory could be the ultimate Australian touring machine.