2006 Ford Territory Reviews

Ford Territory is arguably the best vehicle ever designed by Ford Australia. Indeed some even say it may be the best automotive design in Australia bar none. Territory is based on the Ford Falcon and shares some of its mechanical components, particularly in the powertrain, but many parts are unique to the big wagon.

Ford Territory is unique in being an Australian-designed and built SUV. Every other vehicle in this market segment is an imported design that may or may not have been adapted to suit Australia driving conditions.Launched way back in May 2004, with a major makeover in May 2011, the Ford Territory showcases the immense talent of Australian automotive engineering.While it’s getting on in years, it looks to have some life left in it yet. Older models are holding their values well, particularly with smart buyers who are more interested in Aussie practicality than in Euro prestige.The Territory SUV is based on the Ford Falcon and shares some of its mechanical components, particularly in the powertrain, but quite a few other parts are unique to the wagon.Seating in Ford Territory is for five or seven people according to the number of rows of seats installed. The third row of seats isn’t too bad for adults, with good head and reasonable legroom.However, a more realistic passenger load is four adults and three children. Luggage space with all seven seats in place isn’t expansive, but the Territory is hardly on its own in this regard.Fascinatingly, the Territory SUV isn’t nearly as large as it appears, being significantly shorter than a Falcon station wagon. Indeed, it surprises many who learn that it’s not even as long as a Falcon sedan. Thus the Territory is easier to drive and park than many expect. Good handling and ride comfort are major features of the Territory, it’s well-suited to Australian roads and also meets the tough needs of keen Aussie drivers. The big Ford has precise handling for a big wagon and rides better than many European 4WDs that cost far more.Ford Territory uses major components from Falcon’s six-cylinder drivetrain, including a turbocharged variant of the engine from July 2006. There's no V8 option as Ford feels the big sixes have been developed to the stage where they virtually replace the eight. Territory with a petrol engine isn't the most economical of vehicles, though things have improved over the years due to advances in engine technology. The six-speed autos are noticeably better than the four-speeds.Automatic transmissions are used on all models. The auto had four forward speeds on all models until October 2005, when a six-speed was introduced on the upmarket models. The automatic six is the only transmission installed in the turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel Territory.The big news in the face lifted territory was the long-overdue option of a turbo-diesel engine. The diesel is a 2.7-litre V6 diesel and runs a single turbocharger. It uses the latest thinking in variable-vane turbines, as well as high-pressure injection to produce maximum power of 140 kilowatts. Torque of 440 Newton metres is produced between 1900 and 2500 revs.Interestingly, Jaguar and Land Rover use diesels from the same engine family as the Territory unit.Territory is sold with two-wheel-drive or all-wheel drive (AWD). The sales split has generally been in the region of 60/40 in favour of the 2WD model, proving that most buyers of 4WDs are in reality looking for a practical wagon, not an off-road vehicle.Electronic aids improve traction off-road in the Ford Territory 4WD variants so they can handle virtually anything the adventurous family demands. In particular, there are hill-start and hill-descent assistance features and these take much of the scariness out of extreme slopes.Though there's good under-bonnet and under-vehicle access, this is a modern vehicle that’s complex in its mechanical components. So unless you are an expert it’s best to leave all but the simplest of repairs and maintenance to the professionals. Spare parts for the Territory are generally favourably priced and we haven’t heard of any recurring complaints about availability.Virtually every town of any significance has a Ford dealership, and many private garages will have a mechanic or two who was trained in a Ford workshop. Insurance is usually towards the bottom end of the scale, but some companies may take exception to turbocharged engines so ask around before settling for one insurer or the other.WHAT TO LOOK FORThe big Ford wagon is built to a reasonably high standard in Ford's Australian factory at Geelong. We do see the occasional problems so be sure to get a professional inspection.Check the engine starts up easily and idles smoothly and quietly.Make sure the automatic transmission works quietly and doesn’t hold onto gears, or change gears too often when it really should be holding the one ratio.Ensure that the brakes work properly with the ABS system pulling the Territory up in a straight line.Possible leaks at front brake hoses were the subject of a voluntary recall in March 2009. Check with a Ford dealer or the company's head office to see if the work has been done.Take the wagon for a run on rough roads to see if there are any rattles or squeaks as cabin parts move. Even the rear-drive models are sometimes used to explore bush tracks and the like.Look at the condition of the body, especially on an AWD in case one has been taken into off-road territory. Signs of the latter damage are generally at the bumper corners, the underneath of the door sills and on the underbody. Also look for tiny scratches in the body side where it has been squeezed through bushes and the like.Visually check the condition of the interior as kids can do a lot of damage when they get bored.CAR BUYING TIPPeople movers suffer more severe interior use and abuse than just about anything this side of sanitary collection vehicles. Check the condition of all areas inside a Territory carefully.

Graham Smith reviews the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Ford Territory as a used buy.

We all like to think of ourselves as individualists, able to make up our own mind about a product - whether it's a new vehicle or something else we're interested in buying - rather than succumbing to social pressures around us.Remember how Mark "Wacko Jacko" Jackson - the former Aussie Rules footballer-cum-singer-actor-author-boxer - struck a chord with the nation in the late 1980s with his smash-hit I'm An Individual (you can't fool me, an in-da-bloody-vidual ...)?We sent him to number one on the Australian singles charts, but not for his voice or his looks. We related to, and laughed out loud at, the lyric - and were kidding ourselves at the same time.In truth, the extent to which we act as individuals isn't nearly as great as we think. We listen to others, and conform. We bow to social pressure. And this is a huge problem for Ford with its brilliant new Territory Turbo.No matter that the high-performance Turbo is easily the best 4WD wagon ever built in Australia and, even with Holden's fabulous VE Commodore now on sale, stands from our vantage point as one of the most appealing vehicles this country has ever produced.Social pressure rather than sound reason virtually guarantees that the $65,490 Territory Turbo Ghia tested here will never be a serious alternative for people considering the likes of the Porsche Cayenne S or BMW X5 V8, despite having engine performance, vehicle dynamics and cabin amenities that are in the same league.The Ford badge, the made-in-Australia status and a sticker price half that of European "rivals" all count against it.At the other end of the scale, voices of reason are shouting down the monolithic, 2.0-tonne-plus Territory Turbo on the basis of its higher-than-average fuel consumption - which, let's face it, becomes exorbitant when driven hard - in these times of heightened fuel price awareness and uncertain future oil supplies.The vehicle must be run on expensive 95 octane premium unleaded fuel to deliver its best. And although this performance in overall terms is outstanding for an SUV, it's not as proficient as a passenger car built with the same sporting intent. Falcon XR6 Turbo anyone?But, boy, the huffed Territory is good.With its force-fed 4.0-litre straight-six producing 245kW at 5250rpm and 480Nm at 2000rpm (as it does in the XR6T), Ford Australia's very own "TT" impresses no end with its responsiveness under foot, its clean and authoritative acceleration from standstill - which can take it to 100km/h in around 7.0 seconds - and the exquisite combination the engine forms with the deliciously smooth, smart-shifting and German-sourced (as if it mattered) ZF six-speed automatic gearbox.We've got to (again) take issue with Ford's counter-intuitive sequential-manual modus operandi, which requires a push forward for a downshift and vice versa. And, of course, the fuel consumption gauge on the central LCD screen serves, through no fault of the interior designers, as a constant source of distraction for the driver.Driven with enthusiasm, the Territory Turbo's average fuel consumption lingered around 20 litres per 100km - well above Ford's official 14.2l/100km figure. But on the open road we returned 11.2l/100km and across long and varied road conditions we averaged 14.9l/100km, which was a far better result than the normally aspirated Territory Ghia AWD (with a four-speed automatic) we tested in 2004.Back then we remarked upon the wagon's excellent refinement, absorbent ride and the ease with which it handles fast bitumen and dirt stretches alike. All of this holds true with the SY-series AWD Turbo, although the low-blow turbocharger itself takes "effortless touring" - whether on straight or snaking roads - to a whole new level.Chassis revisions, which include minor suspension mods, beefier front brakes, recalibrated electronic handling aids and bigger 18-inch wheels with 235/55-section tyres, also make the Territory Turbo a more composed and confidence-inspiring vehicle on tighter roads than the standard model.Inside, the rather hard-to-stomach extra $11,500 involved in securing the Ghia over the $53,990 base-model Turbo is demonstrated by a useful reversing camera (which became useless after a dirt-road stint), metallic-look instruments (which can be difficult to read at a glance), dual-zone climate-control airconditioning, leather trim, a high-grade six-CD stereo (with subwoofer), elegant detailing across the dashboard and doors, and a label denoting the fitment of curtain airbags.Even with this on board, there are issues with which customers used to much more expensive European brands could take umbrage. With the sports driver's seat, for instance, there's a requirement for manual backrest angle and seat lumbar adjustment, despite an electric switch for seat height and travel. There's no electric adjustment for the front passenger's seat. No nice, soft damping to all the lidded areas. And no glovebox lock.Nor is there the same level of fit and finish we've come to expect from prestige marques. These can be seen as minor details considering the value that comes with the pricing, specification and the first-class packaging and accommodation common to all 4WD wagons built at Ford Australia's Broadmeadows plant.As a blistering Ghia Turbo, the Territory becomes something else again - something true individuals are sure to find seductive.

In fact, the Territory Turbo is actually quite subtle in its stance and function. There is a breath of maturity about it; a composure in its appearance and performance that steps above its blatantly sporting-sedan siblings.The turbo Tezza takes its blown four-litre, petrol six-cylinder from the head-banging XR6 Turbo sedan and the same 245kW/480Nm. This gives it an extra 55kW and 97Nm over the standard Territory and a flat torque curve with more grunt at 2000rpm than the naturally aspirated model can muster at peak.But don't expect the same turbo rush, whizzing spool or spinning tyres as the XR6T (or, for that matter, the heavy-breathing Subaru Forester XT). It feels more like a trimmed-down version of what is essentially a big, heavy SUV.The engine, matched with the excellent ZF six-speed sports sequential automatic, propels the Territory's bulk forward with even, smooth dollops of torque and power for relatively instant acceleration.The AWD-only drive train and heavy kerb weight (2075kg for Turbo and 2125kg for Ghia Turbo) prevent wheelspin on acceleration, while an uprated traction-control program allows a bit of safe sliding on the dirty stuff.Handling remains relatively neutral, and near-standard suspension neither prevents the inevitable hint of body roll nor affects the ride quality over the bumps. Front brakes are bigger and pack much more bite when the foot is planted. Again, a very mature approach to SUV sports performance.The exterior is subtle, and different on the two turbo models. The base Turbo and top-spec Ghia Turbo share the larger 18-inch alloys, but the Ghia's are machined while the Turbo's are painted.The wheels and lower-profile tyres still come nowhere near filling the wheel arches, but offer good grip without a crashy ride or tyre noise — and without compromising off-road ability.The two models share the subtle and appealing bonnet scoop that hides the big top-mounted intercooler. Ghia's sporting cred is outlined underneath with a metal bash-plate.Both have chrome exhaust tips, and thankfully get body-coloured bumpers instead of the regular Territory's dated two-tone mouldings. The new red, blue or charcoal grey colour selection further mark out the Turbo line-up.The interior colour is described as "warm charcoal" and, in the Ghia model, it's as sophisticated as it sounds. Big bolsters on the leather seats and double-stitching highlight the sports appeal. Matt-finish instrument dials and piano-key black centre console facelift the slightly dated Territory interior.Ghia gets the same top-spec instrumentation as the standard models: a large screen encompassing trip computer, dual-zone climate control, six-stacker CD and reversing camera (unfortunately not an option on the base model).The lower-spec Territory Turbo has a little-changed facia, blue instrument dials, synthetic-suede seats and metallic-weave highlights on seats and sills.The Turbo also misses out on Ghia's chunky leather wheel, six-way adjustable front seats and standard third-row seat, but still gets four-way electric bolstered seats, leather gear knob and power everything.To my mind, the base model is the best bet. At $53,990 the Turbo is $2660 more than its equivalent nat-atmo Territory model, the mid-spec TS AWD.The Ghia is brilliantly fitted out for those wanting top-spec luxury performance, but the list of Territory options is long and costly.And cost will be the deciding factor. The Ghia Turbo costing $11,500 more than the $65,490 base Turbo.The fuel bill will also bite. Ford's claimed figure of 14.2litres/100km is optimistic at best. Even conservative driving on the launch failed to produce better than 16 litres/100km.Sceptics will probably hold out until a diesel Territory becomes a reality, but Ford are tight-lipped about an oiler. But on long trips, particularly when carrying a load or pulling weight (the Turbo is rated to 2300kg towing capacity), the helpful Turbo may undercut the naturally aspirated model on consumption.Fuel may be a deciding factor for some buyers, but so is performance.As a whole, the 'charger transforms the Territory into an immensely easy, pleasurable and responsive drive, as well as a practical all-rounder. It has made a good car even better, and is well worth the extra spend.

Ford's SUV plans had one difference to most other companies, and it was a bold one at that – they decided to build a two-wheel drive version as well as the traditional four-wheel drive wagon.They recognised that many SUV buyers really just wanted a high-riding, roomy station wagon for the perceived benefits of being able to see the road better, and they weren't interested in going off the black top.Apart from the drive train, the Territory didn't have much in common with the Falcon. It was fundamentally a new car from the ground up.It rolled on a longer wheelbase than the Falcon, but was shorter in length and much taller. Its shape was neat and clean, its lines uncluttered and purposeful. Overall, it fitted the new genre perfectly.Inside, it was roomy with comfortable seating for five in standard form, but up to seven adults with the optional third row, and plenty of space for everything a family needs to take with them when venturing out in the big, wide world.Mechanically, the Territory was very similar to the BA Falcon. It came with the same 182kW, 4.0-litre, double-overhead camshaft six-cylinder engine for power, the same four-speed automatic transmission with sequential sports shift, and the choice of either rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.While it rode higher than the Falcon, the suspension was similar – the Territory boasting independent front suspension with the Falcon's control blade independent rear.Brakes were disc front and rear with anti-skid electronics, traction control and grade control for off-road safety.Few will have been driven off-road, certainly the two-wheel-drive cars will have stuck to the black top, but it's worth checking underneath four-wheel drives for any damage that might have been sustained by driving off-road. When CarsGuide tested one shortly after its release, the fuel tank guard was damaged from grounding in a rut on a bush track, and a section of the rear bumper was dislodged when caught on the road while attempting a steep climb.There's plenty of choice on the market so it's well worth being selective. Be sure to look for damage to trim and interior fittings caused by kids bored during long journeys.Being favoured for family transport, also keep an eye peeled for dings and dents from shopping centre parking.Some owners are concerned about the fuel consumption and looking to convert to dual-fuel. Ford doesn't currently offer a dual-fuel system, but there are after-market systems available to convert the Territory to dual-fuel to save on running costs. The concern with high-riding cars is that the higher centre of gravity means sloppier handling, but the Territory rides and handles quite well with no obvious problems attributable to the higher ride.Four-wheel disc brakes with anti-skid and electronic brake force distribution, power steering and independent suspension combine for an impressive primary safety package for crash avoidance.All models feature dual front airbags. But with side-curtain airbags, the TS and Ghia offer superior secondary crash protection.

The new six-speed auto, available with all-wheel drive versions, should go a long way towards dealing with this problem. Like its sibling Falcon, the allwheel drive wagon with the ZF transmission fitted is a revelation.Our test car, the all-wheel drive TX, is priced from $43,990. Power and torque are up slightly with the new SY model. A reworked Barra 190 4.0-litre, six-cylinder engine delivers 190kW at 5250rpm (up from 182kW) and 383Nm at 2500rpm (up from 380Nm). Like its predecessor, the ZF is a sequential transmission which means you can change gears manually. There is also a performance mode and with six cogs it fires through the gears in auto quickly and feels quicker off the line than the old model. Six gears enable the transmission to better harness the engine's power and torque characteristics, giving a better spread with smaller gaps between gears to reduce the typical gear-hunting effect found with autos. The big gains however are in fuel consumption. The old car with the four-speed auto used to get 13.1 litres/100km in rearwheel drive form and 13.5 litres/ 100km in all-wheel drive form. The six-speed model meanwhile is rated at 12.2 litres/100km and 12.8 litres/100km respectively. In the real world the old car used much more than this. However, figures for the current model appear to be spot on, with our test car returning 12.4 litres/ 100km and almost 600km from a single tank of fuel on a recent trip. This, of course, is going to blow out around town. But what's more pertinent, is that these figures are almost as good as a large, diesel-powered four-wheel drive. The brother-in-law was crowing about getting 12.4 litres/ 100km from his diesel Prado on a trip from Melbourne to Sydney. Given these results, it's a shame the six-speed auto is not available with cheaper, rearwheel drive models. In effect, if you want the benefits you'll have to fork out $4500, which is the difference between the TX rearwheel and all-wheel drive models. In these times of rising petrol prices, it's worth noting that while E-Gas is a $1400 option on the sedan and ute, you can't get a gas-powered Territory. A diesel is also long overdue. All in all, refinements to the engine and transmission make the car smoother andmore enjoyable to drive. The only real addition to the equipment list is automatic headlights which means you don't have to worry about turning them on and off.