Ford Territory Reviews

Ford’s decision to build an all-new car in the Territory was one of the bravest made by a car company involved in the local industry. Thankfully for those involved it proved an exceptionally good decision, but had it gone wrong it could easily have spelt the end for Ford in Australia as we know it.The decision is credited to Geoff Polites, then the boss of Ford Australia who had brought the company back from the brink after suffering an alarming sales slump through the years of the controversial AU Falcon.Polites made a number of brave decisions while heading Ford, his gamble to invest heavily in BA instead of doing a simple cosmetic makeover of the AU being the first. That one worked a treat and the Falcon is now back in the game, and it can only be assumed that it gave him the confidence to push ahead with the Territory.The Territory shouldn’t have come as a surprise to anyone listening to Polites at his monthly briefings when he took every opportunity to talk up the success of SUVs. He could see that private car buyers were turning their backs on the traditional sedans and wagons and buying more and more four-wheel drives instead. From there it wasn’t a huge step to make the decision to build one of his own.MODEL WATCH The formula Ford followed for building the Territory isn’t a new one. SUVs have been a regular part of the automotive diet for several years, and Ford has built plenty of them in other parts of the world.One difference, a bold one at that, is that Ford decided to build a two-wheel drive version as well as the traditional four-wheel drive wagon. Polites 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 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 was much taller. Its shape was neat and clean, its lines uncluttered and purposeful, overall it was a neat looking wagon that fitted the new genre perfectly.Inside it was roomy with comfortable accommodation 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.There was a host of natty little storage bins, cup holders and pockets to take small bits and pieces that might be needed while on the road, and the list of standard features was comprehensive.Mechanically the Territory was similar to the BA Falcon. It had the same 182 kW 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 offroad safety.The TX paved the way to the new Territory, but it still had plenty of standard features an owner could boast about. There was air-conditioning, trip computer, adjustable pedals, power windows, cloth trim, CD player and remote central locking. For more there was the TS, which also came with dual climate control air, cruise, rear cargo shelf, velour trim, six-CD stacker and alloy wheels. Step up to the range-topping Ghia and you also drove away holding a leather-wrapped steering wheel, seated on leather trimmed power driver’s seat looking into an auto dimming rear view mirror.IN THE SHOP Being barely two years old the Territory is still in its infancy so there’s not much to report from the field. 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 Cars Guide 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 choosey and walking away from a car that shows the signs of offroad use. They’re also used as family cars so look for damage to trim and interior fittings caused by kids bored during the journey. Being favoured for family transport look for dings and dents from the daily shopping centre car park grand prix.Some owners are concerned about the fuel consumption and looking to convert to dual-fuel. Ford doesn’t offer a system, but there are aftermarket systems available to convert the Territory to dual-fuel to save on running costs. Later reports are that the Territory suffered failure of the front suspension lower control arm ball joints, and there are a number of worrying reports of brake hoses failing.IN A CRASH 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 because of the higher ride. Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS anti-skid and brake force distribution electronics, power steering and independent suspension make an impressive primary safety package for crash avoidance. All models boast dual front airbags, but with side curtain airbags the TS and Ghia offer superior secondary crash protection.LOOK FOR • car park dings and scratches• underbody damage from offroad usage• good visibility from high driving position• clean simple styling• room for up to seven• generally reliable engine and gearbox• can be converted to dual-fuelTHE BOTTOM LINERoomy reliable wagon with proven Falcon mechanicals makes the Territory an attractive family package.RATING 75/100

And there is likely to be more of it so with all the top resorts reporting big falls of crisp fresh white stuff, enthusiasts are dusting of their ski gear and talking snow talk.Carsguide this week takes a look at some of the newer off-roaders and others we think are some of the more desirable partners in snow.NISSAN DUALIS Price: From $28,990IT is a big seller overseas, but the compact Dualis has been slow to take off with buyers here.But it is a competent snow companion. It's not too big, nor too small, has composed on road manners and reasonable soft-road ability.In keeping with the current crop of smaller off-roaders, the Dualis has a wagon-style design, upright driving position and cabin that will swallow a decent amount of gear.The rear seats split fold 60/40 and the four-wheel drive system has a lock function that splits drive 50/50 front and rear when the going gets tough at lower speeds.The Dualis is powered by a 102kW/198Nm 2.0-litre four that delivers acceptable, but not outstanding performance.The Ti gets standard stability control, six airbags and heated leather front seats.Tick: Compact styling.Cross: Still relatively unknown. VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN Price: From $33,990THE Tiguan is essentially a grown up Golf and takes on all the attributes of its smaller brother, adding all-wheel drive into the mix with a choice of 2.0-litre petrol or turbo-diesel engines.It's slightly longer than the Golf and comes with the 4Motion Haldex all-wheel drive system.There is no low range but the Tig will get you out of most trouble in the snow.One of the impressive things about this off-roader is its handling. Anyone familiar with the Golf will be perfectly at home.Like all VW's the Tiguan is well equipped and gets standard stability control, six airbags and optional hill-descent system.Roof rails are standard and you will need them for a luggage pod because boot space is limited. However, the rear seats do fold almost flat. If you specify leather, the front seats are heated.Tick: Badge and handling.Cross: Luggage space and firm ride. SUBARU FORESTER Price: From $30,990LIKE the previous model, the Forester is a top seller and popular among skiers.The new-generation wagon answers the criticism of limited luggage and rear seat legroom by being bigger and even more practical.However, by growing 90mm in wheelbase and up in overall size the Forester has lost some of that on-road precision that marked the previous model as a standout. Some aspects of the cabin, like the dashboard execution, are not of the quality we expect from Subaru either.Pluses are its size and 2.5-litre boxer four cylinder engines. Subaru build quality is generally good too, as is the constant all-wheel drive system.The Forester has a five-star crash rating and raft of safety features that includes anti-skid brakes, stability control and brace of airbags. Manual Foresters get hill-start assist, which stops the car rolling backwards while first gear is engaged.Tick: It's a Subbie.Cross: Soggy SUV feel. RENAULT KOLEOS Price: From $29,990TO dismiss the Koleos as just a French car over the top of Nissan mechanicals is missing the point.The Koleos is well executed, solid and safe. It has six airbags, stability control and hazard lights that come on after an emergency stop.The "All-Mode 4x4i" all-wheel drive versions also get hill-start assist and hill-descent control.In auto mode, the torque split between the front and rear is automatically determined by the amount of available grip.Entry models are two-wheel drive while all-wheel drive buyers get a choice of the smooth Renault-sourced 2.0-litre dCi turbo diesel or 2.5-litre Nissan-sourced petrol four cylinder.There's plenty of room. The rear centre armrest is removable to allow skis to be pushed through and there are storage bins under the front seats and rear floor.Like the Tiguan, the range topping models with leather get heated front seats.Tick: Better looking than an X-Trail.Cross: Renault badge. AUDI Q5 Price: From: $59,900IT seems that just about any vehicle Audi launches at the moment is a sellout.The Q5 is one of them.Smaller than a Q7, the Q5 has the same off-road attributes in a smaller sharply styled package with good luggage space via the 40/20/40 split rear seats and optional cargo barrier that separates luggage.Two petrol and two turbo diesels are available and the S-tronic seven-speed gearbox contributes to good fuel figures.Audi's permanent quattro all-wheel drive system splits torque 40/60 front and rear, which gives the car relatively neutral handling.For those looking for something bigger, there's the A6 Allroad and the Q7.Unfortunately Audi is becoming just like its German rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz when it comes to equipment.Tick: Space and diesel.Cross: Expensive options. FORD TERRITORY Price: From $39,490THE Territory has just undergone a recent update to bring it into line with the rest of the Ford range.However, the cabin remains largely the same, and that's not a bad thing. It's good for a family and has seven-seater capacity.The Territory's cabin is well thought out and there is lots of storage space.Buyers have a choice of four AWD models or three rear-drive models.Stability control is standard, as are four airbags and anti-skid brakes.The TS and Ghia four-wheel drive models get seven seats as standard. Mum and Dad will also appreciate the standard DVD player in the Ghia.The reversible rear-load floor and compartment for storing wet items is handy.Tick: Practical and good looking.Cross: Getting on despite update. VOLVO XC60 Price: From $57,950THE XC60 is one of the best handling Volvo wagons around and one of the most attractive.The new City Safety feature is more than just a gimmick. The system applies the brakes if you are about to rear-end another car in low-speed situations up to 30km/h.Other Volvo strengths are the lane change warning system and blind-spot warning system. Volvo seats are renown for their comfort. 40/20/40 split rear seat is practical.There is a choice of either the 2.4-litre D5 turbo-diesel, which is about to be upgraded to a twin-turbo for better economy and efficiency, or the 3.0-litre turbo petrol six.Tick: Styling and equipment.Cross: Rattly diesel. LEXUS RX350 Price: From $81,900.THE RX350 has grown slightly, which translates into more interior room.This wagon, like all Lexus models, is packed with equipment that is optional on its rivals like satellite navigation, power rear hatch and rear reversing camera.The Sports Luxury gets active headlights that follow the curve of the road, plus a heads-up display.The safety package consists of stability control with cooperative steering function (VSC+), traction control, anti-skid brakes, electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist.There is also, hill-start assist, 10 airbags and a first-aid kit.The rear seats split 40/20/40 and there is a wet-storage area in the luggage load floor. Thule luggage pods are also available.Tick: Standard equipment.Cross: Looks bloated. MAZDA CX9 Price: From $51,990It looks big and feels big but once under way, the CX9 shrink-wraps around you.It's well sorted on the road, has a host of safety gear and with seven seats, has plenty of room for the family.The cabin quality is better than the CX9 too.The 204kW/366Nm 3.7-litre V6 has plenty of poke but slurps petrol like a celebrity lining up for a free drink during Melbourne Cup week.The 60/40 split fold rear seats can be released from the luggage area.Tick: Rear seating, quality.Cross: Fuel economy. TOYOTA PRADOPrice: From $48,600THE Prado is the ideal family load-lugger if you need serious space and room for the family.It comes with eight seats and long-range fuel tank of 180 litres.The full-time 4WD system has a low-range setting for heavy off-roading.However only the higher spec Prados get standard stability control, anti-skid brakes, hill-descent control and six airbags as standard so it pays to check the fineprint.GXL, VX and Grande buyers get foglights and roof rails with satellite navigation and height-adjustable air suspension standard only on the top-of-the-range Grande.Tick: Standard and GX lack standard safety gear.Cross: Clunky styling. NISSAN MURANO Price: From $45,990THE previous-generation Murano was a sleeper.In a lineup dominated by the Navara and Patrol, it never really stood out other than a competent family wagon and its soft curves alienated many potential buyers.But Nissan hopes to change that with the new-generation Murano.The styling is sharper, the 191kW/336Nm 3.5-litre V6 a sweet engine that delivers good fuel economy. The packaging is good. The automatic All Mode 4x4-i all-wheel drive system can distribute torque on demand to where its needed.The luxury Ti gets all the fruit, from navigation system to heated front seats, reversing camera, automatic rear hatch and Bose sound system. The 60/40 split rear seats on both the ST and Ti can be flipped forward from the back of the car.Tick: Engine, equipment.Cross: Cheese-cutter grille. RANGE ROVER SPORT Price: From $90,900THE Range Rover brand has a strong following and is the preferred luxury chariot for seriously well-heeled snowgoers.Like the bigger Range Rover the Sport gets the nifty "Terrain Response" off-road system which means you just have to twist the switch to get the required off-road mode.The Range Rover Sport has real off-road capability but we don't think too many owners would ever go bush bashing in the leather-line luxury off-roader, particularly with the stylish 20-inch wheels available some models.The 65/35 split rear seats also have folding cushions and the full-size spare is easily accessible under the car. However, some of the bigger wheel/tyre options make do with a spacesaver.Tick: Luxury.Cross: Reliability.

And Ford admits the minor update is intended to maintain interest in the vehicle until the next model.Ford director of product development, Russell Christophers admits the changes are few and that there are no mechanical modifications."This is a fairly minor change that just freshens the product," he said. "We will do something more dramatic when we do the new Territory model."The Territory SX was launched in 2004, then updated as the SY and now comes the SY Mk II with more airbags, more standard features, minor interior and exterior styling changes and between $500 and $1000 more on the price tag.Drivetrains The base model Turbo has also been dropped from the range because Ford found most turbo buyers wanted the luxury of the Turbo Ghia which has been retained.This leaves the Territory with the 190kW/383Nm 4.0-litre six-cylinder and the 245kW/480Nm turbo 4.0-litre six-cylinder engines, mated to the choice of either a four-speed automatic transmission or the six-speed ZF sequential transmission.Appearance and equipment Outside, the SY Mk II Territory gets a remodelled bonnet, grille, lower grille, fog lamp bezels, headlights, bumper, body coloured mirror and door handles, tail lamps and new wheel designs.The Ghia also gets indicators incorporated in the mirrors and larger, 18-inch alloy wheels.There are four new exterior colours: Velvet (brown), Harmony (silver), Mystic (green) and in September Ford will add Serenity (gold). Inside, there are new darker trim options in some models.Territory TX now comes standard with side curtain airbags, cruise control, 17-inch alloy wheels and a body colour package for the bumpers, door handles and mirrors.Territory TS also gets the body colour package plus a reverse parking camera, front fog lamps, leather-wrapped steering wheel, handbrake and gearshift, and a third row seat as standard.Ghia gains a third-row seat as standard, an Alpine rear DVD system, side steps, rear privacy glass and 18-inch alloy wheels, while the Ghia Turbo adds a new 18-inch alloy wheel design.Wagner said the SY Mk II offered better value for money.Pricing The TX costs $1000 more and all other models an extra $500. Ford claimed the extra standard equipment was valued at between $3600 and $6600, depending on the model.Ford SY Territory prices Model - Old price - New price - (extra standard features)TX (RWD) $38,490 $39,490 $3600TX (AWD) $43,490 $44,490 $3600TS (RWD) $43,990 $44,490 $4800TS (AWD) $48,990 $49,490 $4800Ghia (RWD) $51,990 $52,490 $6600Ghia (AWD) $56,990 $57,490 $6600Ghia Turbo $65,920 $66,420 $5600Fuel economy Christophers says the fuel economy on rear-wheel drive Territory models has been improved by 4.9 per cent or 0.6 litres per 100km. The Ghia and all seven-seater models had a 1.6 per cent or 0.2L/100km economy improvement.Christophers says this was achieved by new global calibrations to the engine, transmission, catalytic converter and other elements of the drive train. He ruled out LPG or diesel engines until the next model Territory.Driving With no mechanical changes in the updated Ford Territory, there’s not a lot new to report.The Territory remains a quiet, refined and civilised way to eat up the vast distances of Australia in comfort.It comes with a choice of six and four-speed automatic transmissions and obviously the six is the pick. However, the four feels like a sturdy box with a good selection of gears and little hunting around until you are really pushing it or driving through hilly country or a series of complex corners.Both boxes are well matched to the lusty and torquey engines, which pull even seven passengers and some luggage with ease and without a lot of audible grunting and groaning.Brakes bring it all to a halt without too much drama, although we have known the rear end to feel loose when the vehicle is loaded and you are really stomping on the pedal.Overall handling is very car like for a two-tonne vehicle. The third row of seats creates a slight tail-heavy handling feel, but the Territory still feels right at home blasting down the highway, twisting through the hills or rollicking down some country gravel track.The all-wheel-drive models are obviously more adaptable to rougher and more slippery conditions. And over several unsurfaced country tracks the cabin remained dust free.Inside, the feel is utilitarian and slightly austere. The new fabrics and trim don't change that effect. However, it's a functional environment with a host of handy little storage spaces for drink bottles and other items.

Hill descent control is one of those electronic driver aids, increasingly common on SUVs, designed to take the guesswork out of off-roading. Judicious use of the brakes or low-range gears are needed to stop a vehicle running away dangerously on a steep slope. Hill descent systems do the braking for you.Every four-wheel drive is different, though, and the first time I nudge one to the point of no return on a challenging descent, HDC button pressed, I instinctively hover one foot over the brake pedal just in case.At the launch of the new Toyota Kluger at a 4WD park in Victoria early this week, I need not have worried. The second version for Australia of this mid-size SUV handled the rocky declines just as easily as it climbed the muddy inclines. Philosophically, it's from the soccer mum end of the market, but gizmos engaged, nerves were rapidly calmed.The Ford Territory is another SUV designed very much with school runs in mind and it also offers hill descent control.However, an electronic system isn't much use when you're careering down a sales slope. Since its brief heyday in 2005, the Territory has been suffering. Last year, as rising fuel prices scared buyers away from large vehicles, sales fell 22 per cent. Since then, the mid-size SUV segment has recovered strongly but the Territory has not. To the end of July it's down a further 7 per cent.The Ford SUV has clung onto segment leadership while losing sales to new entrants like the Holden Captiva. But the Kluger, backed by the impressive marketing might of Toyota, it has the potential to accelerate the Territory's descent and steal its crown. This week's presentations were explicit about Toyota's intention to take on the locally built Ford. “We have a very simple goal,” said sales and marketing chief David Buttner, “to maximise sales in the medium SUV market.”At $39,990 the Kluger range begins with a price disadvantage of $2000 against the cheapest Territory, but the Toyota product has been aimed with extreme accuracy at its target market. The Kluger can match the seven-seat capacity of the Territory and has an equipment list calibrated like a telescopic sight.Toyota has done its homework and knows the importance of safety features on the school run, so the Kluger has lots of them, all standard. It even introduces something I was surprised to learn had yet to appear in a Toyota; active headrests to prevent whiplash.Toyota knows that fuel thirst is a Territory weakness and so the Kluger is more economical to run, by more than one litre per 100km. It also comes with three years of fixed-price servicing.Needless to add, the new Kluger is bigger, more powerful and better equipped than the previous model. It lacks a diesel engine in the range, but so does the Ford.If you want one of those, then Toyota has the Prado, a more expensive, traditional mid-size off-roader.But all the sales action these days is in crossovers and the most significant move by Toyota is to borrow Ford's approach in making four-wheel drive an option on an SUV. The standard Kluger, like the standard Territory, puts power to the tarmac via only two of its wheels.Toyota expects the availability of a 2WD version to bring plenty of extra buyers to the badge. One executive forecast volumes at least quadruple the current running rate of 300 a month. At that level, the Kluger is edging into Territory territory. And you know when Toyota is willing to talk numbers, then its expectations are higher. The mid-size SUV segment is one of the few it doesn't lead.Toyota describes the Kluger as effectively an Aurion wagon, referring to the company's locally built large car. Although the two vehicles don't share any sheet metal, they both employ the same platform engineering and 3.5-litre V6 engine. With Toyota's global bodyline production system, the Kluger could be built on the same assembly lines in Melbourne which make Aurion and Camry.Although Toyota denies it, the possibility that the Kluger could be built at its Melbourne plant must figure in its thinking. At the moment, the Kluger is mainly a US market car, built in right-hand drive solely for Australia.Making it here would help fulfil many of Toyota Australia's production goals and its belief it needs a third model to secure its future. Supplying untapped right-hand drive export markets from Australia could make Kluger volumes viable.Right now though, it threatens to take sales from the Ford Territory just when Ford needs them more than ever to keep its Melbourne plant busy. The Territory is struggling at the showroom, but Ford's locally built Falcon, Fairlane and Ute are hurting even more.Success for the Kluger and the chance to build it here could come at the price of yet more pain for Ford.

After a couple of days, little niggles appear to remind the driver they're in a tank after all.Even after close to a week's dissection, however, Ford's Territory Turbo lived up to its "car-like" tag in all aspects (except, perhaps, for fuel consumption).No matter what trickery they've used to make it steer, handle and ride so competently — and it does all that very well indeed — there's no getting past the fact that it takes a bit of juice to punt the Territory along, especially when you begin using the turbo to good effect for some enthusiastic driving.We rarely managed to achieve better than 15 litres per 100km. But that's not excessive when you consider the size of the vehicle and the fact that under the bonnet is a muscular four-litre unit borrowed from the Falcon XR6 Turbo.Tweaked to accommodate the heftier Territory, the engine develops 245kW at 5250rpm and 480Nm at a low 2000rpm.This means it manages to manipulate all that weight well enough to back up Ford's claims that this vehicle feels more like a car than a truck.The only time the Territory's size matters is when you head into a hard corner; otherwise, it pretty well shoots wherever you point it. The all-wheel-drive system, biased 38:62 to the rear, gives athletic response and great confidence in tricky conditions.Steep slopes? Intimidating road trains? No problem. Just leave them behind with a press of the urge pedal and a tap of the gearshift in sequential mode.We've salivated about the Territory's six-speed ZF transmission before, so we'll try to be a bit more restrained here.But there's no denying that the thing is really damn good. Silky, refined and so responsive. What more could you ask?Well, maybe a bit more sound deadening, because the harder you drive the Territory, the noisier the engine gets.It didn't ever reach the annoying stage, and we didn't notice it so much at first, but after a whole day in the vehicle it became a bit wearing. Mind you, we could have turned on the stereo and easily drowned it out.The Territory comes in two trim levels, both of which have 18-inch wheels, a tell-tale bonnet scoop and chromed twin exhaust tips.The equipment list includes Ford's Intelligent Safety System, dynamic stability control, traction control, grade control, driver and front passenger airbags, and ABS with electronic brake force distribution, The standard $53,990 Turbo comes with metallic and suede-look cloth upholstery, but has a leather-wrapped steering wheel, four-way power adjustment on the driver's seat, a 100-watt CD audio system, blue-lit instruments, cruise control and power windows, mirrors and pedals.It also has more than 30 storage nooks, two of which (in the door pockets) can carry oversized water bottles — a wonderful thing during a long day miles from any shops. Or even creeks.The $65,490 Ghia version has silver-stitched black leather trim plus two more adjustments, black-and-silver dash trim, a six-stacker audio system, dual-zone climate control, a reversing camera, side curtain airbags and a third row of seats.There's just about everything you could want, except maybe a diesel version, and there are hints this may surface in the not-too-distant future. It would be a great fit in the line-up.And if one of the few niggles of the Territory Turbo is its high fuel consumption, that's a problem a Territory diesel could easily fix.

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.

But one week with the Ford Territory RWD and I am converted. AWDs are overrated. Give me two wheels any day.For the modern city girl, about the closest you get to off-road driving is discovering you have just hit a speed bump.And that, in a nutshell, is why 4WD capabilities are an optional extra in my book. The Territory is the most surprising car I have ever driven. It has all the space and comfort of a big 4WD but looks and drives like a family wagon, albeit on steroids.With credentials like News Limited's Star Car award and Wheels Magazine's Car of the Year, stepping into the Territory was a bit like watching a best picture Oscar movie. Will it live up to the hype?The short answer is yes. It just fitted, like a glove. From the moment I sat in the driver's seat, I felt comfortable. And it was roomy, surprisingly roomy.It doesn't look that big from the outside but inside there is a bag of tricks.While rummaging for the expected seat adjustments, I found a lockable under-seat security drawer. It was there I also discovered the seat adjustment has gone hi-tech and is electronic.I felt on top of the world, perched high above the rest of the traffic, but surprisingly the back-seat drivers were sitting even slightly higher. Apparently it's designed so everyone can see and enjoy the ride.There was plenty of head room, which has never been a problem for me, but richer-in-height passengers would appreciate the design. The Territory also has the option for a seven-seater, so even the bigger families can enjoy the comforts of this beautiful car.But by far the greatest invention for women drivers like me is the rear bumper warning sensors. Can you believe cars can come with warning sounds that alert you to being too close to an object – whether its a car or a fence? Brilliant.But that's the Territory for you. A great package with surprises around every corner.