Ford Territory TS AWD Review

Overview

In addition, it is clear that the Ford Territory TS AWD is well worth the price. Despite the minor issues it has, it has many positives to make up for it. It drives well, has plenty of power if that is what you need, and has oodles of storage space-all in all it sounds like a great deal for the price, so it is worth looking at!

Details

The first impression when you look at it is that the car has a very sleek appearance, and all of the parts fit together quite well to achieve the overall look. However, without the optional fog lamps and bumpers that are the same color as the body of the car, the car does not look quite as nice as it does with those options. For such an expensive car, you would think that this car would come with these two options as standard, default options, not options you have to pay for additionally.

Ford is a huge contender in this particular market, and the Ford Territory is one of the front runners. The new Ford Territory TS AWD has some great things about it, but it also leaves some things to be desired.

If you are planning a road trip, you will most likely end up being the one driving. With more than enough room in the boot for luggage and other goods you might need (ice chests, camping equipment, etc.), the Territory would be an obvious option for driving on a road trip. To get to the boot, you must open the rear door (dual-opening). If you are all done packing and just need to throw in a final thing, you can put down the window of the back door and set it in without having to actually open the entire door. I actually have this on my own vehicle, and though I do not use it often, it is convenient to have that as an option. Another thing that would be nice for road trips is the fact that this vehicle, despite its size, is decent in the fuel efficiency area, averaging anywhere from 12.8L /100KM to 13L/100KM. It has been reported that with four passengers and a full load of passengers, the car can get approximately 560KM before having to stop and fill up with gas.

The inside of the car is also just as impressive as the outside. All of the gadgets are well organized and placed in areas that are prime locations for users to reach them. The only thing that is not the same quality as the rest of the vehicle is the steering wheel, which just has a rather cheap feel to it. The controls in the center console area are all set up well and are visually appealing. The gadgets/controls are not crammed into this area, they are well placed and distributed throughout the area. This area is the system hub for operations to monitor fuel information, trip information, temperature and audio controls. In addition to this control area, the audio system can also be primarily controlled by the steering wheel audio controls, which are a personal favorite of mine in just about any vehicle. The temperature system is controlled by climate control, and the audio system equipped in the vehicle has fantastic sound complete with a subwoofer. Compared to the Ford Falcon, the Territory's subwoofer is placed in a much more practical location that does not cause any noise other than playing music though the speakers. One thing that just about any person would love about this car is the abundance of storage space. In addition to your basic storage areas such as the dashboard and the center console (which were both of good size-the center console being huge), there are at least ten cup holders in the vehicle altogether and even more storage space where the 3rd seats would be put in, as I will discuss more below. There are also storage compartments in the 2nd row of seats, and possibly the most convenient and rare that I had not heard of-the storage compartment located under the driver's seat. This is a great idea, and with all of that storage space, there is almost need for the car to get messy-you can just put all of your stuff in a specific place!

If you are looking for a car that can compete in a drag race, then continue looking. However, for such a heavy vehicle, the Territory has a fairly impressive get-up-and-go. One of the negative things about driving such a large vehicle is that there is not a good line of vision on either of the sides near the back. Luckily, Ford noticed this when building the vehicle and added mirrors that offer a view of that specific area, so make sure that you keep an eye on those mirrors when changing lanes, etc. Another feature that can often be more tedious than it is worth in this vehicle is the Dynamic Stability Control. If you are driving in more intense conditions with this particular feature on, it can sometimes interfere with your driving, which is a very dangerous thing. Luckily, you have the option to either turn off the DSC system altogether or turn off traction control but leave DSC activated. It might sound like a system that would be dangerous to use in any instance, but it has been said to be very helpful driving in gravel. I would like to try it out driving to my parents' camp, as the road all-too-often has grooves that you get sucked into that make steering incredibly difficult. All in all it drives well in all situations-on straight stretches and on windy mountain roads. It does, however, increase in difficulty of driving on the windy mountain roads due to having to try so hard to control the steering. Fortunately, on the way down those mountains you will have quite a pleasant drive. The car offers the ability to use or not use the sequential shift, which can strongly affect your driving on the way down. Going down shorter downhill areas would be a good time to not use the sequential shift, since it could keep the brakes from having to be used quite as often. However, the bigger the downhill slope, the more sense it makes to just use the sequential shift and not have to use the brake quite as often. Another thing that could be vastly improved upon is the brakes. They require a lot of pressure to push them to their full capacity, and this can cause some anxiety when approaching a big traffic light or four way stop.

Driving the car is quite enjoyable-the driver can even adjust the pedals to where they are the most comfortable for any driver, which is a nice feature. As soon as you get in you notice that you are sitting a lot higher than people around you, and that can be both intimidating and empowering! In comparison with some other Ford vehicles, the Territory is obviously very well built and has a much more impressive interior. If you have a large number of passengers to drive around, you can opt for a 3rd row for $1600 more and have the option to equip this seat when needed or fold it away when it is not needed. The area where the seats will be placed also provides a great area for storage or transport of items. Luckily, it is not brain surgery trying to move the seats around. It is not the same as some other vehicles, where putting the extra seats in is more trouble than it is worth.

If you are planning a road trip, you will most likely end up being the one driving. The temperature system is controlled by climate control, and the audio system equipped in the vehicle has fantastic sound complete with a subwoofer. All in all it drives well in all situations-on straight stretches and on windy mountain roads. In comparison with some other Ford vehicles, the Territory is obviously very well built and has a much more impressive interior.