Usually when a car transitions into electrification, it’s more of a drag and drop thing. Drag this car to the lab, drop a hybrid powertrain, and then release it to the public. Ford did things differently with the Territory Hybrid. They timed it to go with a refresh, making the package even more remarkable. It got new bells, whistles, and clothes to go with that fresh electrified setup.
Can it go wheel to wheel against the Chinese armada of electrified crossovers? Ford took us for a drive from Pasay to Baguio and back to see how good the all-new Territory Hybrid is.
The new look of the Territory is very apt for what it is. It’s electrified now, and this Daft Punk looking front face with soft curves on the corners really gives it a modern sci-fi look. It’s not as aggressive or outlandish as others in its price point, but that’s the allure of the new Territory. Modern while still looking appropriate for red carpet functions and gala nights.
The cabin is very familiar, but I’ll admit I had a slight learning curve. We initiated Apple CarPlay right away but when we were looking for the drive modes to try it out, we couldn’t find it. Apparently, you have to go back to the Ford menu system, go Home, and then swipe from the left side of the screen. Why can’t you do this even with CarPlay on?
Apart from that, there’s also a more powerful wireless charger at 50-watts, and more output on the USB ports—at least according to Ford.
The biggest difference is the drive. The new Ford Territory has a complicated hybrid system that changes from EV, Series, Hybrid, and Energy Recovery. The good thing is you won’t have to bother learning them as the car switches on its own. You’re left with the usual Eco, Normal, and Sport modes to choose from in your throttle response. There's a notable difference between the three and the Sport mode is good enough for the hill climb to Baguio.
Beneath the metal is a new dual-pinion steering system. This is paired to a three-mode steering system that lets you choose from Normal, Comfort, and Sport. Normal is fairly weighted, while Comfort is the light and numb that some users would want for city driving. Sport is still fairly light during crawling speed, but get up to speed and it becomes weighted nicely. Combining the sport engine mode and Sport steering mode is definitely a must for hill climbs as it made the Territory easier to manage on curvy roads.
What’s still missing here in the Ford Territory are paddle shifters. Granted, there’s a Low Gear Mode on the shifter to engage engine braking when on downhills. Only it activates when it wants to, so you still don’t have total control of the engine brake. There’s also no control for regenerative braking and so the car decides how efficient the hybrid system will be.
It won’t disappoint you though. During our stop over from Manila Bay to Rosario, La Union, we didn’t really lose range and instead, gained a few more despite the highway run. Once in Baguio, we still had a little more than half a tank and 300 km left in the range. We still had a quarter of the massive 60-liter tank left when we got back to Manila Bay without stopping over.
One thing that really makes the new Ford Territory good is the fact that it can go for a thousand kilometers or more, without needing to plug-in. You seldom see that in basic hybrids today, even in Chinese ones. Usually, they only have a combined range of over a thousand if the car has plug-in technology utilized. Here, you can gas up regularly and it will give you a lot of mileage per full tank. This is similar to the Honda CR-V e:HEV but this Ford Territory does it for a million pesos less. Definitely a banger of a hybrid.
How does it fare against the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i? The BYD has more range as it can go more than 1,300 kilometers of real combined range. However, the conversation is not all about range. The Ford Territory has a bit better ride comfort, it shifts smoothly, transitions from engine to electric motors quietly, has a quiet cabin, and there’s a solid cover for the panoramic sunroof. Advanced Driver Assist System is also available. If anything, the only drawback of the Territory is the lack of paddle shifters for total driver control at more spirited driving situations.
If you’re a casual user who doesn’t want to bother with the additional expense of wall chargers and EV charging, and don’t have the patience to wait in line at SM’s EV charging stations, the Ford Territory presents a nice package for you to consider. Also, even if you don’t buy the top-of-the-line variant, you’re still getting the bang for the buck hybrid system.
Words and Photos by Vincent Villa
You gotta give Ford PH props here. Instead of answering the BYD SL6 with a direct rival PHEV, they went the other way and brought in an HEV. The Territory Hybrid will have a big chunk of the market by being the most affordable HEV in its segment while also indirectly competing with cheap PHEVs from the Chinese brands.
ReplyDeleteIts been out for 2 months and yet you barely see one on the road.
DeleteLOL. We all know RG is a huge Ford Hater, but dude, come on. You said it yourself, it's been out for 2 months. Give it time and you will see more of it on the road. There is a long line for both variants of the Ford Territory Hybrid, some are still waiting since launch.
DeleteOwned an SL6 and another pure EV vehicle for a year now and go for a solar set-up last December 2024. Savings is around P21,000 a month on combined electricity and fuel consumption compared to my previous ICE vehicles. I advise my friends that if you can go solar, EV and PHEV is the best way forward. But if you cannot better choose HEV especially if you live on a condo unit where home charging is not allowed.
ReplyDeleteA minimum 400k solar set up for EVs are added cost. This will take years to recover. You can save a few bucks but the ROI for the system will also take years to recover. At he end the day HEV is still the wise choice.
DeleteSolar also need maintenance
Delete250,000 annually or 2M over the 8 year warranty period of the vehicles is a lot of money. Its just a bonus. The feeling that you reduce your carbon footprint by less than 8% puts a lot of smile to my face all the time.
Delete'Years' can be as short as 3 years to reach ROI with current prices. There's never been a better time for going solar than now.
DeleteNobody cares about carbon footprints.. in fact 90% of the worlds population doesnt know anything about that stuff.
ReplyDeleteHope you don't have any children who will suffer for your ignorance.
DeleteCarbon footprint (or lowering it) is a scam Europe has foolishly pursued, according to the POTUS in his UN Gen Assy speech.
ReplyDeleteAhh, yes. The "genius" orange man mired in scandals. Of course, we'll take his word for it.🙄
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