Ford Territory SZ Titanium (2011-2016)
Verified38 reviews
A Disaster Car = Ford – clCould not articulate the words what it done to me. at 50 k the trasmission failed they told we do not why! just replace it. did replace it a new one with 5.5 k cost. again at 130k - 145k again, trasmission failed! ? needed replacement 4k which did. At 150k ish suspension major issue. ! at 150k now burning oil in the engine. Went to a… Read more
mechanic which correctly told me buy another car. now at 160k should sell it to a salvage yard.
Please do not buy any Ford for ever.
Awesome car – Use car for both work and private use with 3 Kid seats in back, Has plenty of go and so far very reliable, diesel awd model, Very happy , have fitted Idrive system myself , never had any issues so far and now has 79000 kms. Show details
The great(est) Aussie wagon – SAFETY – that's why I finally traded my ageing Commie in on a Territory. According to the safety ratings on RACQ's website, these SZ Territories get five stars; my 2002 VX II Commie only got one. Although I think those ratings have a lot to do with how many and what kind of air-bags a car has, nevertheless at just a smidge over two tonnes, the… Read more
Territory is a much bigger and heavier vehicle all 'round. That extra weight – you can feel it in the body’s rigidity and ride – tells you it’s stronger, and all things being equal, one is better-off in a bigger and heavier vehicle in a stack, right?! With all the rain we've had lately, the extra weight cuts down on aquaplaning too. I drive our SZ Terry around in stormy weather with all the confidence of a truck driver.
Apart from the paramount criterion of safety, I also wanted an economical, practical and reliable ride. I go for second-hand, Aussie-made Fords and Holdens with less than 150 thousand clicks on the clock and that present well. I also hang onto my cars for a long time, typically putting about 100,000 clicks on ‘em over a good seven years or more before I upgrade, so I value reliability and buy vehicles that can go the distance with a minimum of fuss and bother. Territories have long been on my radar, being the only truly Aussie-designed and made SUV, and they are certainly big on practicality, being full-sized SUV wagons created with Strayan families in mind. They’re made tough for Aussie roads and conditions, like grown-up Tonka trucks. This is the ultimate expression of the classic Australian family car formula: simple, powerful, spacious vehicles – large by world standards – designed to cover great distances with ease and comfort, but revised for the 21st century with the ground-clearance, cargo space and seating height of the SUV form-factor. But what of economy and reliability?
My mechanic told me not to buy the diesel. He said modern diesels are a false economy because when things break on them, they cost an arm and a leg to fix. It's not just the Territory: he says all modern diesels are too highly-strung: small displacement engines with turbos stuffing fuel into them at ridiculous pressure is a mechanically stressful arrangement and when something gives, it’s usually a whole lotta trouble and expense to fix. So it had to be the venerable four-litre, normally aspirated Aussie straight-six petrol – the mighty Barra 195 – which can trace its heritage all the way back to the original Falcons. The Ford straight-six has come a long way since then: four-valves-per-cylinder; double overhead camshafts with variable valve timing; electronic fuel injection of course. 195 kilowatts is around 260 horses: that's about the same power-output as the first gas-guzzling triple-carbureted six-pack R/T Chargers, and a good 30 horses more than the early, five-litre V8 Falcon GTs. Long known as a torquey, lazy, long-stroking engine with a rock-solid bottom-end, the DOHC head fundamentally transformed the Ford inline six. Seems all it ever really wanted was to breathe more freely. When you throw the ZF gearbox's stick over to engage ‘performance’ mode, the Territory suddenly feels half as heavy and twice as nimble as the engine springs to life, revealing a surprising muscularity. I'm guessing the engine-management computer recalibrates the valve-timing for power – maybe the EFI too – but it definitely holds gears longer and readily downshifts to bring the engine revs up where it's making more power; max horsepower coming at a whopping 6,000rpm! The normally docile big-six really comes alive, performing like you'd expect a DOHC big-six to (nod to anyone who's driven a Jaguar XJ6). At such times, I wonder what the turbo-charged F6X SY Territory would be like to drive. I hear they're quicker than Porsche Cayennes! But then comes the sobering thought of how much fuel a fire-breathing beast like that would consume.
I wanted a rear-wheel drive Territory to give the car's fuel economy and overall reliability every chance, and in any case, the petrol engine was only offered in the RWD-configuration: all AWD SZ's are diesel-engined, although buyers could specify a diesel-engined RWD SZ Territory if they so desired. All-wheel drive sucks some power from the engine and the setup weighs more, as well as adding mechanical complexity; all of which in my book, spells higher fuel consumption and more to go wrong. Besides, I don't need the extra towing capacity that the AWD examples offer – 2.3 tonnes is plenty for me – and I'm certainly not going to bush-bash my pride and joy; the only car in my family and on which we all depend for transport. Since I was always going for a RWD example, it also had to be an SZ because Ford fitted a 6-speed ZF gearbox to all of them; not just the AWD models as they did in the previous, SY model. Over the older 4-speed Sports Auto fitted to earlier models, the locking torque converter, extra gears and smarts in the ZF 'boxes helps with performance and fuel economy, said to be equal to that of a manual shifter. However, only the petrol RWD SZ Series One models run genuine German-built ZF 6HP26 gearboxes, as found in the big Mercs and Beamers; racy Jags, Aston Martins and Maseratis; and even in classy Bentlies and Rolls Royces of the day. Apparently, the diesel RWD and all AWD models are fitted with an American-made 6R80 "ZF-based" transmission. Moreover, the following petrol RWD SZ Series *Two* Territories were fitted with lighter, revised and Chinese-built ZF units, designated 6HP21. Though Ford claimed marginal fuel-consumption improvements with the Chinese units (thanks to their lower weight?), the fact that they are rated for less power-handling tells me they aren't as robust as the German ones. Indeed, Ford stockpiled their inventory of German ZF 6HP26 'boxes for fitment to the last of their turbo-charged I6- and supercharged V8-engined Falcons where their extra strength was needed to comfortably handle all the power these high-performance engines generated.
Living in the country, doing mostly highway driving but running regular errands around town; using regular ULP with the climate control continually on "auto" (~22—24º), the dash after one year's driving showed 11.2 litres per 100 km, or 25 imperial mpg. That’s very respectable for a 260-horse, 2-tonne vehicle. On paper, petrol Terries return fuel consumption figures as good or better than their direct but lighter six-cylinder petrol SUV rivals; Kluger and Captiva. Only the smaller-bodied and much smaller-engined Santa Fe V6 petrol uses less fuel, which is no consolation for the cocooned rear-seat occupants of these vehicles as they cope with their claustrophobia- and nausea-inducing teeny-tiny windows on the world. That's not insignificant: Territories offer an airy and sunny disposition, and a grandly scenic 'glasshouse' outlook for everyone inside – including backseat passengers – thanks to their large window area. But back on fuel consumption: after several days of vacation highway driving, I briefly saw a best-ever figure of 10.3. I don't have real-world figures for city driving but after three years of ownership I've been doing a lot of short trips in town lately and the fuel consumption has crept up into the low-12s. If I was running daily commutes in traffic, I would have to keep reminding myself of the complete package – safety, reliability, spaciousness and practicality – to stave off fuel-consumption anxiety, especially if petrol bounced back up over two bucks a litre.
A mechanic once told me fuel consumption is the cheapest part of owning a car. He was alluding to the importance of reliability and low maintenance costs in the overall cost-of-ownership equation, and in the petrol RWD Territory one has about as proven a drive-train as this country has produced: it's basically a tall Falcon, and 'yes' it pretty-much rides like one: "squat" is how I would describe it: firm and reassuringly stable on highways, and remarkably flat through corners, but pliable over bumps and ruts. Against European imports, the Territory's engineering may not be as sophisticated, but in its simple, solid componentry lies the secret to Aussie-engineered-and-built Fords' relatively trouble-free longevity. Anecdotal evidence suggests I’ll be driving past those high-tech, highly-strung imports in the mid- to long-term, and I’ll be doing so at a fraction of the cost. As the preferred taxi-type prior to the hybrid electric Toyota Prius, six-cylinder Falcons regularly made million-kilometre drives reliably and efficiently, thereby cementing the Falcon's enviable reputation as an Aussie motoring icon; and the Territory shares those very same mechanical underpinnings in the petrol models, with the same engine beating at its heart. By sticking to a configuration as Falcon-like as possible, it was with supreme confidence that I bought my RWD petrol Territory; a worthy successor to the 'bulletproof' V6 Ecotech Commie it replaced.
A cherry red Titanium?! I was surprised that God made my choice so easy. When He paraded her in front of me while I was searching online, I pretended not to notice too much and kept searching for more cars, but I found myself repeatedly going back for another look; and another! He he he. My wife squealed with delight when I showed her the vehicle. "Buy it!" she immediately exclaimed. I was actually searching for a mid-spec TS, but leather seats? Wow! And we all know red goes faster. Apparently the top-spec "Titanium" is the most popular in the late-model Terries. Seven leather seats (the collapsable third row comes in handy more often than I imagined); interior lights and stowage nooks aplenty; sat-nav; a nice (was it Sony or Bose?) 150-watt, seven-speaker sound system with a sub; and ceiling-mounted Alpine DVD player with two wireless headphones. Sweet!
The fitment of the German ZF gearbox in the older, Series One is a strong argument for it being the better car; so much the sweeter then that it also represented a seven-grand saving over an equivalent Series Two; and in that glistening metallic ruby red colour, the Series One's chrome-festooned grille blends beautifully into the overall scheme of things, making all that decadent bling the adornment it was always intended to be. And externally, there really was little more than a softening of the grille in the Series Two. Apart from the change to the lighter Chinese gearbox in the petrol models, the Series Two also received a slightly revised entertainment and command system that featured digital radio and a memory card reader.
The Territory's well-known weakness in the earlier models was the suspension ball-joints arrangement, which was a poor design that was subject to routine failure and expensive repairs, but this flaw was addressed in the SZ upgrade: the suspension joints arrangement being comprehensively revised (turned the "right way around" says my mechanic) for the SZ model. It's also reassuring that the previous owner of my example took her to Pedders for the full suspension treatment. That should have it sorted! I also felt the brakes weren't quite where they should be on my Territory and so I replaced the rotors with DBA's (Disc Brakes Australia) 4000 T3 slotted rotors all-round, and combined them with Ferodo's very effective DS performance brake pads for the best stopping-power I could get without resorting to a multi-thousand dollar Brembo calliper upgrade and the like. Hey, I'm on a tight budget here! But these simple brake upgrades cost something like one-and-a-half grand in total: that's for parts and professional fitment. It made a world of difference though: the brakes are really smooth and powerful now, which is very reassuring and I couldn't be happier! One more thing remains to be addressed on my Territory: the ICC's screen is failing and I need to replace it or possibly upgrade to a third-party device. I'll have to do a lot of homework on that one and I'll update my review here when I find a solution.
To sum up: the Ford SZ Territory is the ultimate expression of the classic Australian "big six" family car formula, especially in the petrol RWD spec. And for those who don't know – like its Falcon and Commodore equivalents – SZ Territories EAT Aussie roads! The further you drive them, the brighter they shine.
Addendum: The "ReDriven" guys produced a video review of the Ford SZ Territory in January 2023 and reassuringly, they came to the very same conclusion that I did: either get an SZ RWD petrol in really good nick, or look for something else. You can see their YouTube video here (copy and paste this URL into your browser): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJdj2Pt7cc4
In-depth reviews
Garden ornament – I have a 2012 Territory diesel that until now have really enjoyed, unfortunately the love affair just came too a very abrupt end. A few months ago l noticed a slight thump downshifting through the transmission so even though Ford says it's a sealed unit for life and that's why no dipstick for the transmission I'd have it serviced. I purchased the… Read more
tranny fluid myself as a number of transmission places said it's wasn't really a concern, it is very expensive but I wasn't going to take the risk. A short while ago l noticed rough shifts on the way back from a trip again and now the transmission is basically stuffed at 250,000 ks nearly all of which are highway ks traveling around, as unhappy as I was at replacement of the transmission the news too come has gotten a lot worse. I'm now told l can't replace the transmission because they are " MARRIED" to the cars individual electronics at time of manufacture so won't work, so firstly ford says don't sevice then when they blow up you find out you have a very expensive lawn ornament, l was advised by the Ford dealership too discuss the matter Ford customer care and that turned out to be the icing on the cake. I asked to speak to someone about the issue so as to try and get the car sorted and was told nothing could be done but they will note my comments, l again said I'd be too talk to someone at Ford that knows how to resolve this issue and told not to raise my voice the car has done 250,000 ks Ford wants nothing to do with it and hung up on. This thing cost over $70,000 back in 2013 and is now suitable for parts or wrecking, l cannot believe that any company is allowed to operate like this from manufacturing the vehicle too total dismissal of any responsibility. Be warned I'm off to buy another car with what savings l have as a disability pensioner and guess what it will never be again
Fantastic family SUV – This SUV has all the space a family could need (7 seat version) along with heaps of storage bins, not too tech heavy and drives so well. I tow a Jayco Flamingo Outback with it no problem, the overhead DVD keeps the kids happy and we can even make them use wireless headsets (come with the vehicle) so we can listen to music. Speaking of which -… Read more
SYNC2 is awesome. We can use our mobile phone data to create a wifi hotspot that the kids can hook up to with their iPads and it also has inbuilt digital radio. How did we ever listen to AM radio without it before, nor live without stations like Kool FM, 80s & 90s or even Bhuddha Bar! The diesel is pretty good on juice (we average about 550km to a tank in city traffic, about 750-800kms on highway), is pretty quick off the mark compared other SUVs we test drove, and the Terri feels far more carlike than SUV. It doesn't have all the latest tech features that you'd find in the Escape, Everest, Fortuna or even Hyundai/Kias (such blind spot, crash avoidance, heads up display, lane departure etc) and the switches on the steering wheel don't light up at night, but I don't really care about any of that stuff. You might of course. I just find them annoying and preferred a simple, user friendly family car that could tow and was very comfortable to drive. It's easily the best of the bunch in my opinion.
Strong SUV with a car-like feel – I spent two years researching the ideal SUV/4WD for towing a 2500kg caravan. However, I wanted the vehicle to drive similarly to a sedan, rather than a truck. To achieve both goals, I eventually bought a 2016 Ford Territory Titanium Diesel all wheel drive. With a towing capacity of 2700kg and my caravan weighing 2450, loaded, this vehicle works… Read more
brilliantly. It sits a lot higher than a sedan and this takes a little getting used to but, once you do, you appreciate the better view it affords you. Fuel economy is very good, delivering 7.8L/100km on my last 1000 km trip. Around town, it returns economy similar to my previous Falcon G6E. The Territory is very comfortable and surprisingly quiet inside the cabin. I always thought diesels were noisy, clunky things (and the old ones were) but the common rail diesel in the Territory, along with the excellent sound-deadening, produces a very quiet and comfortable ride. I test drove some of the competitors and felt that they were a little too truck-like in handling. Probably great for towing a van but not so comfortable for everyday use. They were also significantly bigger and heavier (and probably less fuel efficient) and I didn't need or want that in a day-to-day vehicle. I was aiming for a happy medium between a comfortable, quite town vehicle and a powerful and efficient tow vehicle. The Territory fulfilled my requirements perfectly. Highly recommend them for this purpose.
Positive reviews
Outstanding vehicle – business landscape comfortable vehicle love it outstanding fuel trip and perfect vehicle and which put V8 diesel fuel and twin turbos and made in Australia please not China thank you . Show details
Best car ever owned – Bought new in 2012. From the start I have had no issues with it for 286k. Still drives like new. Good on fuel (petrol) cheap servicing and parts. Only big items replaced as they wear out ie brake pads and rotors. Show details
Best value 7 seat suv – Nothing on the market at the moment that can match this vehicle for its value, practicality, comfort and efortless driving. Well designed and extremely reliable, great fuel economy (petro) and power when you need it! A pitty Ford stoped stopped producing this car. Show details
Negative reviews
Disc error – Hi Friends , Just posting reviews of my ford territory titanium 2015 model Diesel . The car is been start playing up with disc error and limp mode within three year period on 2017.Ford dealer cleared the codes then keep going 2018 it comes intermittently . I thought it might be fuel quality or tire pressure. Approach local dealer in 2020 Feb … Read more
explain the situation they quote me for changing some sensor and service .But I approach Ford Australia for warranty consideration. Car KM in 90k. Ford Australia approved to do in warranty . Car run again for 7 months and in 2020 Oct it starts playing up again with the disc error and limp mode .Again same story approach local dealer. Now they don't want to take any risk ,looks like they want to get rid of the car . they reported as car has heavy metal contamination from high pressure fuel system ad fixing the car cost 22000 .oe of the member advised me to take to wreckers . Looks like the inexperienced workshop technicians don't want to take risk and simply the hands off .This time they said since the car is been purchased from a site auction they can help.
How come metal contamination happens in high pressure pump ,is it due to poor quality ? I have checked the google and find few similar stories . Ford has to look to this matter ad investigate if it is faulty then they have to recall. I am not giving up, continue to battle further. If any one across the board then please comment
Solid car with litter issues – It is a solid car but always has litter issues. GPS screen sometimes blacked out and the TV can not be turned off etc. Otherwise it is a very solid car. Show details
It's a great car but – We purchased our Ford Territory from Ford at 8 months. No major problems for first five years, then the air conditioning went - $2000 to fix, then the fuel pump went and we had to stay in a country town overnight while the Ford dealer got a new one - that was $1200. Now the air conditioning has gone again and Ford say it's a different part and it… Read more
will be $1300 more. They are also telling us that a number of other things need replacing too. This car has been treated carefully, well cared for and only serviced by Ford during all of that time. Is it too much to ask for a car to last more than 90000km or 5 years of age without these major expenses? Apart from those problems it's a great car for a family, drives well, is economical to run and it's never broken down because it gave plenty of warning that something was wrong, including when the fuel pump failed.
I don't like giving it two stars as it isn't a "bad" car, but I can't say it's ok either - it's a good car that had been badly put together and Ford does not appears to stand behind their product or their service centres.
Recent reviews
Love this Territory – 2011 SZ Territory titanium diesel. Wow can’t believe the quietness and smoothness of this Vehicle, purchased it to tow our caravan and have just completed a 3000k trip to Qld and back. Averaged 13.1lt per 100klm, the trip towing 2.5 tonne van. Towed it with ease and very comfortable and quiet motoring. The seating is excellent and after doing… Read more
around 550klm a day got out of car with no aches or pains. It has a 2.7 ltr V6 Diesel coupled to a 6 speed auto. Ford recommend you slip it over to the manual mode in hilly conditions, and I found this easy to use. On the flat I let the transmission choose just sat on 96-97klm hr with cruise control on. It is a shame Ford no longer make these suvs. Love it.
Find out how Ford Territory SZ Titanium compares to other Large / 7 Seater SUVs
Know better, choose better.
Ticked All the Boxes – Needed to replace my ageing petrol Captiva that struggled to comfortably tow my 1800kg van.So the research criteria was;*Diesel with ample power & good economy *Towing capacity of at least 2500kg and 250kg on the ball *Comfortable around town and on tour *Enough bells & whistles & good looks to please *Reliable & widely available dealer/parts… Read more
network *Under 60k Klms & $35k 2nd hand. Couldn't be happier with the choice of a 2014 Diesel Titanium ... European 2.7L diesel, American Auto but good old Australian design, engineering,body and assembly. Tows max 2700kg with 270kg on the ball, loads of power,tows quitely & beautifully at around 12L/100klm, looks great and has near limousine comfort.These vehicles meet the requirements of a growing market segment, what a shame they don't make them anymore.
I love my car! – We recently purchased our Territory when we had a baby and realised our sedan wasn’t enough room. I was blown away by the amazing driving experience, features and overall performance of the vehicle. The interior is so roomy, and the boot space is especially great for storing my pram and shopping, with plenty of room left to change my baby if… Read more
need be.
The running costs are low, a full tank lasts around 2 weeks for a busy family due to it being on diesel.
Overall a highly reliable and great value car that I’d highly recommend
It has been a good car – We bought our Titanium AWD in 2012 when it was 8 months old with 20 000 km. It just clicked over 90000km. Overall it has been a great family car. The winning decision at the time was we wanted a car that would fit 2 car seats and a teenager across the back seat comfortably. Both in the city and on country touring it has proved itself and while the… Read more
motor is not high performance, it is more than adequate and economic. Biggest problems were needing the air conditioner replaced three months ago which cost us $2000 as they had to pull the whole dash and steering wheel out first. We’re currently stranded in Eden while Ford are replacing the fuel pump after being one day into our holiday - a costly side trip into our planned and prebooked two week holiday. It will cost us $700 and at least two nights accommodation. But at least Eden is a very nice town and the car warned us that something was wrong so we could take action before it broke down on us.
Great car – We bought the Territory second hand as we needed a 7 seater with third row anchor points and didn't want a van. The leather seats are great, easy to clean with the inevitable kids mess. The car itself drives great, decent on fuel. The bootspace with the third row up is pretty terrible, I can't fit a double pram in at all - but that is my only complaint. Show details
An all rounder – Drove from Perth to Monkey Mia and back last month. The 12 hour journey one way was very comfortable for both driver and passengers. Similar comfort level as my old BMW 525i because after that 12 hour journey I was still fresh. Acceleration is really good, flick the gear lever to the left for sports mode and immediately drops a gear without… Read more
hesitation.
City driving is quite economical, averaging 12km/ltr, considering the size and weight of the car. Great in-car entertainment unit GPS. Drove a 1.9m tall colleague home and he could get in and out with ease and I noticed he had plenty of headroom and legroom too.
One of the best cars I've owned, and it's still looking very handsome for an almost 10 year old design model.
Great all round family car – I love my Territory! It is great to drive and the power assist steering makes driving a large car effortless. There is plenty of room for my 3 kids plus huge amounts of luggage. With the extra two seats I can take kids friends or grandparents with us on trips. The third row seats are more suited for kids. The reversing camera is great. I have had… Read more
a few issues fixed under warranty at the local ford dealer which have been done without a hassle. I am dissapointed that it has been replaced by the Everest. Oh, and fuel economy is amazing in the diesel for such a big car.
Beautiful to drive – Rented it for the weekend love it. Very comfortable and roomy. Fitted cases, prams everything. Perfect family car. I'm thinking of buying one for my next car which is soon. Holds the road well. Can't comment on running costs because I don't know. Interior was nice, comfy seats and plenty of leg room. Show details
Great car particularly good heavy tow vehicle – Drives very well and was surprised with the AWD diesel performance. Very comfortable especially over long distances. Good fuel economy averaging about 8/8.5 litres per 100 on open road. Tows 2.5 tonne boat very well. Turbo lag is a problem at low speed especially when negotiating suburban corners/traffic. When only 2 years old had to replace… Read more
front left wheel bearing under warranty. Both leather front seats have also split and been replaced under warranty.
MII - Titanium. The BEST VALUE SUV in Australia in 2017 – For a top of the line SUV - this is the best value deal in Australia for 2017. If you hunt around you can get this on run out for $45K. Here is what you get that is Standard: - 7 seats - Leather interior - clever touch screen electronics systems that includes voice activation, digital radio, blue tooth and sat nav - reverse camera… Read more · 1
including glide indicators
- split rear window - now this feature is in all Territory's but many SUV (including top of the line models) do not have this now days. The Split rear window allows you to open the top half of the tail gate instead of the whole thing, making it easy to drop off shopping. This is a BIG plus a one of my most loved features of this car.
- Turbo Diesel. Do not buy a petrol SUV. You will pay $20 per tank extra for petrol. This car delivers 10.3l per 100K in city driving since we have had it. I had a petrol Territory prior to this one that was running closer to 15l per 100. The power and fuel economy of this car is my MOST loved feature of this car
Unfortunately there are a couple of features that would be standard on other top of the line SUVs that you cannot get in a Territory. These are:
- Sunroof: you cannot get a Territory with a sunroof. It is not even an option. They never tooled the plant up for it due to the impending closure.
- Keyless start: Another standard feature in other 2017 top of the line SUVs that you cannot get in this car. The Key is a switch blade key with remote for keyless entry but you still need the key to start the car
- Powered tailgate - another feature you cannot get in the territory that other top of the line SUVs have as standard.
Where this car is great is in value. $45K would struggle to get a base model Kluger and it would not have sunroof and powered tail gate - lets alone most of the features that are standard in the Territory. You would pay $20K more, around $65K in total for a top of the line Kluger, Jeep ...etc. At this price you are getting a lot more car for your money.
Soon this car will be gone and with it the best SUV ever built in Australia
Find out how Ford Territory SZ Titanium compares to other Large / 7 Seater SUVs
Know better, choose better.
magnificent SUV for tackling the zombie apocalypse – Well, were do i start. plenty of room for the living with more compartments for just about anything. a true 7 seater with the rear 3 row folding away just neatly. plenty of diesel grunt and height off the road to boot. handles like a car, but with all wheel drive, you can tackle the hardest of car parks with ease. Easy dash layout and a good sat… Read more
nav to navigate through the rat race. leather seats add that subtle touch and being a 6 speed auto, well, what more could you want
Good 4wd – swapped our Kluga for a Territory over a year ago and couldn't be happier. Tows our Camper like a dream. So far been on a few camping trips and it has never let us down. Would recommend this car to any one who likes to get away with the family. love it Show details
Good car no issues – Drives well and like a car as you'd expect considering the underpinnings and drive trains. I have the diesel Titanium and it's great. Regular services and never had a problem up to 85000 km now just with it's second set of tyres. Seats comfortable and supportive, in roof DVD player great for back seat passengers and excellent on the fuel economy (previously had a Toyota Kluger). Sorry they have stopped making them as I would buy another. Show details
Pretty good pretty pricey – The driving experience is good. I like the performance and I like the handling. It was the best car in the range and I'm happy with the purchase. I really wanted an audi, but this feels almost as good and was half the price - so you're doing pretty well if you buy this car. Show details
Ford Territory SZ Diesel AWD Titanium - a great car! – I was happy with this car from the day I purchased it, but thought I'd wait two years before writing a comprehensive review. The verdict: I like it even better. The interior of the car is superb. The Titanium has leather seats and an overhead DVD player. But the built-in GPS did it for me. Seating is comfortable with good visibility. The… Read more
5-seater quickly converts to 7-seater, although these two extra seats wouldn't be all that comfortable for adults on a long journey. In 5-seater mode the cargo area is generous and can be expanded even further with the back seats folded down to create 2-seater mode. It's amazing how many large things can fit in there. Legroom is excellent all round.
The interior size of the Territory is exceptional without making the exterior too large. The width and length of the car is within an inch or two of the Falcon or Commodore, and higher than both. This makes it one of the least chunky of the SUVs available on the market.
The handling of the car is superb. The only fault is that there's a small lag in power if you wish to sprint away from a stationary position, but if you want that sort of boost you'd prefer a sports car instead of an SUV. The diesel engine is amazingly quiet and gets 7 l/100km in the country, and 9.5 in the suburbs/city. I purchased the AWD version as I felt more comfortable with a sure-footed car that could haul a boat or a caravan. It accomplishes this with ease.
Towing is an area where the Territory excels. We took our 19 foot caravan on a 9,000km round trip to Darwin and the car performed perfectly. The diesel engine had the grunt to easily tow the 2 tonne van and I hardly notice it there, even when briefly getting to 120km/hr passing road trains in the NT. With an average speed of 95km/hr, the towing economy for that trip was 13 l/100km which was very good. Another great feature is the two rear doors, hinged at the top. When towing, I always had access to the back of the car because the top half (glass) section opens upward - many people don't realise that almost every SUV with a side-hinged rear door won't have clearance to open when you have any trailer hitched to the towball. That's why I sought a SUV without the spare wheel on the back (a telltale sign of side hinges). When not towing, the entire rear door can be opened, allowing excellent access to the flat cargo area.
I would never recommend any 4 cylinder car for towing caravans exceeding 15 foot. Their specifications will usually say they can tow 3 tonne but that's not intended for reasonable distances and the engine will race to be able to produce the power (creating wear). The 6 cylinder diesel Territory engine is the same unit that goes into Land Rovers and it's a powerhouse with plenty in reserve.
I've only had two problems with the car in two years. The first was the driver's electric window stuck when open. The Ford dealer fixed that next day under warranty. The second was the GPS system that failed and needed to be reset (easily done by disconnecting the battery briefly). The GPS itself is pretty good but expensive to update ($300+) due to software licence costs. One further issue was that the Territory can get quite dirty on the back on wet roads - the vacuum created by driving sucks air and grime off the road and onto the back of the car. It's a minor thing to wash it off, and common to SUVs of this shape - I'd accept this anytime if it avoids the spare wheel location problems with towing.
Unfortunately, the Territory will be going out of production and new ones won't be available. That's a pity because this is by far the best vehicle I have ever owned.
Ford Territory SZ Diesel RWD Titanium – We are very happy with this car which was purchased from new. It has been with us for nearly 4 years and has been a joy to own. It has not been without issues but the dealership (Coburg and now Goodalls in Mackay), has been excellent. I do not believe there are many cars better equipped to handle our long distances and roads than these local… Read more
cars. The Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH) has been outstanding and should be the standard for all cars.
The motor has been no problem but be careful. Please be aware that the specification (WSS-M2C929-A), from Ford does not include the Shell 10W/30 oil typically used by Ford dealers for all other models. You must insist on one that they may have to source from elsewhere. Do not get sucked in to the, "well the oil supplier will guarantee it", because they change their suppliers!
We have had some issues with some plastic trim, (replaced by the dealer at no cost to us, an overtightened battery bracket - replaced again and the common computer issues at the beginning), but nothing to really upset us after good service is received.
Another common issue is fouling of the lift up glass against the tailgate resulting in the paint and corrosion protection being worn away. The last issue we had was a faulty brake booster which resulted in the car's brakes inexplicably locking up after longer periods of idle waiting in traffic. This was replaced out of warranty.
Parts are reasonably priced unlike other SUV's and imports. The performance has been excellent.
Excellent car with sound engineering for Australian conditions and use.
Total lemon, so disappointed – Bought Territory Titatium as my last car.! Had windscreen replaced due to noise problem. Onto my 3rd inbuilt dash 'system' which also has failed. The brake booster failed last Jan and now fuel pump failed just last week. Ford has again declined to refund payment as it has just passed the 3year warranty. The car has just passed 60,000kms. What a… Read more
joke Ford.!!
My other vehicle a Toyota Landcruiser is not far away from 860,000kms and hasn't missed a beat
Say no more guys !!
We bought a Ford Territory that is a total lemon – Since we bought the car top of the range titanium we have had the computer changed, it ate tires every three months until we found a mechanic who was able to do a wheel alignment that fixed the problem. It has had door seals on the back door driver side replace twice. But now it is leaking on both sides of the car. Get a heavy downpour and we have… Read more
a swimming pool at our feet. Worse car we have ever own, and worse company to deal with. Find it laughable about their add that they will give you a car for a service when we lived and hour and a half from the dealership we bought it at but were never offered any help. It seems they are ready to leave Australia well I say the sooner the better, because even with all our Tax payers money thrown at them we got a inferior product from them.
Endless problems sadly – Having had a Modeo and been quite happy I upgraded in 2011 to a Ford Territory as we have a big (five kids) family. We went top of the range with the Titanium so expected top end finish and for it to last. To date we have had endless problems. The tailgate has been replaced twice, the very back seat was faulty had to be replaced. Fans system died,… Read more
sat nav died. Audio system died. Indicator lights on wing mirrors faulty. Most of those issues were covered under warranty. Back in September the warranty ran out and since then:
The fans system has broken down again, sat nav has died again (just black on that screen). All the windows work very occasionally and never smoothly. Can't remember the last time at least one was not on the blink. All the rubber seals have come loose around the tailgate and rear luggage compartment. Breaks have had problems. All in all it has been a disastrous car. For the nearly $60k price tag I would expect a lot lot better. Will never buy Australian or FORD ever again as a result. Cannot wait to get rid of this bucket of nails.
On top of all the problems it feels and drives like a very cheap poorly put together car. I deliberately went top of range as wanted luxury but I look at my car with nothing but absolute hatred now. Waste of money.
2014 Titanium Territory – Had no intention of buying this car, but did the test drive to notch it off the list! We were so impressed with the drive, the space and the performance. We felt we had no choice but to buy it (comparison was to Passat all track, Subaru outback, Skoda superb) price point was great and while it boasts all the mod-cons, it doesn't fluff about with too much unnecessary detail. Good job Ford. Show details
Lovely Family Wagon – The Ford Territory Titanium is a great family wagon. With leather seats, 6 speed sequential Automatic, 2.7 litre Jaguar sourced Diesel, Info centre display, Electric drivers seat and power options galore with Power tailgate. The road feel of the vehicle is really relaxed with just glorious steering and road feel. Power is subtle and comes on… Read more
smoothly with only a hint of engine sound, brakes are excellent. There is also a dvd tv in the back for kids with headphones that comes down from the roof for long hauls. This is a well engineered wagon and its a mighty shame Ford is finished here in Oz ending the production of this well sorted vehicle. Interior fit and finish is excellent and the exterior well built something Ford was not known for 10 to 15 years ago. Excellent family Wagon Still very pricey even for the Petrol 6
What a lemon – Bought a Territory Titanium 2012 and I have had issue after issue... Water entry since day one and has not been resolved after 5 repairs, window malfunction, console malfunction, water entry causing other electrical issues. The car was practically pulled apart and put back together to resolve issue after issue... Not to mention the Ford Motor… Read more
Company has the worst customer service!!!
15 months later and water entry and electrical problems occurring.
I definitely have a 'lemon'. Fuel efficiency, smooth drive Unrepairable Water entry causing electrical issues
What did you do in the end? Where was your water leaking?
SZ Titanium- comfy – Purchased this car about 2 months ago. Really comfortable, drives good, handles well for it's size, the engine is very powerful (we have the 6cyl 4.0L petrol engine) it goes hard when you need it to, but you will pay the price at the pump when you punch it a lot, looked at the diesel model but had a horrible turbo lag, so I prefer to pay the fuel… Read more
costs in rather then the dangerous lag. I manage to get about 350-400kms out of a tank (I have a very heavy right foot) but have got close to 900 kms before. The driving lights are great it looks beast at night, could do with fog lights on the titanium model also. Inside: 3 seat memory helpful, the ICC is pretty good touch screen has some lag but I like it. Sometime the GPS is a bit slow to calculate but works great, you may get 2 'home' or 'back' buttons whilst on GPS mode bit of a glitch. One problem is you can't easily multi task with the ICC. The transmission is smooth the boot is heaps of room, let's hope they weren't as badly built as the previous model, but over all very happy with it. Properly quick for 4wd, comfy, ICC is good touch, styling, boot space Touch screen lag, ford dealers are a bit useless
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Since I wrote this Ford basically said they weren't interested in accepting any responsibility for… Read more