Ford Territory Trend 1.8L 7AT (2025) Review

Introduction

Right, so here’s the straight-up truth facing Ford dealers and beyond: the Ford Territory Trend 1.8L 7AT is a solid pick for anyone after a nicely specced, comfortable medium SUV for daily school runs, that family Midlands dash, or a long haul down the N3. Just don’t ask it to take on the Toyota Fortuner at the things that actually made the Fortuner a legend. Nobody’s buying a Fortuner because it’s the last word in infotainment. But for the 95% of us who’ll live with our SUV on tar, the Territory is easily the most convincing Chinese-built Ford yet to hit South Africa, and that matters.

Key takeaway: The Territory Trend is tailor-made for suburban families who stick to tarmac. If you need to tow, face gravel, or squeeze in seven, the Fortuner still rules the roost.

Design & Exterior

Front-end attitude

Those early press pictures didn’t do the Territory any favours. But park one next to a Haval H6 or a Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, and the Trend’s presence starts to click. That full-width LED light bar? Volvo will charge you a holiday’s worth for it on the XC60, but here it comes standard, smack in the middle of Ford’s range. That’s a proper win.

Stance and proportions

No fuss, no fake toughness. Five doors, chunky alloys, and wheel arches that don’t look like an afterthought. The rear three-quarter is a bit bland, sure, but at night, those brake lights actually look sharp. Where the Fortuner’s all business with its ladder-frame attitude, the Territory is unashamedly a city SUV, and that’s the point.

Cabin & Practicality

Materials and physical controls

This is where the Territory does its best work. You get two huge screens, but Ford’s left you real buttons for volume and actual steering wheel controls - unlike the Tiggo 7 Pro, which seems hellbent on touching everything. The synthetic leather trim is well put together, not shiny or cheap. Quick story: my partner, who’s fussy to the point of legend about seat comfort, spent two hours in the passenger seat and didn’t complain once. That’s a first.

Space and the seven-seat question

Let’s kill the seven-seat fantasy upfront. There isn’t a third row - not even a token one. If you need to haul three kids and a grandmother to a family braai, you’ll still want the Fortuner’s jump seats. But for the rest of us, the Territory’s boot space is generous. Wide opening, low loading lip, flat floor with the parcel shelf pulled out. I’ve managed to fit two adult mountain bikes (front wheels off) for a trip, no sweat. The rear bench offers proper recline, gets its own air vents and USB-C ports, and three adults across the back won’t be threatening mutiny after a slog through traffic.

• Twin 12.3-inch screens, still with a physical volume dial
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, even in the Trend
• Rear seat air vents, dual USB-C charging, and a panoramic sunroof are standard
• Reclining 60/40 split rear seat

On the Road

Powertrain manners

The 1.8 EcoBoost (138 kW) with its Magna/Getrag 7-speed wet-clutch DCT looks good on paper. In reality? Two sides. At 120 km/h on the freeway, the DCT sits in seventh at 2 000 rpm - nearly silent. But give it the beans to overtake, and the gearbox hesitates, hunting for a gear. You want a Fortuner’s torque converter for that job, not this DCT.

Ride, refinement and the stop-start gripe

Here’s a pleasant surprise: the Territory’s ride is plusher than Tucson’s and shrugs off the patched-up lumps of back roads better than a Haval H6. On the freeway, road noise is well contained; wind noise is what you’ll notice first, not the engine. But the engine stop-start? Annoying. It’ll cut out just as you’re inching off the brake at the traffic light, then shudder awake through the DCT. I switched it off after 30 minutes and left it off for good.

Real-world fuel

Ford claims 7.0 L/100 km combined. My average over a week - half, highways, half city, was 8.6 L/100 km. That’s a real-world gap you need to budget for. Fuel costs are a big deal in this segment, especially with the price of 95 octane climbing faster than toll fees.

Data & Comparison

The numbers that count

Pricing and ownership

The Ford Territory price in South Africa, specifically, the Trend 1.8L 7AT, puts it well below the cheapest auto Fortuner. You’re saving R55 000 versus a 2.4 GD-6 4x2 auto, and a whopping R175 000 compared to a Fortuner 2.8 GD-6. That’s not a rounding error in the R650k bracket.

• Five-year TCO estimate: R230 000 (fuel, service, tyres, insurance - finance not included)
• Observed fuel use: 8.6 L/100 km on test; 7.0 L/100 km claimed
• Service plan: Standard Ford SA package. Whether you’re in George or Giyani, there’s a dealer nearby

Pricing is the secret weapon here. It undercuts all the Japanese and Korean monocoque rivals on value, and you’re buying from an actual Ford dealer - no grey imports, no fly-by-night. The Ford Territory finance in South Africa is as straightforward as it gets: banks are offering prime-linked deals, nothing sneaky. Resale? Still an unknown, since this second-gen Territory only landed in April 2024, so don’t stretch your residual if you’re used to Fortuner numbers.

Segment trend

SUVs are still the country’s darlings - our latest data says demand is north of 70%, well ahead of crossovers and miles ahead of MPVs. Bakkies, especially the Hilux and Ranger, are still untouchable (mid-60s). No wonder Toyota keeps selling Fortuners faster than you can say “KZN holiday traffic.”

Editorial Focus

Is the Ford Territory better than the Fortuner?

Every Ford dealer has already fielded this one. Here’s the real answer: they’re totally different cars that just overlap on price.

The Ford Territory vs Fortuner scenario comes down to your priorities. The Territory is quicker on tar, quieter at 120 km/h, handles potholes with less drama, comes loaded with spec for less money, and its tech is lightyears ahead. Two big screens, wireless CarPlay, panoramic roof, ventilated seats - that’s Fortuner 2.8 VX money, and you’ll still get a dashboard that looks ready for a 2015 rerun.

But the Fortuner’s trump cards are real. Towing? 2 800–3 100 kg braked, versus 1 310 kg for the Territory. That’s a chasm. Low-range, ladder-frame, built in Prospecton, seven seats, proper clearance - you aim for the Kgalagadi in a Fortuner without breaking a sweat. A Territory will get you down a gravel, but don’t expect miracles.

So, is the Territory better? For tar-bound, five-seat families who don’t tow or need seven seats, yes - and by a fair stretch. But if towing, off-roading, or a third row are must-haves, the Fortuner is still the only answer.

Verdict

Who should not

If you’re towing over 1 310 kg, want seven seats, go 4x4ing on the regular, or hate even a hint of DCT lag, the Fortuner is the only sensible answer. Its premium makes sense for those needs.