Ford Territory. Been around since 2004. Used to sell well but sales have dropped off recently. So what’s different about the new one – and why should I buy one?
Well, to answer the first question, a hell of a lot more than you would think just by looking at it.
Yes there have been changes to the front sheet metal, and to the rear tail-lights, which make the styling very much 2011, but the main changes have been in places you don’t often look – to the suspension, to noise, vibration and harshness suppression, and most importantly, to the inclusion of a 140 kW/440 Nm 2.7-litre V6 intercooled turbo-diesel as also available in the Land Rover Discovery.
Inside, too, TS and Titanium models get a brand-new state-of-the-art multi-media system which is so modern that it operates using iPod/Android principles on a touch screen, making it totally intuitive, but more to the point, upscaleable and upgradeable, while the entry level TX versions get the system out of the latest Falcon.
So back to the million dollar question – should I buy one?
We’ll, if you’re looking for a great seven seater, with road manners and sophistication that match some of the top European players, the new Territory might well be for you.
To steal (and abuse) a line from the Great Bard: “Read on Macduff” The good news is that Ford hasn’t taken away any of the original selling points of the previous Territory, such as its spaciousness (you can seat seven blokes in this one), its versatility (it has a fully-flat load area when both rear seats are folded, enough for you to stretch out in if you need to sleep over), its easy access, a rear reversing camera with 130 degree view, extra power outlets, lockable bins, and so on, plus a big DVD in the back for the kids on the top Titanium models.
Instead, it’s a case of adding more. For instance the six airbags now get a little brother in the shape on a knee air bag for the driver, enhancing its existing Ancap 5-star rating. The stability programme has been upgraded to include rollover mitigation.
I’ve already talked about the new multi-media centre, which includes Bluetooth for both phones and media devices (so in theory your teenagers could play their music over the vehicle’s sound system via their smart phones and Bluetooth – although why you’d be able to stand that is another thing altogether), with plug-in access for iPods, MP3 players and so on also available.
The Territory line-up has also changed for 2011. Gone is the gas-guzzling petrol Turbo. Gone are 4WD petrol versions per se – if you want a 4WD Territory, you’ve got to opt for diesel, in TX, TS, or Titanium variants.
But you CAN still get rear-drive petrol models, with an upgraded (and more economical) 195 kW/391 Nm version of the Ford I-6 engine, again in all three trim variants, as well as now with the diesel, again in both trim levels.
Ford claims massive fuel improvements across the range. For the diesels that means 8.2L/100km overall in rear-wheel drive configuration and 8.8L/100 km for 4WD, rising to 9.0L/100km for the 4WD Titanium model.
The petrol versions, too, have improved considerably with overall fuel consumption at 10.6L/100km down 12 percent compared to the outgoing Territory. As a result, CO2 exhaust output falls 27g/km to 249g/km.
Part of the improvement is courtesy of a new ZF 6-speed automatic transmission with sequential manual shift option, fitted on both petrol and diesel models.
Standard appointments in the base TX include automatic climate control, four-way power-adjustable driver’s seat; power windows and side mirrors, reverse sensing system and an Interior Command Centre (ICC) fitted with a 5.8-inch monochromatic LCD screen which includes integrated controls for a single-CD audio system which supports both iPods and Bluetooth-operated mobile telephones and audio devices. An in-built USB port also allows music files to be played from a USB device. A 3.5-millimetre audio jack is also fitted.
It gets 17 inch alloy wheels.
The TS gains 18-inch alloy wheels; reverse camera, front fog lamps, a different front bumper and the grille painted in satin silver. It also gets the premium ICC with seven-speaker audio system and an eight-inch colour touch screen, as mentioned  

The Titanium replaces the previous Ghia trim and adds 18 inch alloy wheels, a different bumper style, LED front position lamps, Alpine rear DVD entertainment system, black leather seat trim; and an integrated satellite navigation system with a traffic management channel.
I drove all versions on a great mixture of roads outside Canberra on the Australasian launch of the new vehicle, and I was impressed right from the start.
The vehicle looks a lot fresher, and has gained all the way without losing anything.
Part of our route was on really poor back country roads, much-repaired and in places pot-holed, but the Territory sailed over the imperfections.
Despite the fact that we were pressing on at times the vehicle was never thrown off-line, and neither engine impinged.
The last 4WD that felt this good on tar seal was a Porsche Cayenne, which is praise indeed!
On gravel, too, the Territory felt very secure and stable, while the stability programme was not over-intrusive, either, enabling a modicum of balanced driving.
Despite the improvements, Ford hasn’t felt the need to add a hill descent system to the Territory, recognising, perhaps, that this isn’t the sort of vehicle in which people seek out off-road destinations, although it’s a perfect tow vehicle – hence the fact that the diesels are now rated at 2,700kg versus the 2,300 kg of the petrol versions.
Final pricing has not yet been released by Ford New Zealand, which I’m told is trying to get the accountants to sharpen their pencils as much as possible.
However dealers have been given indicative pricing ranging from just under $55,000 for the TS rear-wheel drive petrol through to just under $65,000 for the TS 4WD diesel and less than $70,000 for the top-of-the-range Titanium 4WD diesel. All versions are seven-seaters.
There are no price indicators for the entry-level TX versions, but I’m told these are expected to be very competitive.
And now back to the beginning. Should you buy one? Well I would!