I’ll be honest, I wasn’t really a fan of the Ford Territory. I always felt that, for all its popularity and sales success, it lacked something. I believed that the platform and nameplate could be more complete and offer more than the blue oval badge.
When they launched the hybrid, I perked up. Finally, here’s the missing ingredient. I recently got my hands on it after people hyped it up to me.
2026 Ford Territory Hybrid Titanium X Exterior
The current design of the Territory is actually very good. I like how Ford ditched the round “egg” shaped design that aged so poorly. In its place is a square and sharper modern look. I also like the updated front fascia design that has a continuous light bar connecting both headlamps. A neat trick is that the Ford emblem actually lights up, which took some time for me to get used to.
Overall its clean and palatable, nothing out of this world, it blends modern cues with very subtle character lines, much better than the first generation “bull-frog” look.
Interior
Inside, it remains pretty much the same compared to the pre-hybrid facelift. It has an integrated cluster and infotainment screen. Both are massive at 12 inches in terms of size, giving off a seamless look, it has some of the best resolution screens despite the size, and the response is decent during operation. It comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, and cooled front seats.
The rear has air conditioning vents, two USB-C charging ports, and a direct view of the panoramic sunroof. What makes the Territory great, though, is the sheer space. In terms of leg room and headroom, I think the Territory wins against all competitors; there’s just so much space that I reckon they could fit a third row at the back if they really wanted to.
Performance and Safety
The engine is a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline unit that makes 150 Ps paired with a lithium-ion battery pack hybrid system making 218 Ps. Transmission is a 2-speed Dedicated Hybrid Automatic Transmission (DHT) with a Rotary e-Shifter.
Safety comes in the form of a complete ADAS system. Ford has also improved the responsiveness and smoothness.
Driving Impressions
My first impression of driving the Territory is the size; it feels long and wide. The hood dominates the front view, giving you the impression of length, and the width also makes itself apparent. It’s the only crossover I’ve ever driven that doesn’t want to feel small and nimble, leaning into its “American” roots despite it being an Asian model Ford.
Next is the smoothness of the hybrid system; most hybrids, even these days, have the tendency to be loud and rough when switching from EV mode to gasoline. The Territory does it rather smoothly in a standstill, only getting a little louder, but barely any vibrations. It’s even smoother when driving; you’d be hard-pressed to know when the engine really turned on. I also noticed how the battery capacity is better than most, taking a long time to engage the engine, you need to be higher up the rev range to get it to switch, ensuring better fuel efficiency.
When it comes to power delivery, it feels linear and honestly really good; it doesn’t struggle at all and gives you the right torque at the right time. Overtaking is a breeze, which is an achievement given the heft of this car. The ride too is very good, I think the long wheelbase helped out, but the suspension is well tuned to Metro Manila plus provincial roads, on the highway it’s a straightup crusier.
Fuel efficiency is stellar; a full tank registers at 691 kms, but driving it for a week in mixed conditions, both highway and city, I calculated that the true range of a tank is actually around 900+ kms. Heavy city traffic still gives me 17 km/l, and highway cruising comes in at a very good 20 km/l. A very, very frugal engine.
Points For Improvement
I only have one issue with the Territory, and that’s the rotary shifter. I have always maintained that this type of gear selector is confusing to the point of being frustrating. I don’t see the point. In some cases, I would accidentally shift all the way to Park while trying to go to Reverse because the dial doesn’t have the usual “stopper” in normal shifters.
Call me nitpicky, but try it out for yourself.
Price and Verdict
At PHP 1,599,000, this top-of-the-line variant is very competitively priced. Considering all that you get for it, the package is compelling. Compared to the immediate rivals, it has more space, and it can match SUVs in that aspect as well. If you just want the hybrid and a few fewer features, you can go for the mid-variant at PHP 1,399,000.
Overall, though, I think this is finally what the Territory should always have been, a refined, well-made Crossover. To really sum it all up, it feels like a true Ford, and no longer the wannabe cousin it used to be.
The post Finally Good: Ford Territory Hybrid Titanium X – Review appeared first on YugaAuto: Automotive News & Reviews in the Philippines.