Marking Territories: A long weekend with the Ford Territory

Ford Philippines has seen continuous success ever since they introduced their entry into the compact SUV segment, the Territory, seeing over 25,000 unit sales since the nameplate was introduced in 2020. No wonder wherever you go, you’ll likely see one on the road.

I’m sure Ford enjoyed their year with the Territory’s success, I enjoyed it too and since it’s holiday season, parties are happening left and right.

And for one December long weekend it was time for a small annual gathering with my friends to celebrate in advance the holiday season, which we can also now call party season. For that, the top-of-the-line Ford Territory Titanium X was my choice of vehicle. We’ll be taking it everywhere for the weekend and see how it does as a daily car.

Day 1 – An event and a thanksgiving party

The first thing I had to do was to attend an event from a carmaker showcasing their lineup of hybrid electric vehicles. Its venue would be about a fifteen minute drive from my place, meaning we would have a short city drive time with the Territory.

Once in our parking space, I can’t help but notice how good the current generation Ford Territory looks. It also helps a lot that another unit was parked right next to our tester. The front fascia leans towards aggressive with the sleek split LED daytime running lights and headlights, with the large front grille. Also noticeable is how much larger this Territory is now compared to the previous generation. This being the Titanium X had larger 19-inch alloy wheels to set it apart from the lower variant.

Inside, it’s now so much more modern and premium than the previous generation. The dark gray and ivory interior color scheme feels very upmarket, matched with high quality soft-touch materials and faux leather and wood surfaces everywhere. We also have dual 12.3-inch screens for the driver’s instrument cluster and infotainment system which are also much better than in the previous generation. Ford has basically elevated the Territory and they’ve done a very good job at that.

After a quick drive, you’ll feel how much improved the Territory is to drive. For starters, the dual-clutch transmission is smoother than from most vehicles sourced from China. It’s still not the smoothest but it’s fine as it is. Power delivery is also really good with minimal delays which helps when driving in traffic.

Steering feel has also been improved with a slight bit more weight, making it perfect for city driving. It’s very light, but it still provides a decent amount of feedback. Ride quality is also pretty good, absorbing most road imperfections pretty well.

_{First agenda of the day was to attend an event by another car brand.}

In addition, parking the Ford Territory is extremely easy despite its now larger size as it is equipped with parking sensors all around, as well as a 360-degree around-view monitor with very crisp and clear graphics. For those who have difficulty parking, a self-parking feature is also equipped though I’d rather just park the vehicle myself to save a few seconds.

Highway Driving

From the event, I had to leave early to head to my hometown Angeles City in the province of Pampanga, about 100 kilometers north of Metro Manila, to attend my cousin’s thanksgiving party after she passed her Physician Licensure Exam. This meant an almost full drive on the expressway, which the Territory marks with no problem.

All Ford Territory variants are powered by a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged gasoline engine, a carry-over from the previous generation. It does have an increased output of 160 horsepower and 248 Nm of torque, now mated to a 7-speed (wet) dual-clutch transmission, instead of a CVT.

One of the biggest improvements that Ford has done here is highway performance for sure. Just like inside the city, power delivery is good, allowing you to get up to speed with minimal effort. Overtaking power is commendable and steering feel on the highway tightens up to give you better stability at high speeds.

_{The Ford Territory did very well on the highway.}

Highway driving is the real test of a vehicle’s NVH insulation and the Ford Territory isn’t too bad here as well. Road noise is a bit more than I expected but it’s in no way bothersome, and is only present at higher speeds. Wind noise is almost non-existent which is good as that could sound annoying when loud. You can also tell that the Territory’s interior is well-built as there are no unnecessary creaks and rattles in the cabin. Built Ford Tough? Yes.

The Morong Twisties

After a sumptuous feast with my family, I had to rush to Morong, Bataan for an overnight Christmas gathering with college friends. My route this time would involve about 30 minutes of highway driving, and the rest through the mountains of Bataan, specifically the Morong Twisties.

_{I was immediately greeted by traffic mess as soon as I exited our village in Angeles City.}

I’ve driven the Morong twisties of Bataan a couple of times, all during media drives hosted by other brands. Never did I think that the first car I would bring alone to what is one of the most popular routes for driving enthusiasts in the province was gonna be a crossover, the Ford Territory made me not regret it at all. This brings us back to handling.

Ford has done a lot to improve how the Ford Territory performs in terms of handling, from the perfectly light steering I mentioned earlier, to how it performs on twisty roads. Once I entered the first set of twisties, I went to the infotainment and switched on Mountain Mode, which I wanted to try out. What is it for? Well, probably for driving on…mountains.

What I particularly liked is how it felt planted on tighter corners which I did have to take with extra caution as it was dark. The deserted roads did allow me to have some fun so there is that, and the Territory did not disappoint at all. Also, the vehicle’s automatic high beam feature which turns on the high beams when there are no oncoming vehicles works pretty well compared to other vehicles which do not function even in total darkness.

Celebrating Friendship

After about an hour and a half of driving in the dark, guided only by the Territory’s headlights, I finally made it to our accommodation for the night, RAFA Beach Villas & Resort in Morong, Bataan which we had to ourselves. My friends already arrived earlier in the day as their schedules were more free than mine. Thankfully, I didn’t really miss out much.

_{The Ford Territory I borrowed together with my friends’ cars.}

To my surprise, the place was actually quite nice. I was expecting a typical small provincial beach house but this gave me luxury resort vibes. The villa we had features two bedrooms on the first floor, with a small kitchen as well as a dining and living area, all facing the pool. The second floor then has another two rooms. All of which are very well appointed.

The villa is then surrounded by a huge garden with plenty of tables to chill with friends, and has direct access to the beach which unfortunately I was not able to try out. Still, it was a good place to have some rest and to hang out with friends.

After I settled down, it was time to have a fun evening. We played some board games, had some drinks of course, and a tradition during our Christmas gatherings—a game of Werewolf which is one of our all-time favorites. We also tried to enjoy a bonfire which proved a mistake with the tropical beach weather at the time. After all that, it was time to call it a night.

Appreciating the Territory

Once the sun rose, I took the opportunity to get some more shots of the Territory, and boy does it really look good.

_{Our accommodation was located along Morong, Bataan’s beach.}

Culinary Capital of the Philippines

After check-out, we decided to head to Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, the province known as the culinary capital of the Philippines, for some lunch. After yet another comfortable drive, we found ourselves at Chef Samurai, a Japanese restaurant located at the Clark Parade Grounds. Here we were treated to some affordable meals, pretty much anything you’d want from Japan, but cheaper.

_{Chef Samurai in Clark, Pampanga offers affordable but very tasty Japanese food.}

As my friends went back to Metro Manila, I stayed behind and had some more time in Pampanga. That night, I drove to Meteor Garden, a Chinese barbeque restaurant which I frequent when I’m in the area. This one is on the pricier side but it’s definitely a must-try when you’re in Angeles City. It’s worth every peso.

_{A Chinese-built Ford at a Chinese restaurant.}

_{Meteor Garden’s barbeque sticks are a favorite.}

The next morning, it was time to head back to the metro, but not without getting a good cup of coffee first. That’s why we headed to Porch Coffee which is located around the Clark Parade Grounds, just a short walk from Chef Samurai. This is one place I always go to, nearly every weekend as I love the ambiance of the place, and their coffee which is not just your usual cup from mainstream coffee shops. The place offers a relaxing respite from the city life just a few kilometers from its location.

_{Porch Coffee in Clark, Pampanga is my go-to place for good coffee and relaxation.}

_{A glass of espresso+oat milk and a plate of Kimchi Grilled Cheese sandwich is my favorite weekend brunch combination.}

_{The place offers relaxation with the surrounding greenery.}

And with the long weekend coming to a close, one thing I hate is driving in heavy traffic on the expressway. To avoid it, it was now time to head back to Metro Manila, before the long weekend travelers began their exodus back into the country’s center of business.

_{Getting ready to head back to Metro Manila.}

One thing first though, we need to bring some stuff, specifically a chair, and the Territory helps us do that with ease thanks to its not so tall loading height, and flat-folding second row of seats which helps us expand the already large amount of cargo space by more than double.

_{My brother had no difficulty loading the heavy chair into the Ford Territory’s cargo area.}

_{Cargo space is abundant inside the Ford Territory.}

More Fuel Efficient

In total, I had six days with the Ford Territory Titanium X. The first two days just had it parked at home. In total, in the four days I drove it, I was able to achieve a combined fuel economy of 11 km/l which is pretty good considering how much I drove, and the different road conditions I tackled with the vehicle. Yet again another huge improvement compared to the previous generation which had some owners complaining how much they had to spend on fuel.

It sells well for a reason

The Ford Territory Titanium X is priced at Php 1,599,000 (pricing starts at Php 1,290,000 for the Titanium) which is quite the jump compared to the previous generation. Still despite that, I feel that it is worth every bit of money you can spend.

_{Old or new, the Ford Territory is EVERYWHERE.}

The Territory is one of Ford Philippines’ bestselling models, specifically the second after the Ranger. It had several sales achievements ever since the nameplate was first introduced and I believe will continue to be that way as long as it’s here.

Ford did their homework with this new generation. It’s not perfect, but it gives you everything you need, everything you want, and then some, for a price that does not break the bank. Exactly why it’s so popular. It marked its territory very well.