If you’ve been patiently awaiting the arrival of the latest Ford Territory in South Africa, your automotive dreams are about to be fulfilled! In this joyride of an article, we’ll take a side-splitting look at the model that kickstarted the Territory craze in our market and see how it stacks up against the mysterious newcomer just over the horizon.
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The OG Territory: A Falcon with an Identity Crisis
Cue the flashback to 2004 when the Territory burst onto the scene in Australia. Picture this: a mid-size five-door SUV with as many seating configurations as a game of musical chairs at a family reunion. The OG Territory was longer than a CVS receipt at 4,856 mm, wider than your aunt’s hat collection at 1,898 mm, and taller than your aspirations after a third cup of coffee at 1,714 mm. It even borrowed the thirsty 4.0-liter straight-six engine from its cousin, the Ford Falcon, ensuring it could outrun a herd of caffeinated kangaroos.
And did we mention the 9.5 seconds it took for this beast to hit 100 km/h? Impressive, right? That’s faster than most of us can find the TV remote.
The South African Odyssey: TX, Ghia, and a Dash of Falcon Flair
When the Territory migrated to South Africa, it brought along its three musketeers: TX, Ghia, and Falcon’s forgotten lovechild. The TX was your entry-level chariot, bravely offered in rear-wheel-drive format. Meanwhile, the Ghia strutted its stuff as the range-topper, occasionally dabbling in the exotic art of all-wheel-drive without the low-range feature. Because, who needs low range when you’re cruising the urban jungle, right?
Ford SA has kept the new Territory under wraps tighter than your grandma’s Tupperware collection, but word on the street (and the Philippine islands) is that it’s a compact powerhouse. Think 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine—perfect for outrunning traffic and fuel prices.
Inside the OG Beast: Where Plush Meets Pedals
The OG Territory’s interior was more spacious than a VIP lounge at a kangaroo boxing match. Air conditioning? Check. CD player? Double check. Multi-function steering wheel? Because, why settle for a one-trick pony? The top-tier variant threw in auto-dimming mirrors, cruise control, and dual-zone automatic climate control—fancy, right? It even had a park distance control system in the rear, because who doesn’t want to reverse in style?
Presenting the 2023 Territory: High-Tech Havoc on Wheels
Fast forward to the present, and the new Territory is like the OG’s tech-savvy sibling. Picture a panoramic roof, a 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster (because size matters), wireless charging (goodbye, tangled cables), and a 360-degree camera to capture your best angles. Feeling lazy? Let the active park assist do the heavy lifting.
And let’s not forget the buffet of driver assistance systems: adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane departure, lane keeping assist, hill launch assist, and hill descent control. It’s like having a personal chauffeur who moonlights as a superhero.
Price Wars: Then vs. Now
Back in 2005, you could snag an entry-level Territory for R309,500, or go all out with the Ghia AWD for R389,500. Not bad, considering it was up against the Subaru Outback, Volvo XC70, and the mysteriously named SsanYong Rexton. As for the 2023 model, well, the price is as elusive as Bigfoot in a tutu. Stay tuned as we unearth the secrets of the price tag.
Buckle Up for More Territory Tales
So there you have it, a side-splitting journey from the OG Territory to the enigmatic newcomer. Will the latest model live up to its legacy? Only time—and a generous sprinkle of automotive humor—will tell. Stay tuned for updates on the price, specs, and all the juicy details as the Ford Territory returns to reclaim its spot in the South African spotlight!
