- Doors and Seats
5 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
4.0T, 6 cyl.
- Engine Power
245kW, 480Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 14.2L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4WD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Ford Territory Turbo Ghia
Come in, spinner
From its launch in 2004, the locally built Ford Territory has been a raging success, shooting straight to the top of the SUV sales pile.
This year there has been a tailing off in demand as the rise in petrol prices hits hard. But the Territory has continued to be the biggest seller.
Now comes the Territory Turbo, which is designed to sit at the top of the range in pricing, performance and equipment. It taps into the luxury SUV segment, the only category not in a sales slump.
Ford believes the Turbo will add about 10 per cent to Territory's annual sales, so maybe 2000 will go out a year. It's a niche model, then; a couple of years ago when the Turbo was in development, expectations would have been higher. But petrol was less than $1 a litre.
It means tapping into the Turbo's most obvious new feature - higher performance capability - becomes an expensive proposition.
If you are prepared to be light on the throttle, the 14.2 L/100 km fuel consumption claim is achievable and maybe even beatable. We managed 13.3 L/100 km for a tank of ULP.
But if you're going to drive the Territory Turbo that way, why buy it? Under the bonnet sits the wonderful Barra 245T 4.0-litre straight six, lifted from the XR6 Turbo sports sedan. With 245 kW and 480 Nm, it outranks the standard Territory engine by 55 kW and a massive 97 Nm.
Running on premium unleaded fuel, it produces acceleration that will outdo the Porsche Cayenne S and match the BMW X5 4.8is V8 super-SUV (according to independent Australian testing).
The Territory Ghia Turbo tested here is priced at $65,490. That's at least $60,000 cheaper than either of the Euros. You're keeping a large wedge of cash in your pocket by choosing the local product.
Which is just as well, because a fair whack of the savings will be poured down the fuel filler if you regularly stretch Territory Turbo's considerable abilities.
Some enthusiastic driving - the sort you might expect a buyer of this vehicle to indulge in - produced fuel consumption hovering in the 20 L/100 km range. Hard to avoid in an all-wheel-drive wagon that weighs more than 2.1 tonnes.
This prospect will put off many potential buyers. Some will wait for the turbo-diesel - a variant Ford has confirmed is under development. Others will look elsewhere. But those who do choose the Territory Turbo and have the ability - and willingness - to fund its thirst, will adore it.
All the fundamentals of the standard Territory are there: conservative good looks, an excellent interior, space and composed ride and handling.
Ford has overhauled the car's dynamics, too - one-inch bigger 18-inch tyres and wheels, taller front springs, recalibrated dampers and bigger front brakes allow the Turbo to harness the extra power.
And because the Turbo only comes as an all-wheel-drive, its ability to hook up and go is exceptional. With the beautifully tuned stability control system switched on or off, acceleration is wheelspin-free and awesomely quick.
The Turbo also gets Ford's excellent ZF six-speed automatic transmission that adapts gear changes to the driver's style of motoring.
The bonnet scoop gives away one of the biggest changes - placing the intercooler atop the engine. This was primarily done to avoid damage in an off-road adventure - although this is not a vehicle in which to attempt anything too challenging.
Dual chrome outlets hint at another technical change - a new exhaust. Unfortunately, the noise that emerges from those pipes isn't at all interesting, particularly under acceleration.
It's something that undermines the Ghia's presentation as a luxury vehicle. More questionable is the extra $11,500 charged compared with the standard Turbo. Ghia gets no mechanical advantage, instead adding leather trim, six-way rather than four-way powered driver's seat, six-CD audio, climate control, side curtain airbags and a colour screen connected to a reversing camera.
The two cars share a diamond mesh grille, 18-inch alloys (painted for Turbo, machined for Ghia), comfortable front semi-sports seats and unique headrests.
For both, the excellent third-row seat remains an option.
Most importantly, they share the same performance ability. If you can afford the fuel, you'll love the feel.
What's it got?
- Reverse sensing and camera
- Alloy wheels
- Full-sized spare
- Dual-zone climate control
- Colour TFT media screen
- Leather trim
- Powered driver's seat
- Trip computer
- Cruise control
- Remote central locking
- Multifunction steering wheel
- Fog lights
- Six-CD audio system
What's missing?
- Powered front passenger seat