China-Sourced Ford Territory Compact SUV Arriving In PH This August

Ford Philippines has officially announced that it will bring in the Ford Territory compact crossover SUV this August. Ford says that the Philippines is the first market in the company’s International Market Group (IMG)–which is composed of nearly 100 markets around the world, to offer the all-new Ford Territory.

Measuring at 4,580 mm long, 1,936 mm wide, and 1,674 mm tall, the Ford Territory is smack right in the compact crossover SUV category in the likes of the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, and Subaru Forester. Styling-wise, the Territory has a slim grille that’s flanked by equally-slim headlights. It also has a striking blacked-out D-pillar that gives the Territory a floating roof effect.

Step inside, and you’ll see a wide interior layout that features a predominantly horizontal layout. The dashboard is finished in padded soft-touch materials, while an interesting interior decor runs across the dashboard. Look carefully at the infotainment system, and you’ll notice that it does not feature Ford’s SYNC3 system, and that’s because deep inside the mechanicals of the Ford Territory lies an interesting story.

The Ford Territory’s history is actually quite colorful. The model that will be offered here in the Philippines is the Chinese version. While it shares the same name as the discontinued Australian version, the two SUVs share nothing but the name. It may be badged as a Ford vehicle, but deep inside, the Territory is actually a rebadged version of the Yusheng S330, which is a small crossover SUV developed by Ford’s joint venture partner JMC. Interestingly, the Yusheng S330 also shares a lot in common with the Landwind X7, which was recently discontinued because Jaguar Land Rover filed a case against the company and won due to the X7’s copycat styling from the Range Rover Evoque.

The powertrain of the Ford Territory is also interesting. While its badging may suggest that it’s powered by Ford’s signature EcoBoost engine, the Territory is actually powered by a Mitsubishi-sourced 4G15 1.5-liter inline-4 turbocharged gasoline engine. This engine produces 163 hp with power being sent to the front or all four wheels via a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic.

The compact and subcompact crossover SUV segment is recently seeing a boom from automakers left and right–with most of them being sourced from China. It’s interesting to see how Ford Philippines’ latest offering stacks up against the competition once it is launched this August. Customers can now sign up for exclusive updates and product details on the all-new Ford Territory by visiting www.ford.com.ph/kmipage/.