Ford Territory, Toyota Prado, Mazda CX-7, Subaru Outback, Ford Falcon Ute video reviews | CarAdvice

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Ford Territory, Toyota Prado, Mazda CX-7, Subaru Outback, Ford Falcon Ute video reviews

By Tim Beissmann |

CarAdvice today brings you another five expert video reviews from the SUV and Utility segments, rounding out a week of reviews including the light and small segments and the medium and large categories.


We start with the Ford Territory, a vehicle that is due to be replaced in April by a significantly updated model.

The Territory is available from $39,890 to $57,890, although with the new model around two months away you could expect to get considerably better prices from dealers looking to move on the outgoing model.

Territory sales were a highlight for Ford Australia in 2010, with the vehicle up 6.2 percent compared with 2009 to 11,558 units.

Those numbers placed it in third position overall in the medium SUV segment, behind the two offerings from Toyota – the Kluger and the top-selling Prado.

 

 

 


 

The Prado controls the segment, with a 22.9 percent market share in 2010, although in the first month of 2011, that slipped to 18.4 percent as the Kluger and the Holden Captiva 7 made up ground.

The Prado was Toyota Australia’s fifth-highest-selling vehicle last year, behind Corolla, HiLux, Camry and Yaris. Prado prices range from $55,990 to $88,904.

 

 

 


 

Dropping down a size is the Mazda CX-7, Mazda Australia’s third-most popular vehicle behind the Mazda2 and Mazda3.

The CX-7 was fourth in the compact SUV market in 2010, behind the Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4 and the Nissan X-Trail. Mazda sold CX-7s, up 115.5 percent thanks to the introduction of the entry-level Classic and the Diesel Sports variants late in 2009.

CX-7 prices range from $33,990 to $45,990.

 

 

 


 

Also fighting it out in the compact SUV segment is the Subaru Outback. The Outback is among the minority in the category as it is a wagon rather than a traditional SUV shape.

In 2010, Subaru sold 5766 Outbacks, an increase of 55.2 percent compared with 2009. Outback prices start at $37,990 and range to $48,490 for the 3.6R Premium.

 

 

 


 

Finally we have the Ford Falcon Ute, the traditional Australian sedan-based workhorse.

The Ute represents great value if getting a Falcon badge is all you care about. The base model Falcon Ute costs $31,095 while the $44,190 six-speed automatic XR6 Turbo offers just about the best bang for your buck available in Australia.

Falcon Ute sales fell away more than 25 percent in 2010 (double the decline of the 4×2 pick-up segment), with just 9,099 sold for the year. Falcon Ute sales trailed the Toyota HiLux and the Holden Utility in 2010, and January 2011 was a similar story.


 
  • http://holden paulb

    Ford Falcon make a great ute

  • Jeremy

    Can I hear you say “contrived”?

  • Andrew M

    I think the Auto on the Falcon ute in an option, not the manual as stated

  • Baddass

    John: “Is the Falcon Ute still a good proposition for tradies?”
    Paul: ” Yeah, the ute has that certain styling aspect to it.”
    I think you missed the point of the question there Paul!

    • http://holden paulb

      My BA my 3rd Falcon Ute.Looking at FG now,also like the SSV+SV6 Commodore ute

  • http://caradvice OSU811

    I agree with most of the review on the Outback exept for some of the comments on the diesel model!
    I find the new 6sp manual (cable operated) gearbox to be a bit long and clunky, compared to the old models 5sp manual and especially compared to the fantastic STI 6sp manual box.
    Also the diesel of the mark and at low revs can be a little laggy, until its revving between 2000-4000rpm where it is a sweet engine!

  • Joe

    Hi Paul,

    Regarding your comments on the Territory’s fuel economy, are you saying that people who buy a Mazda CX9, Toyota Kluger and Prado petrol, Subaru Tribeca and Holden Captiva V6 don’t care about fuel economy, but those who are considering a petrol Territory,should be concerned?

    All of these other vehicles have similar economy to a Territory so why single out the Territory?

    And as far as your comments about the Territory Diesel almost being too late, where does that leave the Kluger, CX9 and Tribecca? These cars don’t even have a Diesel on the horizon!

    • Andrew M

      Good statement,

      It is often stated that high economy is accepted if a vehicle has good performance, but I recon that should be extended to larger vehcles.
      It was also stated that the Territory uses about 6L too much, but that would put the Territory into sub 6L/100K.

      Noone expects the economy of a Fiesta in a vehicle like the Territory. People who buy an SUV will make a compromise on economy to gain some practical space or performance

      Perspective sure needs to be adressed

    • nickdl

      Exactly. All of these cars you mentioned actually use more in the real world because they don’t get the same amount of torque low-down as the Territory. The Tribeca, Kluger and CX9 don’t come with diesel options either. From day one it’s been a criticism of the Territory and it’s hardly justified. Honestly guys, the car’s not perfect, surely there’s something else you can find that’s wrong with it???

      Drive the Territory properly and it’s great on fuel considering its size and performance. From city driving our AWD Ghia gets around 13.5L/100km and on the highway that drops to about 9-10L/100km.

  • Smoov

    The Prado only seats 7 Bums, not 8 (the last series 120 seated 8). As for the petrol/diesel argument, I went with the petrol, it’s smoother and much more powerful. Ok, I’m up for a few hundred extra dollars per year, I can live with that.

    • Andrew M

      But you would have saved more than a few hundred on purchase price right??

      • Smoov

        Rrp of the petrol GXL is $1000 less than the diesel, plus Toyota had a national deal that was a couple of k better again. In the end, with some arm twisting, I got the deal including tow bar, mats and metallic paint, for just under 58k drive away. I’ve got friends that paid 68k and 72k for the same things in the diesel GXL nearly a year ago. BTW, they are not that happy with the sluggishness of the diesel.

        In the USA, the prado sells as a Lexus, albeit in a spec much higher than the kakadu. It has a diesel V8 and sells for around 55k. Can’t for the life of me work out the sums of how that can be.

        • Andrew M

          What Im getting at is you are still saving money on the petrol.

          If it costs you $300 more per year in fuel, after 3 years you are still ahead

  • ab

    Why do some people winge about the age of the Ford/psa 2.7 v6? Who cares how old it is….. it is still highly competitive! Remember its smaller displacement than a prado diesel yet is still more powerful! And regarding the petrol territory fuel consumption, I’ve driven kluger and cx9 and they were no better!

    • Bond

      Ab – So True.
      If you can afford there is nothing better than ford.

  • Keroke

    Kluger IMO is best in this segment..

  • colin

    I do not understand why you call the v6 in the new Territory an aging engine, it is the same age as the Alloytec in the current Holden Commodore. (both being produced in 2004) Sure, there is an upgraded version available (at a much higher cost)but it is not an old engine by manufacturing standards

  • Brett

    Why people would buy Australian over Korean or Japanese is beyond me. The Kia Sorento is a much better built car than the Territory or Captiva and with a cracker of a diesel engine that gets down to low 6s on the freeway in relation to fuel economy. The Koreans are bringing out so many quality cars now that the Japanese must even be getting worried.

  • Mike k

    Well i want to buy a suv but I have confusion in Territory, CX 7, Kluger and Captiva any suggesions?

  • Jon Shaw

    I read and read but still cant decide between an outlander activ or a maazda cx7. I am nnot sure about the negative feedback I hear about cx7 and its fuel hingry performance – over the outlander. I need help want to purchase in two two days.

  • terry

    i feel the ford territory is the better vehicle i drive a toyota and have driven many a territory and they are far better go ford .

  • Allan

    Great review guys. First time i’ve visited your website and very impressed.

  • TMC

    Fit an Orbital Liquid LPG Injection kit to your Territory and you’ll have a 200+ kW Territory with the running cost of a Toyota Prius. That’s what I did to my 2006 TS and it’s picked up low down torque to boot. (LLi can increase torque by around 10% so that puts the Barra 190 engine at around 420+ Nm of torque from below 2000 all the way out to 5000 rpm, which is like performance V8 statistics from 10-15 years ago and from running on LPG!!!!!). No advantage to the Diesel Territory to a Liquid Injected LPG Territory in my opinion. Have a look at the Eco LLi Falcon which makes more power than the petrol equivalent using an Orbital Liquid Injection LPG system. Why ever run on petrol or diesel.

  • TMC

    Comparing the petrol fuel efficiency of the Territory with the Falcon and smaller cars is just not fair on the Territory. I think people are naturally doing this because it has a Falcon drivetrain. At the end of the day it is around 500-600kg heavier than a Falcon!!!!!, so you can’t expect it to have the same fuel efficiency. It’s against the laws of the universe. The territory should be compared with other cars more in it’s league. The Mitsubishi Pajero 3.8L V6 chews 15.6L/100km (and has much less power and torque) and the 4.8L Nissan Patrol which has less power chews through 18+L/100km. The SY AWD Territory at 12.3L/100km doesn’t look so bad in comparison. My TS AWD Territory around town can get down to 11.8L/100km. Add Liquified LPG and your into Prius running costs with the AWD Territory. I know what I’d rather have.

  • http://www.adnoke.com Adnoke Cars

    You could definitely see your expertise in the work you write. The sector hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. All the time go after your heart.

  • Trkfrd

    I HATE HOW PEOPLE CALL THE FORDS 4.0 INLINE 6 A V6 WHEN ITS NOT!

    • thunderarrow

      second that!! Its a straight in-line 6 cylinder. theres no V configuation, I havent seen a Korean car yet that would beat an AU ute for towing and hauling close too a tonne in the tray, so thats why i’d buy Australian over korean. i can understand the argument for Japanese now days thou. then it comes too preferance. the only thing i think the falcon ute could do better is too have a diesel (ute only) with four wheel drive option and extra clearance. alot of farmers would love these things if they had it. thou I’m happy with my trayback falcon. doesnt miss a beat

  • Fred

    the fg xt picksups 430-440Nm of torque from as little as 1100rpm and over 215kW of power with Liquid Gas Injection

  • Lil_auzzie_08

    Which would be a better car to buy a ford territory or a madza cx7