Ford Australia has finally unleashed its “lightly” revised SY Territory Mark II, which features styling changes, minor model revisions and slightly improved fuel consumption on rear-wheel-drive models.
The new look was shown to the public back at the Melbourne International Motor Show in March and is now moving into showrooms.
Territory is currently struggling to make sales numbers and the once darling of the medium SUV market is now running fourth in the sales race, behind Toyota’s Prado and Kluger, and Holden’s Korean-sourced Captiva.
The Territory was a Ford Australia success story after its 2004 introduction, with its not overtly bush-bashing styling and urban friendly functionality, which included a highly successful RWD model.
From a peak of 23,454 sales in 2005 its sales have slowly declined to a total of 12,882 units in 2008.
Ford’s fight back is mild if nothing else, with no major mechanical changes, although some powertrain revisions have yielded slight fuel consumption savings.
A revised model line-up for the SY Territory MkII range consists of the TX, TS and Ghia models, in rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations, along with the Ghia Turbo AWD – the Territory Turbo model will no longer be offered.
Major design changes include an all-new bonnet, with a complementary new front bumper, upper and lower grilles, new headlamps and a new fog lamp bezel.
Body coloured bumpers and door cladding, new body coloured door handles, new chrome belt moulding, revised tail lamps and body coloured exterior mirrors are also part of the new exterior package.
The interior of the new Territory has also received a significant freshening, with new seat materials, colour finishes and trim highlights on all models, along with the choice of two new interior environments on TS and Ghia.
Additional equipment and features are now fitted as standard on the new look SY Territory MkII range, further improving its competitiveness in the hotly contested Medium SUV segment, as well as delivering a compelling value-for-money proposition for customers.
Territory TX now comes standard with side curtain airbags, cruise control, 17-inch alloy wheels and a full body colour package for the bumpers, door handles and mirrors.
Territory TS is also fitted with the full body colour package, along with a reverse parking camera, front fog lamps, leather-wrapped steering wheel, handbrake and gearshift, and a third row seat as standard.
Ghia models also gain a third row seat as standard equipment, along with an Alpine rear DVD system, side steps, rear privacy glass and 18-inch alloy wheels, while the Ghia Turbo picks up the same list of additions and a new alloy wheel design (18-inch wheels are already standard fitment on the top-of-the-line Territory model).
CarAdvice will have First Steer impressions of the revised Ford Territory and the revised Ranger pickup range on Wednesday, after an initial drive of the new models.
Recommended retail pricing* for the new look SY Territory MkII range:
Model Drivetrain Transmission RRP
Territory TX RWD 4-speed auto $39,490
Territory TS RWD 4-speed auto $44,490
Territory Ghia RWD 4-speed auto $52,490
Territory TX AWD 6-speed auto $44,490
Territory TS AWD 6-speed auto $49,490
Territory Ghia AWD 6-speed auto $57,490
Territory Ghia Turbo AWD 6-speed auto $66,420
