Latest news with #FordTerritory
IOL News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- IOL News
Mom approved: discover why the Ford Territory is our family's new favourite ride
During our time with the Ford Territory, we used it for typical suburban errands, including the twice-daily school run, various extra-curricular activities, and grocery shopping for our large family. Image: Louanne Chamberlain 'What a lovely-looking car!' was my first thought on seeing the Ford Territory that had been delivered while I was out. First impressions were very good; a once-over glance showed a generous cabin size in the back, a well-sized boot, and, in general, the car looked modern yet still suitable for more mature drivers as well as families with children and pets. My opinion So who am I? I am a wife and mom with teenagers still in the home, I run and administrate a business or two, and have a little side hustle going on that requires loading gazebos, tables, chairs and merchandise on random weekends. I am by no means a petrol head, so all the amazing specs on the car will have to be found elsewhere. This is my opinion of the vehicle that I had the pleasure of driving for a week. Driving During our time with the Ford Territory, we used it for typical suburban errands, including the twice-daily school run, various extra-curricular activities, and grocery shopping for our large family. We did two highway runs from the southernmost area of Centurion (I know, I had to go and prove it to Johannesburg Water at their Giskey office many years ago), once to Colbyn, Pretoria North, and then to Elspark, Germiston. In both suburban driving and on the highway, the car handled smoothly, steering was light and responsive, fuel consumption was great, and once I got a handle on the alarms that occasionally sounded (mostly for being too close to another vehicle on initiating an overtake), my driving experience was one to remember. Acceleration and braking were good and handled as one expects them to. What did we really love about the car, you ask? What we didn't like Well, let me first tell you the one thing we did not like, and the two things that were not deal breakers, but we noticed. First, we didn't like the door handles on the inside. If you have larger fingers, you will have to open the door using your fingertip, as the space to put your fingers in the handle to pull on it is too small for a car that is so large and spacious in every other way. The two things that were not deal breakers, but we noticed, suspension over speed bumps is a bit hard, and you feel the bumps more than expected in such a high-end car (we felt it was in the luxury vehicle class). The other thing was that we just could not figure out the boot mechanism from inside the car – sometimes the boot opened when the car was idling, other times we had to switch the car off to get the boot to open. I am sure the boot frustration was operator ignorance, but there you have it. Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading In both suburban driving and on the highway, the car handled smoothly, steering was light and responsive and fuel consumption was great, Image: Louanne Chamberlain What we loved Now, let me share the many things we loved about this car, and I really do mean we LOVED them. The general look of the car is beautiful, modern and sleek. My teenagers felt like royalty arriving at school each day – I was instructed to park where everyone could see them climbing out of the car. The interior was very unexpected, beyond generously spacious. With two drink holders in each door and two in the centre console, it is highly unlikely that anyone should go thirsty. There was an open space under the gear mechanisms/buttons in the front cabin that could hold a couple of "Harry Potter" books, then there was a tray for keys and wallets, with another compartment behind it that could hold a large handbag – this is a bonus safety feature against potential smash-and-grab. The front cabin area would comfortably accommodate a tall man, with ample leg and head room; the front console was not overbearing and gave the sense of 'added' space around you. The back seat cabin area was large and would again accommodate a tall person with extra leg room if needed. Then there was the boot capacity, which was also enormous. While it is not required in this review to compare the Ford Territory to another vehicle make, for context, I must mention that my usual ride is an older Land Cruiser 200, so I am used to feeling like I am driving around on my couch, with the space to go with it. The boot space in the Ford Territory is large enough to carry everything needed for a day out with the children's kit and more. Image: Louanne Chamberlain When we usually pack the Cruiser to go and work on my aforementioned side hustle, we have to "tetris" the gazebo between the boot and one of the front seats, and it looks and feels very full with 3 chairs, a table, my two little crates for merchandise, and our sports bags (we participate in archery tournaments). Imagine my surprise with the Ford Territory, when the gazebo fitted in between the boot door and front seat with enough space left for us to fit a table and chair between the driver's seat and the gazebo itself. This left ample space for the remaining two chairs, our merch crates, and our archery bags. This, for me, is a major win for the car. Having left the best for last, we cannot do a review without mentioning the front console. The large touch screen was well placed on the vehicle and was very user-friendly; we connected our phone in seconds without needing to open multiple apps and settings to get it done. The sound system was awesome – the teenagers could not sing its praises highly enough, and it was definitely the highlight of every school run. Eventually, we had to manage it so that everyone got turns to play their favourite music or stories. The navigation/GPS worked well on all our trips. And then, as if it could not get any better, the one time we went out in the evening, the cabin lit up with the most delightful blue trim – another wow factor for the teenagers, enough to be noticed, but not so bright as to distract the driver. In a nutshell, we really did love this car. The week after it had been returned, a teenage voice piped up from the back seat asking, 'So, mom, when are we getting the Territory back?' 'What do you mean by 'getting it back'? We only got to drive it for a week, so it has been returned.' The immediate response, 'Oh, I thought we were going to buy it,' followed by a thoughtful pause, 'So, when are we buying it?'
Mail & Guardian
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Mail & Guardian
Ford Territory Dark Edition: Stitched to embrace tradition
Top of the range: The Ford Territory Dark Edition replaces the Titanium variant. Ford launched the Territory Dark Edition in South Africa this week with some styling changes to what was already a worthy contender in a very crowded SUV segment. The Territory comes in three trims: Ambiente, Trend and now the Dark Edition, which replaces the Titanium variant that I The Titanium variant felt in sync with competitors as it has a bold exterior mixed with a fancy interior that felt very accomplished. The one thing I did notice with the Titanium variant is that both inside and out, it doesn't have the usual characteristics of a Ford SUV. Whether it was the broad, squared headlights, or other unique styling features that allow you to distinguish a Ford from other SUVs out there, something was just missing. Not that it was bad, but it feels good to step into a vehicle that understands its identity. With the Territory Dark Edition, Ford has made the exterior more stylish and athletic. In the front, the grille has been upgraded to satin black, combined with high-gloss black treatment for the skid plate, fog lamp accents and mirror caps. This bold and assertive exterior styling certainly does allow the vehicle to express itself a bit more. The black 19-inch alloy wheels also add to the visual presence of the vehicle and the 'Territory' branding has been changed to black at the rear of the vehicle. However, it is the interior of the Dark Edition that really uplifts the vehicle and gives it its own identity. Ford has ditched the wooden finish underneath the dashboard that was present in the Titanium variant. Instead, the vehicle has a high-gloss, black-painted strip for the instrument panel that feeds perfectly into the cyber-orange stitching that is lined along the dashboard and on the super comfortable leather seats. The orange stitching is also used in Ford's Wildtrak variants of the Ranger and Everest. This small touch is one of the highlights of the Territory Dark Edition because it gives you the feeling that you are sitting in a Ford. It's amazing how lines of stitching can make a vehicle feel complete. The spacious interior is the other highlight. Backseat passengers are treated to an immense amount of headroom and legroom — and that is standard, no matter which variant you choose. The orange stitching is a welcome addition to the Territory Dark Edition Under the bonnet, the Territory Dark Edition still comes with the 1.8-litre four-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engine that delivers 138kW of power and 318Nm of torque. That means that the ride quality on the Dark Edition and Titanium models are exactly the same — a smooth drive with a solid suspension and more than enough power to get you by. In terms of safety, the Dark Edition has all the features that were present in the Titanium variant such as a blind spot information system with cross-traffic alert; adaptive cruise control with stop and go; pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking; lane keep assist; lane departure warning and lane change assist. The Dark Edition gains a 360-degree camera that provides all-round visibility — a boon when getting into tight parking spaces and manoeuvring around obstacles. A 360 degree camera has also been added Ford maintains that the Territory is all about family. The bold, exceptional styling that you get with the Dark Edition is an added bonus. Pricing starts at R593 500 for the Ambiente, the Trend comes in at R650 500 and the Dark Edition is priced at R733 000. The Dark Edition has kept it fresh, like the Titanium model that it replaces, but it embodies the brand. However, it is still a very competitive segment and Ford has produced an all-round quality vehicle at a reasonable price for what you are getting.
The Citizen
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Ford introduces Dark Edition to gain more Territory in SUV segment
Blue Oval's plush SUV gunning for Chinese brands after outperforming heritage rivals. After performing better than expected by its own admission in its first year, the Blue Oval hopes the newly-introduced Dark Edition derivative will help the Ford Territory gain further ground in the cut-throat SUV domain. The Territory was heaven sent for the American carmaker who had no footprint in the local C-SUV segment after dropping the ill-fated Kuga from its portfolio. It has not only outperformed rivals from fellow heritage brands in the Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, VW Tiguan, Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4, but also taken the fight to the Chinese SUVs. Which is ironic, seeing that the Ford Territory is sourced from China. Ford Territory gets new top dog The Ford Territory Dark Edition has been introduced as the line-up's new flagship at the expense of the Titanium. It comes at R733 000, which is a R13k premium over the Titanium. The other two derivatives, the Ambiente and Trend, are kept unchanged. ALSO READ: Ford Territory perfect companion to escape from Jozi for a weekend Based on the Titanium, the Dark Edition features styling enhancements and more tech upgrades, but no changes under the bonnet. Up front, the 1.8-litre EcoBoost turbo petrol engine produces 138kW of power and 318Nm of torque sent to the front wheels via seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. While the Titanium's styling was easy on the eye, the Ford Territory Dark Edition makes a strong statement. It features a gloss black grille, roof rails and mirror caps along with black wheel arch cladding, black finish at the base of the bumpers, black front skidplate and black Territory lettering on the tailgate. Completing the attractive package is 19-inch ebony alloy wheels and a contrasting black roof. The Dark Eidtion features 19-inch Ebony alloy wheels. Picture: Supplied A touch of class The spacious interior features black perforated leather seats along with leather trim on the dashboard and doors and black roofliner. Ford is quick to point out the Cyber Orange stitching and seam on the seats, doors, dashboard and steering wheel are reminiscent of the popular Ford Ranger Wildtrak hue. Making its debut on the Ford Territory is a 360-degree surround-view camera system. It is part of an impressive specification list which also includes dual 12.3-inch displays with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and eight-speaker sound system. Also standard is a wireless smartphone charger, dual-tone panoramic roof, electric tailgate, ambient lighting, electric front seats, front and rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitor, rain sensing wipers, automatic LED headlights, keyless entry and push-button start. A wide array of safety systems include advanced features such as: Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring and Traffic Jam Assist. ALSO READ: Ford Territory gets the feminine vote as a comfortable daily ride Out on the road, the Dark Edition is a comfortable and spacious ride. There is enough power on tap for your everyday needs and you don't need any more in a family mover. And using it for that purpose is exactly what we did during the launch drive from Lanseria to Gold Reef City. After a day of family fun, the comfortable back seats meant the exhausted children was in dreamland in no time. Cyber Orange combines with black leather in the cabin. Picture: Supplied Ford family promise As The Citizen Motoring has reported, the brakes are rather sensitive, but nothing you can't get used to over time. Throttle calibration, like on almost all Chinese cars, are also no perfect. And speaking of the Chinese brands, Ford is on an active mission to remind customers of its comprehensive family promise when weighing the Territory up against more affordable like-for-like SUVs. The Ford Family Promise is made up of 21 components which include anything from mobile servicing and two-year guarantee on spare parts to comprehensive insurance. The Dark Edition is a solid package with the right looks and tech to take the fight to its rivals. Expect bigger things from this plush SUV. Ford Territory pricing Territory Ambiente 1.8L EcoBoost 7AT – R593 500 Territory Trend 1.8L EcoBoost 7AT – R650 500 Territory Dark Edition 1.8L EcoBoost 7AT – R733 000 *Price includes a six-year/90 000km service plan and four-year/120 000km warranty.
7NEWS
23-06-2025
- 7NEWS
‘Go back': Melbourne woman fatally shot by police after ignoring 10 warnings
A woman behind the wheel of an SUV that pinned a police officer to a fence was warned to 'go back' 10 times before she was shot and killed. Madeline Margaret Henry, 33, was shot dead on May 24 in South Melbourne after allegedly driving towards a male senior constable during the arrest of a machete-wielding man. An inquest on Monday heard preliminary evidence, mostly drawn from CCTV and body-worn camera footage, on the lead-up to the deadly shooting. The dramatic series of events was set in motion after a 39-year-old South Melbourne man who was allegedly carrying a machete was spotted at Park Towers. Henry was visiting the 31-storey public housing towers and left about the same time as police sighted the man and called out to him by name, the court was told. A police divvy van gave chase after he rode off on a scooter, with a CCTV camera showing a Ford Territory driven by Henry following behind. The suspect was grappled to the ground by a first constable as the senior constable approached to assist after running over the scooter. The SUV stopped on Church Street with its passenger side door open as a 26-year-old male passenger walked into Dow Street with his hands at shoulder height. He described himself as a friend of the suspect and claimed to own the scooter. The senior constable drew his gun and said 'don't you dare drive that car up here' as the front wheels of the car crossed the broken line at the east end of Dow Street. 'The senior constable walked east down Dow Street towards the Ford with his firearm raised in front of him, three times directing it to go back,' counsel assisting Samantha Brown told the court. The second man got back inside the Ford as it continued forward, with the senior constable pointing his gun at Henry and broadcasting on radio that a car was 'trying to run us over here'. The officer stabbed the front-passenger side tyre with a blade as the SUV mounted the footpath and came to rest against the fence, pinning his left leg between it and the bumper. 'As the constable stood up he pointed his firearm and fired four times through the windscreen of the Ford,' Brown said. 'Five seconds had elapsed between the senior constable's 10th direction to get back and the discharging of the firearm.' Henry died at the scene, while the senior constable was hospitalised with leg injuries. Her passenger suffered a gunshot wound and was taken to hospital, along with the 39-year-old man who was later charged. The inquest will not make findings of guilt or innocence or apportion blame for Henry's death. 'The focus of the coronial investigation is likely to be on identifying any precipitants to Henry's actions immediately before her death,' Brown said. 'And the reasonableness of the police use of force in response to them.' Coroner John Cain expects a brief of evidence to be filed by September 22, with the inquest's next hearing likely falling in October. Henry's mother watched the hearing online. Speaking on behalf of Victoria Police's chief commissioner, lawyer Ben Lloyd expressed his and the force's condolences and regret at the loss of Henry's life and promised to co-operate with the inquest. Homicide squad detectives with oversight from Professional Standards Command are conducting a separate investigation, as is standard for fatal police shootings.
Sydney Morning Herald
23-06-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Don't you dare': Officer's warnings before fatally shooting driver
A woman behind the wheel of an SUV that pinned a police officer to a fence was warned to 'go back' 10 times before she was shot and killed. Madeline Margaret Henry, 33, was shot dead on May 24 in South Melbourne after allegedly driving towards a senior male constable during the arrest of a machete-wielding man. An inquest on Monday heard preliminary evidence, mostly drawn from CCTV and body-worn camera footage, in the lead-up to the deadly shooting. The dramatic series of events was initiated when a 39-year-old South Melbourne man was spotted at the nearby Park Towers public housing buildings allegedly carrying a machete. Henry was visiting the 31-storey towers and left about the same time as police sighted the man and called out to him by name, the court was told. A police divvy van gave chase after he rode off on a scooter, with a CCTV camera showing a Ford Territory driven by Henry following behind. The suspect was grappled to the ground by a first constable, as the senior constable approached to assist after running over the scooter. The SUV stopped on Church Street with its passenger side door open as a 26-year-old male passenger walked into Dow Street with his hands at shoulder height. He described himself as a friend of the suspect and claimed to own the scooter.
