How much safer is the next-gen Ford Territory vs. the old one?

Before you rise up in arms about the safety comparison between the next-generation Ford Territory versus its older version, here is a disclaimer.

We understand that the testing protocols for the Chinese New Car Assessment Program (C-NCAP) are different between the older-generation Territory versus the next-generation model.

The previous Territory was tested under the 2018 regulations, while the newer generation was tested using the more stringent 2021 and up rules. 

This will likely be an apples-to-oranges comparison between the two versions of the Ford crossover as testing protocols have changed between the two generations of the vehicle.

We will compare the numbers and key findings from the crash test results to keep things as simple as possible. 

N-CAP scoring

To keep things simple, we will use the weighted scores of each testing category for both tested versions of the Ford Territory.

It is important to remember that the C-NCAP has three major categories: Occupant Protection, Pedestrian Protection, and Active Safety.

Something to note is that the scores for the 2018 testing regulation are as follows for the major categories Occupant Protection (70%), Pedestrian Protection (15%), and Active Safety (15%).

The more modern 2021 testing regulations are comprised of the following: Occupant Protection (60%), Pedestrian Protection (15%), and Active Safety (25%). As you can see, further emphasis has been given to Active safety features. 

Old Ford Territory: 3-Star rating

Right off the bat, the previous generation of the Ford Territory could only receive a 3-star rating from the C-NCAP. Below are the following scores for the major categories:

Occupant Protection - 57.13/70
Pedestrian Protection - 9.06/15
Active Safety - 4/15
Total score - 70.2/100

As you can see, the older Territory didn’t do too well regarding its active safety features and only scored decently for occupant protection.

Something to note is that while the Ford crossover showed excellent results in the head protection subcategory under occupant protection, it didn’t do too well in chest and leg protection leading to its average score. 

The crossover also had low scores in chest protection for the rear occupants. The testers also noted an open flame during the crash testing in the passenger compartment after the seatbelt pre-tensioners were deployed. 

Another thing noted by testers is that while an emergency braking feature is available with the vehicle, it does not detect pedestrians, which caused its low score for Active Safety.

Next-generation Ford Territory 5-Star rating

The next-generation Ford Territory fairs much better than its older iteration as it got a 5-star safety rating even with a more stringent rule set. Below are its scores: 

Occupant Protection - 53.91/60
Pedestrian Protection - 10.9/15
Active Safety - 22/25
Total score - 86.8/100

As the numbers show, the new Territory has improved leaps and bounds over its previous version, with higher Pedestrian Protection and Active Safety scores.

While the report on the N-CAP doesn’t go into too much detail about the vehicle's safety performance, it shows significant improvements in Occupant Protection, most notably in head and leg protection. 

It also helps that the emergency braking system now detects pedestrians, increasing the crossover’s active safety score.

Verdict

As you can see, the new Ford Territory has come a long way compared to its previous version regarding safety technology and crash protection.

It has earned higher points in all three major categories, especially with its active safety features. Ford has done well to equip the next-generation Ford Territory with the necessary features to make it safer than ever before. 

These new features may only amount to a 16-point increase, but those are hard-earned points, especially against more stringent testing regulations. 

What do you think of the Ford Territory’s glow-up with its crash test safety rating?

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