Ford Philippines had a hit on its hands when it first launched the Ford Territory back in August 2020. It created its niche in the market and fought off newcomers such as the Geely Coolray and MG ZS by offering an extensive feature set with an attractive price point.

The Ford Territory also celebrated its third anniversary in the Philippines, hitting a crucial sales milestone for the American automaker. The small SUV hit its 15,000 unit sales in September of 2022, making it one of Blue Oval’s best-selling vehicles in the country next to the Ford Ranger.

While the current version of the Ford Territory is tremendous and is proven to be a sales success, in other markets such as China and Vietnam, a new version of the vehicle is already available.

Reports have now come in stating that the 2023 Ford Territory will launch soon in the country, with the 2023 Manila International Auto Show set to be the stage for its grand debut. 

Will the new version be a worthy successor to the original model that made the nameplate a hit?

Bigger dimensions

The 2023 Ford Territory is also called the Ford Equator Sport in its home country of China. Yes, the next-gen small SUV is still being made in China, which could allow it to continue to have a competitive price in the Philippines. But more on that later.

However, as the new Territory is physically larger than its predecessor, it can be considered a compact SUV. 

In terms of dimensions, the new version of the SUV comes in at  4,630 mm long, 1,935 mm wide, and 1,706 mm tall. It also has a longer wheelbase which measures 2,726 mm.

For context, the current version of the Ford Territory measures 4,580 mm long, 1,936 mm wide, and 1,674 mm tall. It also has a wheelbase of 2,716 mm. 

The difference in their measurements shows that the next-gen version of the Territory is now 50 mm longer and 1mm thinner but is 32 mm taller than before. As for its wheelbase, there is a 10mm increase over its previous iteration.

New Styling

As for its design, the 2023 Ford Territory features the brand's “Progressive Energy in Strength” design. It gives the SUV a look similar to its bigger brother, the Ford Explorer, with a wide front fascia dominated by a large grille. 

It also has sharp LED daytime running lights at the top, with LED headlights positioned towards the bumper's middle. At the rear, the LED lighting continues with the 3D taillights.  

Aside from this, the next generation of the SUV still retains its “Territory” badging accompanied by sliver accents on its bumper and a faux diffuser.  

Modern interior

Technology is the name of the game for the 2023 Ford Territory, as the SUV gets two 12.3-inch infotainment systems along with a new rotary-style gear selector. 

Ford could be doubling down on the technology available for the SUV to make it even more competitive, given its specifications in other markets. However, we expect that the technology could increase the price of the car, but it is to be expected as it now jumps up in terms of classification too. 

Other vehicle features include a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat, a panoramic sunroof, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, dual-zone climate control, and a power tailgate. 

Drive modes are available for the vehicle, namely Normal, Eco, Sport, and Mountain. However, it is still being determined if these modes only affect the engine and transmission tuning or if they also adjust the suspension. 

Good old 1.5-liter EcoBoost

The 2023 Ford Territory still has only one engine available: the 1.5-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine, producing 170 PS and 260 Nm of torque. 

One thing new with the next-gen Territory is that it now has a new transmission with the current CVT being replaced with a more modern seven-speed wet-type dual-clutch transmission. 

Great safety features

A quick spec check of the 2023 Ford Territory reveals more safety features available for the vehicle compared to its predecessor. It could come with the Ford Co-Pilot 360 driver assist system, which grants the car features such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, intelligent automatic emergency braking, and blind spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert.

Aside from this, the SUV will also have standard features such as six airbags, ABS with EBD, vehicle stability control, tire pressure monitoring, and a 360-degree camera.

Possible pricing?

So far, things look good for the new Territory as it is bigger and brings more technology. 

However, official specifications have yet to be released for the 2023 Ford Territory. As the vehicle has changed its classification and is larger than before, we could see a substantial price increase.  Additionally, the new technology that the next-gen Territory offers will surely add to its price.

We could see the next generation of the vehicle hit well into the ₱1.5 million price point thanks to its new tech and bigger size for its top-of-the-line model. If Ford Philippines does release the new Territory in multiple variants, we could see the entry-level model retain a ₱1.3 to ₱1.4 million starting price. 

It is still being determined where Ford Philippines will source its 2023 Territory units, as some sources have pointed to Vietnam as a likely candidate. As a fellow ASEAN member state, Vietnam enjoys zero tariff privileges for products made there and imported into the Philippines. 

Will you be heading over to the Manila International Auto Show to see the all-new Ford Territory?