If you’re in the market for a five-seat crossover, almost every brand has one on offer.

But if your budget can only stretch to around ₱1.4 million, then you need to look at Chinese-made crossovers. Given that Chinese car brands aren’t the laughing stocks that they once were, there are two interesting choices in the market.

One is the familiar Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, coming in at ₱1,250,000. Gone are the days of the QQ hatchback – this five-seater packs a turbocharged engine and is fully loaded with toys and tech.

The other is the all-new Ford Territory, which was launched at the 2023 Manila International Auto Show last April. Yes, Ford may be as American as cheeseburgers and Coca-Cola, but the latest Territory is still made in the JMC-Ford plant in China.

As with the previous-generation model, the 2023 Territory features five seats and a turbocharged powerplant. For this comparison, we’ll use the entry-level, ₱1,335,000 Territory Titanium that, like the Chery, doesn’t come with active safety features.

So, which of these crossovers is better? It’s time for another Spec Showdown!

Similar silhouettes

Stack up the numbers and the Ford takes an early lead by simply offering more real estate than the Chery.

The Territory is not only longer and wider than the Tiggo 7 Pro, but also has a substantially longer wheelbase. This results in the Blue Oval offering getting more interior space.
 

The Chery, however, fights back with having a bit more ground clearance – particularly helpful if you plan to drive on some unpaved roads – and an electric tailgate.

Style-wise, they both have similar profiles, especially with slim headlights and large grills up front. But I think the Territory looks less slab-sided than the Chery.

Toys everywhere

Step inside either the Tiggo 7 Pro or the Territory Titanium and you are treated to loaded cabins that would cost far more from a Japanese manufacturer.

Only the Chery gets a panoramic moonroof, while both have wireless charging, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, and infotainment systems with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the Ford gets a bigger touchscreen, the Chery has a bit more cargo space with the rear seats up.

Cabin design is a matter of taste, of course. But I think the Tiggo 7 Pro has a cleaner-looking cabin, especially with its 8-inch screen for the climate control system (a la Range Rover).

1.5-liter turbos

Pop the hoods of these crossovers and you find identical powerplants.

Both the Territory and the Tiggo 7 Pro are powered by turbocharged 1.5-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engines. However, as the numbers show, the Ford pulls away with more punch.

Impressive safety kit

Happily, both the Tiggo 7 Pro and the Territory offer similar levels of safety equipment.

However, if you’re eyeing things like adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, and lane-keep assist, you’ll need to pay ₱1,599,000 to upgrade to the Territory Titanium X.

The Tiggo 7 Pro, meanwhile, does not have a variant that features active-safety systems.

Space or price

All told, the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro and the Ford Territory Titanium are well-matched vehicles that each offer distinct advantages.

The Ford is larger and more powerful, while the Chery offers excellent value for money with its generous equipment levels. If I were to choose, I would probably spend a bit more to get the Ford.  

But it just goes to show that you don’t need to break the piggy bank to get a well-equipped crossover – as long as you’re open to getting one with a “Made in China” label.

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