Tow Test: Ford Territory TX RWD Diesel

Ford Territory TX RWD Diesel

Price Guide: (recommended price before statutory and delivery charges): $43,240
Options fitted: (not included in above price): Tow bar $627
Crash rating: Five-star (ANCAP)
Fuel: Diesel
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 8.2
CO2 emissions (g/km): 217
Maximum towing capacity: 2300kg (2WD)
Maximum towball mass: 230kg (2WD)
Also consider:  Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo CRD $45,455, Holden Captiva 5 diesel $33,990, Mitsubishi Outlander Aspire diesel $43,490, Hyundai Santa Fe Active diesel $41,990, Kia Sorento SLi diesel $43,990, Peugeot 3008 Allure HDi $43,490, Renault Koleos Privilege diesel $45,490, Nissan X-Trail TL diesel $45,240

SUVs are good at many things (carrying space, commanding driving position) and a bit of a compromise on others (such as off-road exploration).

But one of the things they are almost unreservedly good at is a bit of towing.

If your SUV is medium or full-size, and is in possession of a reasonably torquey engine, it will likely make a pretty good tow vehicle, even if it’s RWD rather than 4WD.

Take Ford’s Territory for example.

The successful SUV is available in both RWD and 4WD drive formats and has the substance required to make it a good prospect for hauling a decent load, including a choice of two grunty powerplants: the standard 195kW/391Nm 4.0-litre petrol six-cylinder and the $3250 more expensive 140kW/440Nm 2.7-litre turbodiesel V6 that joined the ranks when the current SZ series was launched in early 2011.

The exclusively six-speed auto Territory tips the scales, depending on model, at around two tonnes, and quotes braked towing capacities as high as 2.7 tonnes (only with the $5000 more all-wheel drive version and optional heavy-duty tow pack).

The heavy-hauler aspect lifts it well above the Falcon sedan’s maximum towing capacity of 2.3 tonnes – although that’s without any upgraded towing package – indicating how Ford sees the Territory being used.

It’s not up there with heavy-duty off-roaders but it still gives significant scope for those wishing to haul some sort of caravan or boat, especially compared with the likes of Holden’s (4WD) Captiva diesel which is hobbled to 1500kg braked towing capacity.

And, for most, the need to go 4WD is rarely likely to be an issue, so the standard rear-drive format is an entirely appropriate arrangement for just about anybody with 2.7 tonnes as the upper towing limit.

ON THE ROAD

So the RWD Ford Territory was judged as good a tow vehicle as one would be likely to find for our plan to lug a small Jayco camper trailer from Melbourne to Byron Bay for a two-week sojourn. Obviously, given the length of the planned road trip, the diesel was the obvious choice.

In fact, because the tare weight of the Jayco was a mere 680kg, the Territory was bordering on overkill with its quoted non-braked towing maximum of 750kg. The only thing we needed to make sure of was that the Jayco was not taken past 750kg with extra equipment.

Normally the camper trailer tags along behind an electric-braked Volkswagen Tiguan TDI, which is able to haul as much as two tonnes, so we expected the Territory diesel to make an even easier job of it. It did.

In fact the burden imposed was barely felt by the driver once adjusting to the normal characteristics inflicted by a towed vehicle. The peculiar fore-aft arresting motion experienced in just about every case was minimal, and the V6 turbodiesel’s leisurely torque, which peaks at 1900rpm, made freeway cruising about as effortless as it can be.

Long uphill gradients, passing manoeuvres, accelerating from traffic lights, were all-but unaffected by the sub-700kg burden following behind and the Territory’s braking was easily up to the task of controlling it during both steady retardation and heavy stopping.

The effects on fuel consumption varied. At times – such as battling into strong headwinds in the flat, open spaces of outback southern NSW – the average reading crept up by as much as 50 per cent above the normal combined figure of 8.2L/100km.

Then it would drop back to as little as 25 per cent above, even when traversing the roller-coaster terrain north east of Tamworth.

The overall average worked out to 11.5L/100km for the complete round trip of more than 4000km. This was followed by around 300km of solo work, where the average of 8.4L/100km more or less confirmed the official combined consumption claim of 8.2L/100km.

During the tour, the Territory’s 75-litre tank saw us refilling somewhere between 500km and 600km, which proved a pretty convenient range given that was our roughly-estimated planned daily travel distance.

With the camper’s light drawbar weight the Jayco/Territory combination sat almost perfectly flat and behaved in a manner closely resembling that of an unhindered car.

Cornering, and – as already mentioned – braking, felt secure and confidence inspiring, a fact enhanced by a rear view over the top of the trailer that kept us clearly informed about following traffic.

During the extended drive, only one characteristic of the diesel Territory left us puzzled. Occasionally, on a long uphill gradient with cruise control operational (which it was for most of the trip) the six-speed auto would be a little reluctant to downshift until at least 20km/h was washed off the set speed.

Manual downshifts of course sorted the matter out quickly, but we were left wondering if the extra weight of the trailer occasionally confused the electronics, particularly with cruise control operating.

VERDICT

That was only a small aberration noticed during our two weeks with the Territory. Otherwise it was the perfect travelling companion for three adults and one small child.

The Ford’s interior revealed what is commonly a strongpoint with locally designed cars: solid supportive comfort over long distances, acres of head, leg and shoulder room and an abundance of handy cubbies throughout the cabin – including a hidden, shallow compartment beneath the rear load area.

We would have liked a cooled glovebox to help with the warm conditions of the inland drive through outback NSW, but the base TX Territory really gave few grounds for equipment gripes. Bluetooth, climate control, a decent sound system and a part-powered driver’s seat aren’t too bad for an entry-level vehicle.

A man doing a boy’s job? In the case of the diesel Territory towing a lightweight camper trailer, it’s a better deal than the other way around.