Frankly, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for hybrids to stand out in the Philippine market—most offerings come with the same feature set, they’re all relatively efficient (especially if you’re coming from an ICE), and there’s an ever-growing number of brands to choose from.
These days, a decision essentially comes down to two things: The price tag, and whether or not you’re willing to try out one of the newer names in the market.
Enter Ford, which ushered in its electrified era with the Ford Territory Hybrid. Priced at just a smidge under P1.6 million, the Titanium X variant we have with us competes directly with the likes of the BYD Sealion 6. Reputation-wise, you could say the Ford has an advantage—but does this hybrid crossover have more than just a recognizable badge going for it?
ALSO READ:
Review: 2027 Toyota bZ4X AWD BEV
Review: 2027 Denza B8 Premium
Styling
I’ll just lay it out there: The Ford Territory stands out. I mean this not in the sense that it looks better than the competition, but in how the brand’s design language translates wonderfully into hybrid form here (even if a chunk of the look comes courtesy of an ongoing joint venture with JMC).
The Territory comes in at 4,685mm long and 1,935mm wide, with a respectable 185mm of ground clearance. This is easily one of the beefiest-looking hybrid crossovers in the Philippine market.
Broad shoulders, big 19-inch alloy wheels, and a large front end lend the vehicle an intimidating presence akin to its larger brother, the Everest. Intricate design choices like the faux aluminum accents on the grille and LED headlights that stretch across the entire fascia, meanwhile, add a nice touch of polish to the unit’s macho overall aesthetic.
Long story short? It’s a crossover that’s equal parts macho and premium—par for the course when it comes to Fords here. It’s big and burly, but how does this sizable impression translate into interior practicality?
Interior
All that exterior heft isn’t purely just for looks, as the Territory’s cabin is nothing short of cavernous—especially with its massive panoramic moonroof providing an extra airiness to the interior. This is the first test unit in a long while where I haven’t had to jostle with my wife for precious center console real estate to lay my arm on.
The finishes inside are excellent, too, flaunting a nice mix of stealthy surfaces, polished accents, and contrasting colors with the stitching and seats. Probably the only negative I have with the interior in this regard is that there’s a noticeable buildup of dirt in the perforations, as well as some noticeable discoloration, on the white leather. I’m hoping the latter isn’t a sign that the material choices aren’t holding up to our harsh Philippine sunlight.
Other observations? The large 12-inch infotainment screen is a joy to look at without taking up too much of the dashboard, the steering wheel feels nice to hold, I’m still not a fan of piano- black plastics, and thank you, Ford, for retaining physical A/C controls even if they’re just in the form of a touch panel.
Engine performance
This Territory comes packing a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine paired with a two-speed hybrid automatic transmission—good for 150hp and 230Nm in ICE mode, and up to 215hp and 315Nm when running on electric power. Output is sent to the front wheels, and charge is stored in a 1.83kWh lithium-ion battery.
Power delivery and throttle response were smooth all throughout, with plenty of it easily available for easy overtakes on the expressway even under Normal driving settings. There’s an Eco and Sport mode available as well, though I never felt the need to stick with either option.
Speaking of drive modes, I’d be hard-pressed to bother switching on the road as I would have had to fiddle around with settings in the infotainment screen to do so. No paddle shifters, sadly—and no way to switch it up on the center console, either. It is possible to program a steering-wheel button to handle this control, though again, it will take a bit of effort rummaging through the screen to do so.
One thing I appreciate in this vehicle is how smooth transitions from the ICE to battery power are and, as a bonus, the instrument cluster does a neat job visualizing when the vehicle is generating charge. It’s a small detail, but one that can greatly influence your behavior behind the wheel.
Ford’s previously claimed efficiency of up to 20km/L, though I didn’t end up close to this during my time with the unit. Final reading? Around 16.4km/L through about 300km, with an average speed of 28kph in mixed highway and city environments—not bad, but nothing to rave about in a hybrid, either. It’s worth noting that with more highway time and more stints in Eco Mode, I can see this figure improving a decent bit.
Ride and handling
Pockmarked city streets, smooth expressways, gravel-covered parking lots—I drove through all manner of roads during my time with the Territory Hybrid, and I have to say the vehicle’s suspension setup did a fine job dampening things. It managed this without feeling overly wallowy, too, and while there was some body roll, you’d have to really try to make the ride feel unmanageable.
Also worth noting is how quiet the vehicle’s cabin is. On paper, Ford says it’s equipped this Territory with ‘soundproof glass’ front windows, though I’ve found that most Ford units in general do a good job keeping outside noise, well, out.
Despite the crossover’s width, maneuvering it is a breeze thanks to light and responsive handling. Large windows also provide a decent view of the vehicle’s surroundings, though a chunky pair of A-pillars and massive hood can be a bit obtrusive in some situations (which are easily overcome thanks to the crossover’s wide array of cameras and parking sensors).
I wouldn’t call this hybrid’s driving dynamics anywhere close to sporty, but there is a decent enough amount of feel in the steering wheel when things open up on the expressway, too. Overall, this unit is effortless to drive but not something you’d want to throw around corners.
Extra features
As far as tech is concerned, Ford Philippines usually does a great job with what it stuffs into its offerings. The Territory Hybrid Titanium X is no different.
The crossover comes with a wide array of advanced safety features like adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. This is on top of side and curtain airbags ready to deploy in case things take a turn for the worse.
While all the safety bits are appreciated, I found myself turning most of the advanced warning ones off (as I do with most test units that come my way) as I found them kind of intrusive. I know, I know—that’s sort of the point, right? But if you’ve ever been stuck in traffic along C5 with countless motorbikes triggering every surrounding sensor and alarm, you’d do the same, too.
Nice-to-haves include convenient 10-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility for the 12-inch infotainment screen, color-adjustable ambient lighting strips, an impressive eight-speaker sound system, and a power tailgate.
It also comes with a wireless charging pad for smartphones, though my experience with it was mostly a miss. I plopped my iPhone 16 onto it before driving out to Clark from Pasig City, and it only managed to charge a measly 2%. What’s more, my phone was worryingly hot when I picked it up again. It could be my phone case, but this is the first time I’ve experienced this with a car’s wireless charger.
Verdict
If you’re not too keen on going the plug-in route for your first hybrid vehicle, the Ford Territory is a great bang-for-your-buck option.
The Titanium X variant, at P1,599,000, offers plenty of niceties to justify its price tag: a ton of tech, impressive styling, a spacious interior with great polish, and solid hybrid performance. The Trend version should offer even better value at just under P1.4 million, especially if you feel like you can do without an extensive advanced safety package.
SPECS: 2027 Ford Territory Titanium X 1.5L FHEV AT
Price: P1,599,000
Powertrain: 1.5-liter I4 hybrid gasoline engine
Power: 215hp (total system output)
Torque: 315Nm (total system output)
Transmission: Two-speed dedicated hybrid automatic transmission
Layout: Front-wheel drive
Seating: 5
Score: 8.5/10
More photos of the Ford Territory Titanium X 1.5L FHEV AT:
