After barely three years, Ford is replacing its strong-selling Territory with an all-new model based on the Equator Sport. If you’ve read our earlier news reports and features, you’ll know that the next-gen Territory is slightly bigger and more powerful than the model it replaces.
For this comparo, we’ll be pitting the Ford’s all-new compact crossover against Hyundai’s new Tucson. We decided to use the P1.599-million Territory Titanium X and the P1.57-million Tucson 2.0 GLS since both have gasoline engines and are priced just P29,000 apart. We’ll see how the Blue Oval’s new and improved model stacks up against an established global model that’s now in its fourth generation.
The Next-Gen Territory measures 4,630mm long, 1,935mm wide, and 1,706mm tall. It has exactly the same length as the Tucson, but is 70mm wider and 41mm taller. Although the Ford has sculpted details, it clearly has a more traditional boxy SUV profile with a more upright greenhouse. The Hyundai, on the other hand, has a sleeker and more rounded roofline, giving it a more-car-like silhouette.
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Despite the identical overall lengths, the next-gen Territory rides on a 2,726mm wheelbase, which is 29mm less between the axles than the Tucson. The Territory Titanium X is equipped with 235/50 R19 tires that have a diameter of 28.3 inches; this is 0.8 inch less than the diameter of the Tucson GLS’s standard 235/60 R18 tires. While the compact Ford SUV may roll on slightly smaller diameter rubber compared with its Korean counterpart, its 190mm ground clearance has a 9mm advantage over the Hyundai SUV.
Here’s a quick spec summary for both front-wheel-drive compact SUVs. The Territory is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost gasoline mill that now puts out 158hp and 248Nm of torque. The Tucson is motivated by a bigger-displacement naturally aspirated 2.0-liter gasoline unit that produces 154hp and 192Nm of torque. The Ford comes with a seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission, while the Hyundai is equipped with a more conventional six-speed automatic gearbox. The Territory comes with a large 60-liter fuel tank, while the Tucson gets a smaller 54-liter fuel tank. Both have monocoque body construction and transverse engine layouts to optimize passenger and cargo volume as well as cut down on unwanted mass.
Do you think Ford’s all-new Territory has what it takes to go up against compact SUVs like the new Tucson? Which of these two compact SUVs would you choose? Let us know in the comments.
