Thinking about making the switch to a hybrid? The Ford Territory Hybrid Trend is a pretty easy place to start. At P1,399,000, it gives you the space and practicality you’d want from a family SUV, while its hybrid powertrain adds a welcome boost in both performance and fuel economy.
And despite its size, there’s nothing particularly complicated about driving or living with it. It’s spacious, comfortable, well-equipped, and lets the hybrid system handle the efficiency work in the background.
But specs and features only tell you so much. To see how the Territory fits into everyday life, we spent five days driving it around the city, navigating traffic and the usual challenges of urban driving.
The Territory Hybrid Trend retains the SUV’s substantial proportions and 185mm of ground clearance, which give it enough presence for both city streets and occasional rougher roads. The refreshed front end gets updated headlights and a full-width light bar, while the illuminated Ford badge adds a bit of flair.
There are also Hybrid badges on the sides, a revised bumper, darker rear light lenses, and new 18-inch alloy wheels.
While some convenience features are missing, such as a power adjust driver seat and an automatic tailgate, the overall package looks modern and substantial.
Step inside, however, and the Territory Hybrid Trend makes an even stronger case for itself. There’s generous headroom, legroom, and elbow room in both rows, making it easy to accommodate adults without everyone fighting for space.
The cabin has a clean black-and-silver treatment with green stitching, while the seats are comfortable and offer ample support comfort. The second row gets air vents, USB ports, and 60/40-split folding seats. Cargo capacity likewise remains generous.
Behind the wheel, the 7-inch digital instrument cluster keeps things simple, with a separate LCD display showing essentials such as fuel level and engine temperature. It may not be the biggest display around, but its clean layout makes the information easy to take in at a glance.
The 12-inch infotainment screen is equally straightforward, with a responsive interface and support for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. One feature we especially appreciated was the 360-degree camera, which made tight parking spaces considerably easier to navigate.
The Territory Hybrid Trend pairs a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with an electric motor, a 1.83kWh lithium-ion battery, and a two-speed dedicated hybrid transmission. Together, the system produces 215hp and 315Nm of torque.
But you don’t have to push the numbers hard to appreciate what the hybrid setup brings. The Territory Hybrid Trend delivers its power with little fuss in city driving, yet responds quickly when you ask for more—whether that’s overtaking a slower vehicle or merging into faster-moving traffic.
Another thing we appreciate is how quiet it is inside. Improved insulation and acoustic glass do a good job of keeping the sounds of traffic and the road outside, making even busy drives feel more relaxed. It can feel a bit firm when you hit a pothole or a sharp bump, but it doesn’t get unsettled.
Then there’s fuel economy. In our five days of city driving, including mixed traffic conditions, the Territory Hybrid Trend returned around 13.7 to 17.5 km/L. We weren’t able to test it on the expressway, where fuel consumption could differ, so we won’t speculate on highway figures. What we can say is that, with a 60-liter tank, its observed city efficiency gives it plenty of range between fuel stops.
When it comes to safety, however, the base-model Trend keeps things fairly straightforward. It gets an electronic parking brake, ABS/EBD/ESP with traction control, and four airbags for the driver, front passenger, and sides. More advanced driver-assistance features aren’t available here, which is one of the compromises to consider at this price point.
Speed says
The Ford Territory Hybrid Trend makes hybrid driving feel less like a big leap and more like a natural next step.
For P1.399 million, you get a spacious and comfortable SUV with useful tech, strong performance, and impressive fuel economy. The lack of ADAS and some convenience features are worth noting, but they don’t overshadow the strengths of the overall package.
For those ready to explore electrified driving without giving up everyday SUV practicality, the Territory Hybrid Trend makes a convincing case.
