Ford Territory Unveiled In China, To Take On Hyundai Creta

Over the weekend, Ford China took wraps off of a brand new SUV. Called the Ford Territory, the midsize-SUV is a direct rival to Hyundai's ix25 i.e. the Hyundai Creta.

On the surface, it does look quite handsome. But not a lot of that bodywork is bespoke to the Ford. In fact, the Territory is not much more than a cross-badging exercise with Ford's Chinese partner - JMC (Jiangling Motors Corporation). The American manufacturer has essentially rehashed the face of the SUV to give it some Ford flavour. There's a blingy grille (similar to what we've seen on a Focus), slender all-LED headlamps and C-shaped daytime running lamps. We quite like the way it looks, and elements such as the flared arches and the roof rails give it the SUV persona it needs.

Inside, the cabin looks plush. We're talking about leather upholstery, climate control, rear AC vents and a sunroof. There's tech to keep you safe too, including adaptive cruise control as well as pre-collision assist. So, yes, there's enough tech in here to keep the millennial happy, which is apt because that's exactly who Ford wants to sell the SUV to.

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Under the muscular body lies a platform borrowed from JMC. The Chinese version of this SUV is called the Yusheng S330, which is in turn based on the Landwind X7. Yep, the Range Rover Evoque knockoff. For the Chinese market, the Territory gets a 1.5-litre petrol motor that develops 163PS/250Nm and is paired with a 6-speed AMT. A mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid version is expected to be offered as well.

Natural question - is the Territory headed to India? Unlikely. But that does not mean Ford won't dish out a proper rival to the Creta in India. And this is where Mahindra comes in. The tie-up between the two automakers has promised us more SUVs, the first of which could be Ford's Creta rival. The Ssangyong Tivoli’s platform could be put to the task to spawn an SUV for both Mahindra and Ford.

Check Out: 2018 Hyundai Creta Review: Road Test