Used Ford Territory review: 2011-2014

The diesel variant for Ford's SUV was the last piece in the jigsaw.

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After watching families shift from sedans to SUVs, Ford reacted by designing one of its own based on the components in the Falcon parts bin.

The Territory was the result and Ford hoped to stem the flow of red ink by enticing buyers to buy its big new wagon instead of abandoning the brand.

It was a bold move and for the most part successful. Buyers jumped on the bandwagon as Ford anticipated but it wasn't as happy a story as hoped for.

Quality problems plagued the new car, there were serious suspension issues, and ultimately buyers wanted better fuel economy than the big six-cylinder engine could deliver.

Ford worked away at all of the issues and the quality improved. The front suspension was redesigned but it wasn't until the SZ model of 2011 that the ultimate piece of the jigsaw was put in place.

That was a turbo diesel engine, bringing the sort of economy Territory buyers had long sought. The 2.7-litre V6 joined the 4.0-litre six-cylinder Falcon engine.

Its cabin was flexible whether in five or seven-seat configurations.

Ford believed it would be so popular that it was released on all variants: TX, TS and Titanium. It was available in all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive versions, while the old petrol six was only available in rear-drive.

All models were equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission.

On the road the turbo diesel pulled well, which was just what caravan owners wanted, and delivered decent fuel economy.

In keeping with previous Territory series, the SZ was comfortable, its cabin was flexible whether in five or seven-seat configurations, and was quiet and smooth.

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Reporting on previous Territorys usually involved long lists of grumbles from owners complaining about bits that failed and fell off, wore out prematurely, rusted or were just plain frustrating.

By the time the SZ arrived the lists had shrunk to the point owners were mostly positive in praise of their cars. Owners have become quite a happy bunch, most of whom say their cars have been reliable.

The majority of our respondents owned diesels, which says much about the shift in Territory sales, and were happy with the engine. A couple complained about turbo lag, the hesitation when accelerating away from a standstill.

The economy is the good news, as the averages — of 8.0L/100km or so on the highway and 10.0L around town — are handy for a big, heavy wagon like the Territory.

One concerning report was of a diesel engine with a spun bearing at a mere 60,000km. It's likely to be a build issue, and hopefully a one-off.

The auto transmission can also be troublesome.

One owner told us of a water leak in the front passenger's footwell. That's not an isolated report and it's worth checking for dampness or water entry.

Check electrics and run windows up and down, as switches can be a problem.

The auto transmission can also be troublesome. When test driving listen for a solid thump or bang at low speed. Expect diff bushes to wear, as well as the front stabiliser bar bushes.