Honda CR-V vs Ford Territory

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Honda CR-V in South Africa

Honda CR-V

2.0 Hybrid e:HEV Hybrid Automatic
ZAR 819,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 204 kW 🔧 335 Nm ⛽ 20 km/l
VS
Ford Territory in South Africa

Ford Territory

1.8T Dark Edition DCT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 593,500 from
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance CR-V
Fuel Economy CR-V
🛡 Safety CR-V
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership CR-V
Territory starts ZAR 689900 cheaper CR-V from ZAR 689,900 · Territory from ZAR 593,500

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec CR-V Territory
Engine Power 204 -
Torque 335 -
Engine Size 1993 -
Claimed Mileage 20 -
Ground Clearance 200 190 mm
Boot Space 497 -
Airbags 6 -
Kerb Weight 1750 -
Seating Capacity 5 5
Warranty 3 -

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

CR-V dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance CR-V +27 pts
Efficiency CR-V +30 pts
Safety CR-V +92 pts
Practicality Equal
Ownership CR-V +1 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

CR-V

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Territory

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

CR-V

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Territory

  • Buyers looking for a balanced all-round vehicle

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec CR-V Territory
Model Introduced Year 2023 2023
Generation Built on Honda’s global SUV platform with focus on comfort and safety First generation Territory in South Africa
Facelift History Latest generation introduced with improved design, features, and safety technology Recently introduced with modern design and technology
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Original current-generation version
Facelift Version Ending Current Discontinued - exact end year not confirmed
Body Style SUV -
Color Note White, Black, Silver, Grey, Blue, Red -
Dealer Stock Note Top grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 -
Production Status published -
Segment SUV -
Vehicle Type SUV -
Spec CR-V Territory
Ground Clearance 200 mm 190 mm
Wheelbase 2700 mm 2726 mm
Length 4690 mm 4630 mm
Width 1860 mm 1935 mm
Height 1690 mm 1706 mm
Kerb Weight 1750 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight 2250 kg -
Seating Capacity 5 5
Boot Space 497 l -
Towing Capacity 1500 kg -
Front Track Width Not Applicable -
Rear Track Width Not Applicable -
Turning Radius Not Applicable -
Load Bed Length Not Applicable -
Load Bed Width Not Applicable -
Front Legroom Not Applicable -
Rear Legroom Not Applicable -
Front Headroom Not Applicable -
Rear Headroom Not Applicable -
Front Shoulder Room Not Applicable -
Rear Shoulder Room Not Applicable -
Boot Space Seats Folded 497 l -
Number of Doors 5 -
Max Payload Not Applicable -
Boot Volume 497 l -
Doors 5 -
Seats 5 5
Fuel Tank Capacity 57 l 60 l
Gross Vehicle Mass Kg 2250 kg -
Ground Clearance Max 200 mm 190 mm
Ground Clearance Min 200 mm 190 mm
Ground Clearance Mm 200 mm 190 mm
Height Mm 1690 mm 1706 mm
Length Mm 4690 mm 4630 mm
Loadbox Length Mm Not Applicable -
Loadbox Width Mm Not Applicable -
Payload Kg Not Applicable -
Cargo Volume 497 l -
Tare Mass Kg 1750 kg -
Turning Circle Not Applicable -
Turning Circle M Not Applicable -
Width Mm 1860 mm 1935 mm

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

CR-V leads by 32 points

CR-V dominates this comparison with clear advantages across multiple categories.

Winner 75 /100
Lead 32 points
Data 95% confidence
75
#1 Winner

CR-V

95% data confidence 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Ownership 51
Performance 77
Efficiency 80
Safety 92
Practicality 68
Ownership 51
Leads by 32 points
43
#2

Territory

20% data confidence 0 strong categories
Best at Practicality 68 Check Safety 0
Performance 50
Efficiency 50
Safety 0
Practicality 68
Ownership 50
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance CR-V +27 Efficiency CR-V +30 Safety CR-V +92 Practicality Level Ownership CR-V +1

High confidence result.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

CR-V

Performance 77/100
Efficiency 80/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 51/100

Territory

Performance 50/100
Efficiency 50/100
Safety 0/100
Practicality 68/100
Ownership 50/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Honda CR-V wins with 75 pts vs 43 pts for Territory

In structured scoring, CR-V emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Territory may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the CR-V edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: CR-V 80 vs Territory 50. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: CR-V 92, Territory 0. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: CR-V 51, Territory 50. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: CR-V 68, Territory 68. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: CR-V 77, Territory 50. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The CR-V edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The CR-V scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between CR-V and Territory in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: CR-V scores 77 vs 50.

Efficiency: CR-V scores 80 vs 50.

Safety: CR-V scores 92 vs 0.

Practicality: CR-V scores 68 vs 68.

Ownership: CR-V scores 51 vs 50.

Final structured scoring gives CR-V the advantage in this comparison.