KIA Sonet 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.

KIA Sonet in South Africa

KIA Sonet

1.5 EX+ CVT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 454,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 85 kW 🔧 143 Nm Nm ⛽ 16.9 km/l
VS
Ford Territory in South Africa

Ford Territory

1.8T Dark Edition DCT Petrol Automatic
ZAR 733,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 140 kW 🔧 320 Nm ⛽ 13.5 km/l
Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Performance Territory
Fuel Economy Territory
🛡 Safety Tie
📦 Practicality Tie
🔑 Ownership Sonet
Sonet starts ZAR 520000 cheaper Sonet from ZAR 299,995 · Territory from ZAR 520,000

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Sonet Territory
Engine Power 85 kW 140
Torque 143 Nm 320
Engine Size 1497 1798
Claimed Mileage 16.9 13.5
Ground Clearance 211 190
Boot Space 392 448
Airbags 6 6
Kerb Weight 1270 1635
Seating Capacity 5 Available
Warranty 7 4

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Territory

68
/ 100
+10
pts
#2

Sonet

58
/ 100

Moderate difference between the models.

The Bottom Line

Territory has a slight advantage, but Sonet remains highly competitive.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Territory +6 pts
Efficiency Territory +8 pts
Safety Equal
Practicality Equal
Ownership Sonet +4 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Territory

Performance 13/20
Efficiency 8/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 13/20
Ownership 16/20

Sonet

Performance 7/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 18/20
Practicality 13/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Sonet

Strengths
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: General Use
🏆 Overall Winner

Territory

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Sonet

  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Territory

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Sonet Territory
Engine 1.5 G4LC Inline-4 DOHC Petrol NA 1.8L Turbocharged Petrol
Engine Type Inline 4 Cylinder Naturally Aspirated Inline 4 Turbocharged
Engine Type Config Inline 4 Cylinder (I4) DOHC 16-Valve Available
Engine Code G4LC Standard
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Cylinders 4 4
Valves per Cylinder 16 4
Displacement 1497 1798
Engine Displacement 1497 Available
Engine Aspiration Naturally Aspirated Turbocharged
Turbocharger No Available
Cylinder Bore 75.0 82.0
Piston Stroke 84.5 92.0
Compression Ratio 13.0:1 10.5:1
Fuel System Gasoline Direct Injection Direct Injection
Fuel Grade Required 93 Octane Petrol
Variable Valve Timing CVVT Available
Engine Position Front Transverse Available
Engine Oil Capacity 4.5 Available
Power 85 kW 140
Power 114 150
Power @ RPM 6,300 rpm 150
Torque 143 Nm 320
Torque @ RPM 4,000 rpm 400
Maximum Engine RPM 6,500 rpm Available
0–100 km/h 11.2 Available
0-100 km/h 11.2 9.8
Top Speed 172 185
EV Range N/A Available
Battery Capacity N/A Available
Charging Port N/A Available
AC Charging Time N/A Available
Spec Sonet Territory
Valves Per Cylinder 4 Available
Intercooler No Available
Launch Control No Available
Rev Matching No Available
Performance Data Logger No Available
Fuel Consumption Combined 5.9 Available
Engine Start Stop Yes Available
Engine Start Stop Button Yes Available
Engine Start Button Illumination Yes Available
Engine Check Warning Yes Available
Gear Shift Type Automatic Available
Ground Clearance Unladen 211 Available
Drag Coefficient 0.34 Available
Payload Capacity N/A 500
Stabilizer Bar Yes Available
Steering Response Normal Available
Skid Plates No Available
Side Steps No Available
Spare Wheel Temporary Spare Available
Tyre Repair Kit No Available
Seatbelt Pre Tensioner Yes Available
Seatbelt Reminder Yes Available
Stability Control Yes Available
Hill Start Assist Yes Available
Speed Limiter Yes Available
Speed Alert System Yes Available
Impact Sensing Door Unlock Yes Available
Adaptive Dampers No Available
Wireless Charging Yes Not Available
Voice Command Yes Available
Voice Command Support Yes Available
Driver Display Digital Cluster Available
Heads Up Display No Available
Tachometer Yes Available
Trip Computer Yes Available
Multi Function Steering Yes Available
Steering Mounted Controls Yes Available
AC Type Automatic Climate Control Available
Climate Control Yes Manual Air Conditioning
Climate Zones 2 Available
Glovebox Cooling No Available
Seat Type Leather Seats Available
Driver Seat Height Adjustment Yes Available
Rear Seat Split Yes Available
Headrest Adjustable Yes Available
Front Armrest Yes Available
Vanity Mirror Yes Available
12V Accessory Socket Yes Available
Front Power Outlet Yes 150
Rear Reading Lamps Yes Available
Keyless Entry Yes Remote Key
Push Button Start Yes Available
Push Button Start Yes Standard
Remote Engine Start No Available
Door Ajar Warning Yes Available
Fuel Lid Opener Remote Available
Boot Opener Remote Available
Power Windows Yes All Windows
Power Mirrors Yes Power Adjustment
Electric Folding Mirrors Yes Available
Electric Mirror Folding Yes Available
Auto Dimming Irvm No Available
Auto Dimming Mirror No Yes
Rain Sensing Wipers Yes Available
Rear Window Defroster Yes Available
Rear Defogger Yes Available
Follow Me Home Headlamps Yes Yes
Tail Lamps LED Available
Automatic Headlamps Yes Yes
Headlamp Height Adjust Yes Available
Headlamp Washer No Available
Sunroof No Not Available
Panoramic Roof No Available
Roof Antenna Yes Available
Rear Wing Yes Available
Aero Kit No Available
Chrome Grille Yes Available
Chrome Exterior Highlights No Available
Ride Mode Selection Yes Available
Electric Tailgate No Manual
Engine Warranty 7 Years / 150,000 km Available
Service Plan 3 Years / 45,000 km Available
Service Reminder Yes Available
Exhaust Finish - Available
Exhaust Type - Available
Telescopic Steering - Available
Tilt Steering - Available

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Ford Territory wins with 68 pts vs 58 pts for Sonet

In structured scoring, Territory emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Sonet 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 Territory 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: Sonet 0 vs Territory 8. 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: Sonet 18, Territory 18. 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: Sonet 20, Territory 16. 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: Sonet 13, Territory 13. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Sonet 7, Territory 13. 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 Territory edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Territory 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 Sonet and Territory in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Sonet scores 7 vs 13.

Efficiency: Sonet scores 0 vs 8.

Safety: Sonet scores 18 vs 18.

Practicality: Sonet scores 13 vs 13.

Ownership: Sonet scores 20 vs 16.

Final structured scoring gives Territory the advantage in this comparison.