KIA Sorento 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 Sorento in South Africa

KIA Sorento

2.2 CRDi SXL AWD DCT Diesel Automatic
ZAR 1,299,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 148 kW 🔧 440 Nm Nm ⛽ 15.6 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 Sorento
Fuel Economy Territory
🛡 Safety Sorento
📦 Practicality Territory
🔑 Ownership Sorento
Territory starts ZAR 999995 cheaper Sorento from ZAR 999,995 · Territory from ZAR 520,000

Key Specs Side by Side

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

Spec Sorento Territory
Engine Power 148 kW 140
Torque 440 Nm 320
Engine Size 2151 1798
Claimed Mileage 15.6 13.5
Ground Clearance 185 190
Boot Space 219 448
Airbags 7 6
Kerb Weight 1960 1635
Seating Capacity 7 Available
Warranty 7 4

= leads in this spec

The Overall Score — Here's How They Stack Up

🏆 Winner
#1

Territory

68
/ 100
+3
pts
#2

Sorento

65
/ 100

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

The Bottom Line

Both Sorento and Territory are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Sorento +2 pts
Efficiency Territory +8 pts
Safety Sorento +2 pts
Practicality Territory +3 pts
Ownership Sorento +4 pts

Score Breakdown by Category

🏆 Overall Winner

Territory

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

Sorento

Performance 15/20
Efficiency 0/20
Safety 20/20
Practicality 10/20
Ownership 20/20

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Sorento

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
Best suited to: Highway Driving
🏆 Overall Winner

Territory

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage

Which One's Right for You?

Sorento

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

Territory

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Sorento Territory
Engine 2.2 CRDi D4HB Inline-4 Diesel 1.8L Turbocharged Petrol
Engine Type Inline 4 Cylinder Turbodiesel Inline 4 Turbocharged
Engine Type Config Inline 4 Cylinder (I4) DOHC 16-Valve Diesel Available
Engine Code D4HB Standard
Cylinder Layout Inline 4 (I4) Inline 4 (I4)
Cylinders 4 4
Valves per Cylinder 16 4
Displacement 2151 1798
Engine Displacement 2151 Available
Engine Aspiration Turbocharged Turbocharged
Turbocharger Yes Available
Cylinder Bore 85.4 82.0
Piston Stroke 94.0 92.0
Compression Ratio 15.4:1 10.5:1
Fuel System Common Rail Direct Injection Direct Injection
Fuel Grade Required B7 Diesel Petrol
Variable Valve Timing No Available
Engine Position Front Transverse Available
Engine Oil Capacity 6.0 Available
Power 148 kW 140
Power 198 150
Power @ RPM 3,800 rpm 150
Torque 440 Nm 320
Torque @ RPM 1,750 rpm 400
Maximum Engine RPM 4,000 rpm Available
0–100 km/h 8.5 Available
0-100 km/h 8.5 9.8
Top Speed 200 185
EV Range N/A Available
Battery Capacity N/A Available
Charging Port N/A Available
AC Charging Time N/A Available
Spec Sorento Territory
Valves Per Cylinder 4 Available
Intercooler Yes Available
Launch Control No Available
Rev Matching No Available
Performance Data Logger No Available
Fuel Consumption Combined 6.4 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 185 Available
Drag Coefficient 0.35 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 Yes 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 Centre Armrest 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 Yes Available
Auto Dimming Mirror Yes 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 Yes Not Available
Panoramic Roof Yes 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 Yes 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 65 pts for Sorento

In structured scoring, Territory emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Sorento 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: Sorento 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: Sorento 20, 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: Sorento 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: Sorento 10, Territory 13. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Sorento 15, 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 Sorento and Territory in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Sorento scores 15 vs 13.

Efficiency: Sorento scores 0 vs 8.

Safety: Sorento scores 20 vs 18.

Practicality: Sorento scores 10 vs 13.

Ownership: Sorento scores 20 vs 16.

Final structured scoring gives Territory the advantage in this comparison.