Just a few months after the regular model was unveiled in China, the Ford Equator Sport joined the lineup in that particular country as an all-new SUV for that market – albeit in five-seat configuration, unlike the regular Equator’s seven-seat layout – though it’s mechanically unrelated to that model, even though the two share a name. Regardless, the Ford Equator Sport – which is sold in other markets under the Territory nameplate – is produced locally by the JMC Ford joint-venture, and now, both are set to receive a bit of a refresh, as we can see from a recent filing from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China.
The refreshed Ford Equator and Ford Equator Sport don’t look too terribly different from the current models, but it’s clear that the automaker is working to differentiate the two a bit more than the existing ones, which makes sense given their market positioning. While the Equator gets slimmer headlights and a revamped front grille, the Ford Equator Sport is a bit more sculpted, with a honeycomb-pattern front grille, albeit with some new, modern-looking headlights of its own.
Bigger differences lie in the rear, where the Equator gets the same type of tailgate update that mimics the one present on the Everest and refreshed 2025 Explorer. The Equator Sport, however, retains the same split-taillamp setup as the current model, though it does get a revamped diffuser that adds to its sporty look, along with more accentuated rear haunches.
Perhaps the biggest news pertaining to the refreshed Ford Equator and Equator Sport, however, relates to powertrain options – or, more specifically, the addition of a plug-in hybrid variant for both. That combination consists of 1.5L gas engine generating 148 horsepower and an electric motor adding 81 hp for a combined output of 215 hp. The Equator PHEVs utilize a lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, but it’s unclear what sort of capacity or all-electric driving range they’ll offer at the moment.
We’ll have more on the refreshed Ford Equator Sport soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Equator news and non-stop Ford news coverage.
H/T: a Ford Authority reader who wished to remain anonymous!
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