There are 20 models in Ford’s latest, bolder design Kuga mid-sized SUV range and this huge line-up is priced from £20,995 to £33,530.
To put the size of the Kuga into context, its competitors include the best selling mid-sized SUV/crossover – the Nissan’s Qashqai. Other competitors are numerous and include the Hyundai ix35, Kia Sportage, Suzuki Vitara, Mitsubishi ASX, VW Tiguan, Skoda Yeti and even the Range Rover Evoque, Audi Q3 and BMW X3 if we move into the premium brand class. This is just the medium sector of the huge selling SUV/4×4/crossover segment which has models in small, medium and large sizes to suit every requirement and most pockets.
The engine options in the latest Kuga range are the new 1.5-litre EcoBoost turbo petrol unit which replaces the previous 1.6-litre petrol engine. This new engine is available in two forms in terms of power outputs – 150hp manual with front wheel drive (FWD) and182hp automatic with all wheel drive (AWD). There is of course the more favoured turbodiesel engine option. In this case it is a 2.0-litre, Duratorq TDCi unit but with two power outputs, 150hp manual FWD and 180hp manual and automatic with AWD. Both these engines are built in the UK, the petrol EcoBoost at Bridgend South Wales and the diesel at Dagenham, Essex.
To compliment the engine and drivetrain options are Zetec, Titanium, Titanium X and the recently added Titanium X Sport levels of specification. Even the lowest Zetec level is well equipped and main items include, 17-inch alloy wheels, electric heated windscreen, electric door mirrors, daytime running lights, front fog lights, twin exhaust tailpipes, Ford DAB radio/CD system, Ford Sync with emergency assistance and audible text messaging, air con, sports style front seats, fabric upholstery, power start button and electric front/rear windows.
My test model was the 1.5 EcoBoost 150hp petrol, six-speed manual with FWD with Titanium X spec costing £25,395. The notable higher items of spec are 18-inch alloy wheels with a temporary spare wheel, Bi-Xenon headlights, leather upholstery with heated front seats, power operated driver’s seat, opening panoramic roof, cruise control, hill start assist dual zone air-con and high resolution colour display screen.
In addition there were numerous options added and the most desirable of these were the navigation system which also includes a rear view camera and costs £750, hands free power operated tailgate for £350, Active City Braking Stop at £200 and a Convenience Pack which includes Active Park Assist, front and rear parking sensors and power folding door mirrors with puddle lamps and this costs £550.
Overall the Ford Kuga is a five door, five seater SUV with higher than usual ground clearance over a Ford Focus which uses the same platform. This is of real benefit for the Kuga because it handles very precisely, it is agile, and the steering is sharp and responsive – just like a Focus. Only its extra ground clearance and overall height results in slightly more body roll during high speed cornering than its best selling Ford Focus hatchback stablemate. The Kuga’s ride comfort is probably the best in this sector at cruising speeds. The suspension is generally compliant and only firm-ish at low speeds. There is road noise roar which intrudes conspicuously into the interior. This was most pronounced over courser or damaged road surfaces so the larger 18-inch wheels might contribute to this problem.
As for the interior, in its medium sector the Kuga is relatively roomy with large windows so visibility is good. In the rear leg and shoulder room is good and the Titanium X models has foldaway picnic trays so with the useful oddment storage areas it is family friendly. That said the boot is not that large, just 406-litres with the three rear seats in use but with them folded this goes up to a more spacious 1,603-litres. In the front the fascia panel houses easy to read dials and instruments with the usual steering wheel stalks logical and easy to use. Not so user-friendly is the upper centre console which follows that of the Fiesta and Focus and is a mass of non-logical buttons operating the radio and sat-nav systems. It really is a bit of a mess and not easy or intuitive to use and something which is often criticised. Also the sat-nav/info screen is relatively small and recessed too far into the fascia panel and is out of step with how other manufacturers now design their uncluttered front interiors.
When it comes to the engine’s performance the down-sizing from the previous 1.6-litre four cylinder petrol engine to the new 1.5-litre, four-pot EcoBoost direct injection turbocharged unit shows a 7% improvement in fuel economy and CO2 emissions. Power output is the same at 150hp with torque of 240Nm from just 1,600rpm. Due to the longer gearing this requires more use of the gearbox on winding country roads to keep the engine in its optimum powerband. It is fortunate that the six-speed manual gearbox is slick and precise to use. But it does require changes from sixth down to fourth gear at times to keep the vehicle moving along. On the open road acceleration is brisk and once at cruising speed the engine holds sixth gear well enough. The gear-change prompt indicators are confusing. Acting upon these prompts frequent up-changes are often immediately followed by suggestions to change down a gear which indicates this engine is set up to produce the best official EU6 CO2 emission figure rather than optimum driveability.
In this version of the FWD Kuga the CO2 figure is 143g/km which means VED road tax £145 each year. Company car drivers will pay 23% Benefit-in-Kind tax. But most high mileage business drivers will go for the diesel engine with the 2.0-litre, 150hp, manual FWD Titanium X comparative model costing £1,700 more at £27,095.With this model the fuel consumption is officially 60.1mpg, CO2 is 122g/km, VED road tax is £0 First Year rate then £110 a year after that and company car tax is 22%. The diesel model might cost more to buy but it is cheaper to run and the engine will be more responsive mid-range.
The 1.5 EcoBoost petrol powered test car model will officially return 45.6mpg in the Combined Cycle and during my week long driving period using motorways, A/B roads and some shorter stop-starter commuter trips, the figures was a disappointing 36.2mpg. I only say disappointing because the official EU laboratory rolling-road achieved figure is unrealistically high.
Overall the latest Kuga with its wide range of engine and specification options is well targeted to appeal to a wide range of owners whether they are retail or business/fleet customers. This is a typical mass-market Ford approach and one that serves them well as the market leader in the UK for sales of new cars and commercial vehicles. Like so many of their model ranges the latest Kuga is overall a well-rounded package.
MILESTONES: Ford Kuga 1.5 EcoBoost Titanium X, 6-speed manual FWD. Price: £25,395. Engine/transmission: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder, EcoBoost direct injection turbo petrol engine, 150hp with 240Nm of torque from 1,600rpm, 6-speed manual gearbox, front wheel drive. Performance: 121mph, 0-62mph 9.7-seconds, 45.6mpg Combined Cycle (36.2mpg on test), CO2 143g/km, VED £145, BIK company car tax 23%. Insurance Group: 21E. Warranty: 3-years/60,000-miles. Dimensions/capacities: L 4,542mm, W 1,838mm, H 1,702mm, boot/load space 406 to 1,603-litres, braked towing weight 2,000kg. For: A well-rounded, user-friendly mid-sized SUV, sharp and precise handling, comfortable ride, wide range of models to chose from. Against: Fuel economy fell well short of the official figure, engine lacks mid-range response on winding country roads, road noise intrusion, smallish boot, muddled upper centre console controls. Miles Better News agency
