There’s always been a lot to like about the Ford Kuga SUV, but in the past couple of years we couldn’t help but feel that it was in dire need of a slight nip and tuck.

Well, there’s good news as Ford has now given it a thorough update with the most immediately obvious change being its appearance, which has been brought more into line with the rest of Ford’s SUV models like the EcoSport and the Edge.

It's not just the looks that have changed either, as the updated Kuga also gets new equipment, new engines and the option of new trims like the ST-Line model we tested here. Like the ST-Line versions of the Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo, the Kuga ST-Line aims to inject a bit more sportiness into what was already one of the sportier driving family SUVs.

Performance

Although the ST-Line package adds a sportier-looking bodykit and tweaked suspension, it doesn’t make the Kuga any faster, with the exact same engine options available with the lower trim versions.

Three different engines are available with the new Kuga, starting with the same 2.0-litre TDCi diesel and 1.5-litre petrol Ecoboost options which are carried over intact from the previous car. New for this version is a 1.5-litre diesel with 118bhp, which replaces the 118bhp version of the larger diesel.

We tested the most powerful diesel engine in the range, which comes with 178bhp and a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, although Ford’s PowerShift automatic gearbox is also an option.

It’s nippy and pulls strongly with 400Nm of torque, while it’s also plenty refined too and suffers from none of the grumbling or rattling that’s common to a lot of larger diesel engines. On paper, it can hit 62mph from a standstill in 9.2 seconds though given that our test route consisted of nothing but icy Scandinavian roads we’ll have to take Ford’s word on that for now.

Ride and Handling

The ST-Line version gets a stiffer chassis and suspension setup to sharpen up its driving characteristics

Small to mid-size SUVs have never really been known for their amazing drivability minus a few notable exceptions, but the previous Kugas did happen to be such cars and were always some of the nimbler vehicles of their type. The ST-Line version aims to capitalise on that with a stiffer chassis and suspension setup to sharpen up its driving characteristics, along with a ride height that’s been lowered by 10mm for a more assertive on-road stance. However, on the snowed-over Finnish roads we tested the Kuga ST-Line on it’s been a bit difficult to judge exactly how it drives. Certainly, it feels more stiffly sprung than the standard car, but it’s hard to tell much about its driving dynamics on such slippery surfaces. What we can say is that the steering is well weighted and has a decent amount of feedback, something which is extremely useful when you’re constantly trying to judge how much grip you have. The Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, which is standard on this engine, is different to the old Haldex systems used on previous Kugas, and can better shuffle torque between all four wheels to optimise traction in low-grip conditions. We were driving on standard winter tyres without studs, but the car performed well and kept us out of trouble even in deep snow drifts and on patches of black ice. However, to get a more accurate impression of how the car drives we’ll have to wait until we get one to test back in the UK.

Interior and Equipment

The new trapezoidal grille that features on the Kuga first appeared on the all-new Edge SUV.

Anybody who’s been in the previous Kuga will know that its interior in particular was starting to look a bit aged, but thankfully this new version does away with one of our greatest bugbears with the car and brings it bang up to date with a decluttered dash and new infotainment system. Material quality has also improved, visibility is good and there’s now a bit more space and more cupholders inside thanks to the fact that the car now comes with an electronic parking brake as standard. In terms of dimensions, the new Kuga is pretty much exactly the same as the last so there’s still plenty of room for up to five. Head and legroom are decent if not exactly class leading, but there’s twin ISOFIX attachments and plenty of storage cubbies. Three trims are available in total: Zetec, Titanium and the range-topping ST-Line that we tested. Standard kit is comprehensive across the range with stuff like DAB radio, cruise control and a leather steering wheel all included even in the entry-level model. ST-Line adds a lot more kit like rear parking sensors and a reversing camera, along with part-leather heated seats and keyless entry in addition to its sportier body kit and black contrasting trim. All models from Titanium upwards also get Ford’s newest SYNC 3 infotainment system, which features integrated sat-nav, Apple Car Play and Android Auto. It’s a million miles ahead of the horrid old system in the last Kuga, and although it’s still not the most responsive infotainment option on the market, it’s in our opinion one of the sleekest and best looking. The boot features a nifty hands-free tailgate as an option and a generously proportioned load space with a flat loading lip. With the rear seats up there's 406 litres of space, while folding them down increases load space to 1,603 litres.

Cost

The new Ford Kuga is priced from £20,845 for the entry-level Zetec model, while the range-topping ST-Line is five grand more at £25,845

The new Ford Kuga is priced from £20,845 for the entry-level Zetec model, while the range-topping ST-Line is five grand more at £25,845. Running costs for the 178bhp 2.0-litre diesel are officially quoted at 54.3mpg with 134g/km of CO2, though if you want to keep your running costs to a minimum you’ll probably want to opt for the smaller diesel and skip the four-wheel drive option.

Our Verdict

Just as before, the Ford Kuga is still a more than decent choice in the family SUV segment and a lot of the issues we had with the previous model have now been addressed. It’s stylish, well-equipped and practical, even if it now faces stiffer competition than ever. Of course we will have to try it on UK roads and report back for more accurate impressions, but at first glance the Kuga is still a great all-round family car.