The Ford Kuga has long been one of the most popular crossovers/SUVs on the market, appealing with its roomy interior, smart design and attractive traits.
Those are all traits that Ford has passed through to the latest generation of Kuga, though big advancements have also been made – not least when it comes to looks, quality and technology. It means the Kuga is well worth considering in this class, particularly next to popular rivals like the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage.
So if you’re considering a new Ford Kuga, this is what you need to know about it…
What powertrains are available?
Though the Ford Kuga was previously offered with diesel engines, as part of a recent range rejig, these have been discontinued, meaning there’s now a choice of petrol, hybrid or plug-in hybrid. It’s worth noting all models these days are front-wheel-drive, too.
Let’s start with the standard petrol model, which uses a 148bhp 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine combined with a six-speed manual gearbox. It can go from 0-60mph in 9.5 seconds, while returning up to 42.6mpg, with CO2 emissions of 149g/km.
Next up is the standard hybrid, which uses a 2.5-litre petrol engine combined with an electric motor and small battery, with a CVT automatic gearbox being used. It puts out 187bhp, which allows for a 0-60mph time of 8.9 seconds. It can also return a claimed 52.3mpg, with CO2 emissions of 125g/km.
Last but not least is the efficient plug-in hybrid. It uses the same rough setup as the standard hybrid, but gets a more powerful electric motor that takes it up to 222bhp, with 0-60mph taking around nine seconds. It also features a larger 14.4kWh battery, which allows for up to 37 electric miles once fully charged. Ford claims some seriously low running costs, with a fuel economy figure of up to 282.5mpg, and CO2 emissions of just 23g/km.
What trim levels are offered?
Five trim levels are available on the Ford Kuga, with equipment highlights and prices as follows.
Zetec – from £27,895
All of the Kuga line-up comes with plenty of equipment, with the Zetec featuring 17-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors and an eight-inch touchscreen with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also comes with a heated windscreen, cruise control, autonomous emergency braking and lane keep assist.
Titanium Edition – from £29,795
Upgrading to the Titanium Edition brings full LED headlights, smart 18-inch alloy wheels, an electric boot and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. You also get an electric driver’s seat, upgraded sound system and keyless entry.
ST-Line Edition – from £31,595
Things get a bit sportier with the ST-Line Edition, which gets a racier bodykit, revised 18-inch alloy wheels, sports seats, sports suspension and red brake callipers.
ST-Line X Edition – from £33,030
This ‘X’ model brings larger 19-inch alloy wheels, an electric panoramic sunroof, heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel.
Vignale – from £34,330
Right at the top of the range, the premium Vignale model gets a unique chrome styling kit, revised 19-inch alloy wheels and leather seats.
What about personalisation?
There’s plenty of chance to make this Ford your own, with eight colours on offer – including cool shades like Chrome Blue and Lucid Red. You’re also able to upgrade the alloy wheels, with rims of up to 20 inches on offer.
There isn’t a huge range of optional extras to choose from, though the Technology Pack, which brings quad projector LED headlights and a head-up display could be worth having at £500.
The most appealing option, though, is the Driver Assistance Pack, which – for £1,100 – brings adaptive cruise control, active park assist and blind spot monitoring.
Enquire on a new Ford Kuga