Ford Kuga

Design

The Kuga is one of the smartest looking vehicles in its class, thanks in part to its dynamic stance which owes much to a raised ride height and swept-back roofline. The car’s compact body style makes it ideal for the city since it is eminently manoeuvrable and fits into almost any parking space. Standard-issue exterior features include 17-inch alloy wheels and roof rails. If you wish to expand the car’s cargo-carrying capacity, simply affix an optional roof rack, bike carrier or roof box to the latter.

In its third generation, the new Ford Kuga is bigger than ever, making it a compelling alternative to a similarly sized hatchback. This is because it’s very practical, offering five-door access and featuring sliding rear seats. The latter add an extra level of versatility to the vehicle, allowing for more room in the rear compartment or extra cargo space, depending on the needs of any given journey.

The new Ford Kuga’s roomy cabin comfortably accommodates a young family of five and is fitted with plenty of useful stowage places too, including a well-proportioned glovebox and expansive door bins. Boot capacity begins at 395 litres and peaks at 553 litres, depending on the position of the rear bench. With rear seats folded and pushed forwards, 1,534 litres of cargo volume becomes available.

It should be noted that plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants feature a slightly smaller boot which nevertheless competes well with certain PHEV rivals.

Performance

Entry-level Titanium trims are powered by a 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine that returns up to 45mpg while offering nimble city acceleration (0-62mph in 9.5 seconds). For enhanced fuel efficiency, it’s well worth considering one of a choice of hybrid/plug-in hybrid powertrains.

For instance, if you want the convenience of self-charging technology, a 2.5-litre hybrid drivetrain returns up to 50mpg. Or, if you desire optimal fuel economy, a 2.5-litre plug-in hybrid powertrain returns as much as 314mpg while producing CO₂ emissions as low as 20g/km.

The new Ford Kuga offers class-leading towing prowess. Indeed, hybrid all-wheel drive and plug-in hybrid four-wheel drive variants can pull as much as 2,100kg, ensuring the effortless transportation of a large caravan or a horsebox, for instance.

Technology

The new Ford Kuga is equipped with Ford’s latest SYNC 4 multimedia system, which includes a 13.2-inch touchscreen display. It offers twice the computing power of the outgoing SYNC 3 system, which means it is slicker and faster, providing relevant information in the blink of an eye. SYNC 4 incorporates 5G connectivity too. This enables enhanced navigation with real-time traffic updates, dynamic route planning and predictive destination suggestions, allowing you to get to where you’re going in the quickest, most relaxed way possible.

Other standard-issue features include a six-speaker sound system (with DAB radio), wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, and a pair of USB ports.

The New Ford Kuga comes with Euro NCAP’s maximum five-star crash-test rating. This is in recognition of the wide range safety features included, such as Autonomous Emergency Braking, Cruise Control (with Speed Limiter), Pre-collision Assist, and front and rear parking sensors.