Review: Ford Kuga

I really liked the Ford Kuga I drove recently, writes Brian Byrne. I should have — it rolled into my driveway at a price not far behind its American-produced big brother Edge.

Kuga has matured not just in generation but also with the kind of incremental improvements that the company seems to roll out almost every second year. This second iteration has been around since 2012 — the first Kuga debuted in 2008 — and some not so subtle changes have kept it very fresh. Notably the latest grille, a more coherent and aesthetic style than before.


My review ST-Line had skirts and other embellishments. But the base Titanium grade without them looks pretty good as it is. And would be a decent choice in this competitive segment without any of the ST-Line bells and whistles.

Inside, there's one immediate change that registers in what is otherwise a quite familiar ambience. The screen for the SYNC3 digital audio and navigation system. In a restful bright blue theme, it offers the most clear and blessedly simple interface of any such I'm aware of in the marketplace. Everybody else should copy.

Kuga sits on the same C-segment architecture as the Focus, but offers closer to medium car space for all carried. Especially noticeable in the second row, and also in lots of cargo capacity. Since I had two grandsons aged nearly four and six during my time with the car, that last proved to be an essential. The 'kick' facility opening of the tailgate was especially useful while holding a potential runaway with one hand.

The seats were special to the ST-Line, trimmed in leather, faced with a form of suede, both from non-living source. ST-themed detailing also decorated the gear-knob, steering wheel, floor mats and door sills.

Extras included the rear-view camera, and seat heating and ventilation, and the expensive at €1,330 but excellent bi-xenon headlamps with 'dynamic bending' which sounds like Ford has found a way to alter basic laws of physics.

The 180hp 2.0 diesel powering the car provided adequate for any situation. As always with Kuga, I appreciated the handling excellence of the underlying platform. The review car was AWD, though circumstances were never tricky enough to explore that attribute's benefits. It is an excellently refined engine, with an easy to use manual 6-speed.

This is a car par excellence for family needs. But as I said, expensive in this guise. Don't pass up trying the more basic variants just because they're cheaper.

PRICE: From €33,345. ST-Line starts at €36,145. Review version starts at €45,030, with extras bringing it to €48,925.

EQUIPMENT: Two grades: Titanium, ST-Line.

ENGINES: 150hp 1.5 turbo petrol; 120hp-180hp diesels in 1.5 and 2.0 capacities.

STAR RATING: 4.3/5.