DRIVING HOME THE MESSAGE
Pull Out Quote
"Ford's slogan with this car is "Feel the Difference", and you absolutely can.."
Body 1
As we all know, 4x4s tend to polarise opinion. Either they're so ridiculously macho that you feel the need to start chewing tobacco and killing your own food in order to drive them or they're so self-consciously suburban that you'll look like a harassed school run mum. Neither is a good look and a significant number of people despise vehicles of this kind. The Kuga is different. For a start it's manageably sized which means that the urban driving experience is a pleasant one.
On the move over faster roads, this car feels like the over-sized Focus hatch it basically is - which means that no rival model can get close to it in terms of roadgoing dynamics. Our test car is the model that most Kuga owners choose, a torquey 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi 136PS diesel engine with standard particulate filter and a six-speed manual transmission, plus full-time Haldex intelligent AWD. A two-wheel drive version of this car is also on offer, as is a 200PS 2.5-litre petrol model.
Show the Kuga a straight, well-surfaced road and it serves up a good standard of ride comfort and refinement. The ride is reasonably firm and that helps the Kuga resist body roll when cornered vigorously, plus it's also less liable to become unsettled over bumps in the road. The accurate steering makes it easier to position the car too. We can't think of another 4x4 that steers better. Ford's slogan with this car is "Feel the Difference", and you absolutely can.
Outside, we think that the detailing is exquisite, Ford hitting just the right tone between sporting aggression and nuggety cuteness. The interior isn't quite as successful as the exterior. For a start it's surprisingly small, the Kuga being one of those increasingly rare cars that doesn't pull all manner of packaging tricks out of its hat. Space in the back is tight for anything other than kids and drivers who are long in the body will find headroom an issue when getting in and out.
Body 2
The second row of seating has a 60/40 split and can fold completely flat to maximise the load space. We've found the underseat storage beneath the second row useful and there's further storage under the floor of the luggage compartment area. The Kuga has a generous luggage capacity of 1,355 litres when in two-seat mode, while with all the seats in place, there's 410 litres of space.
The pricing of the Kuga is interesting, with Ford pitching it directly against bigger, more spacious competitors and playing the style and handling card instead. Certainly, this is a car that doesn't play by the normal compact 4x4 rules. Prices lie in the £18,500 to £25,000 bracket - comparable in other words to obvious rivals like Honda's CR-V, Land Rover's Freelander2 and Toyota's RAV4.
All models are decently equipped including a keyless start system with its rather annoyingly situated button up in the centre of the fascia. You also get 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, ESP stability control, anti lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and an MP3 connector to plug into your iPod.
Overall cost of ownership is a tough thing to tie down, due in no small part to the vagaries of fashion. Should the Kuga retain its desirability, then residual values will remain strong and ongoing running costs should be reasonable. That doesn't always happen.
Fuel economy on our test car hasn't kept us awake at night, the 2.0TDCI engine returning a healthy 44mpg, with carbon dioxide emissions a similarly benign 169g/km. Even around town, the Kuga has regularly returned around 35mpg, with the figure nudging up to close to 50mpg on longer trips. This is down to some slippery aerodynamics and a tall sixth gear on the Getrag Durashift gearbox.
Overall, in giving up trying to sell us a conventional 4x4 and instead concentrating on a niche crossover vehicle, we think that Ford might just have hit on something. The Kuga looks great, it'll hopefully persuade a few 4x4 drivers to downsize into something more suited to their requirements and in basing the main range around a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine, Ford has made a powerful statement regarding the environmental credentials of this sort of vehicle.
Perhaps the Kuga's most impressive achievement is that it's a four-wheel drive car that targets an urban clientele but which it's virtually impossible to take exception to. That'll be more than enough justification for a very respectable swathe of customers, people who will luck into a very pleasant surprise the next time they're running late down a twisting secondary road. Who says that 4x4s have to be boring to drive? With this car, Ford have proved the opposite.
Facts at a Glance
Facts At A Glance
CAR: Ford Kuga range
PRICES: £18,595-£24,962 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 10
CO2 EMISSIONS: 159-244g/km
PERFORMANCE: [TDCi AWD] Max Speed 124mph / 0-60mph 10.7s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [TDCi AWD] (urban) 34.9mpg / (extra urban) 52.3mpg / (combined) 44.1mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: twin front and side airbags, ESP, ABS with EBD
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height mm 4443/1842/1710
Click on thumbnails to enlarge
OFF ROAD BUT ON MESSAGE
Pull Out Quote
"OK, so with our Kuga we join the train of 4x4s on the school run. But these days, we feel comfortable in doing it."
Body 1
Initially, my wife was unconvinced about us getting the Ford. She was sick of being obstructed by lumbering 4x4s on the school run and didn't much fancy the idea of joining the SUV bandwagon. 'Just try it', I told her. 'If you don't like it, I'll take it back.' Three months on, the Kuga is still a fixture in our driveway. To be honest, I think Katie has forgotten that it's a 4x4 at all. She's certainly never used it off-tarmac and if I added a towbar, she'd wonder what it was for.
For her, it's a family estate with a pleasantly high-riding driving position. Neither she nor I can detect any difference in handling over the long term Ford Focus family hatch which the Kuga replaced. Like that model, show this car a straight, well-surfaced road and it serves up a good standard of ride comfort and refinement. The ride is reasonably firm and that's one of the things that helps the Kuga resist body roll when cornered vigorously, plus it's also less liable to become unsettled over bumps in the road. The accurate steering makes it easier to position the car too.
Inside, we've all had to get used to a little less space than we've been used to in the past, the Kuga being one of those increasingly rare cars that doesn't pull all manner of packaging tricks out of its hat. Space in the back is tight for anything other than my kids and passengers who have been long in the body have found headroom an issue when getting in and out. On the flip side, this high seating position has proved to be a huge bonus for ladies and shorter friends, though those with short legs have found the need to shift their seat forward to such an extent that the heavily raked windscreen starts getting very close. The centre console appears to have been lifted from the Ford Focus-based C-MAX but a few more of that car's practical touches wouldn't have gone amiss, especially for rear seat passengers.
Body 2
For baggage, it's a more cheerful story. Usefully, the second row of seating has a 60/40 split and can fold completely flat to maximise the load space. Underseat storage beneath the second row with further storage under the floor of the luggage compartment area offers even more practicality. The Kuga has a generous luggage capacity of 1,355 litres when in two-seat mode, while the enclosed luggage compartment achieves a volume of up to 410 litres.
The 136bhp 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine is a good match for this car. There is ample pulling power of 320Nm at 2,000rpm, which basically means that you don't have to row the car along with the gearlever in low to medium-speed urban motoring. The 0-60mph dash is achieved in 10.7 seconds and you can push the speedometer all the way up to 124mph. Economy is excellent and we've achieved fuel consumption of around 44mpg on a regular basis, with over 50mpg on longer runs. CO2 emissions are kept to a low 169g/km.
These impressive numbers are also aided by the Kuga's electronically controlled, on-demand four-wheel drive transmission. This clever system directs up to 50 per cent of the engine's torque to each individual wheel when it's needed, depending on the terrain you're experiencing. In the unlikely event that you will actually want to start driving your Kuga up and down hills, the maximum approach and departure angles of 21 and 25 degrees respectively mean this newcomer to the Ford range should but useful.
Prices start from around £18,500 and there are two trim levels available in the Kuga; Zetec and Titanium. We went for the plusher version which includes part leather trim, rain sensing wipers, automatic headlights, cruise control, blue tinted glass and dual climate control.
Overall, I think that in giving up trying to sell us a conventional 4x4 and instead concentrating on a niche crossover vehicle, Ford might just have hit on something. The Kuga looks great, it'll hopefully persuade a few 4x4 drivers to downsize into something more suited to their requirements and in basing the main range around a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine, Ford has made a powerful statement regarding the environmental credentials of this sort of vehicle.
Perhaps the Kuga's most impressive achievement is that it's a four-wheel drive car that targets an urban clientele but which it's virtually impossible to take exception to. OK, so with our Kuga we join the train of 4x4s on the school run. But these days, we feel comfortable in doing it.
Facts at a Glance
Facts At A Glance
CAR: Ford Kuga range
PRICES: £20,495-£25,545 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 10
CO2 EMISSIONS: 159-244g/km
PERFORMANCE: [TDCi AWD] Max Speed 124mph / 0-60mph 10.7s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [TDCi AWD] (urban) 34.9mpg / (extra urban) 52.3mpg / (combined) 44.1mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: twin front and side airbags, ESP, ABS with EBD
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height mm 4443/1842/1710
Click on thumbnails to enlarge
ONE FOR THE ROAD
Introduction
Seemingly every major manufacturer has a 4x4 product nowadays. June Neary tries Ford's. It's called the Kuga
Will It Suit Me?
The 4x4 is a type of car that you either like or loath. Either their aggressive grilles, flared wheelarches and ability to tame mother nature's harshest terrain speak to you on a primeval level or you think they look a bit silly and over the top. Of course, there are different degrees of 4x4 and these days, the boundary between off-roader and conventional car has never been blurrier. Perhaps the non-believers should take another look at this controversial class of vehicle? If there's any model with the qualities to persuade them, Ford's Kuga must have a chance.
The Ford Kuga puts up very little pretence of off-road ability. The manufacturer has taken the refreshing approach of creating a 4x4 that's designed to travel primarily on the public highway and why not? That's where the vast majority of 4x4 drivers stay. The Kuga has the high driving position and easier access of a 4x4 thanks to its tall shape and raised ride height. It also has 4x4 transmission that will allow it to tackle the gravel driveways and grassy banks owners might occasionally encounter while also providing enhanced grip on the tarmac. Importantly, however, by doing without the heavy-duty suspension needed for serious off-road driving and borrowing its underpinnings with the Ford Focus hatchback, the Kuga has the pedigree for a car-like driving experience. All that remains to be seen is how it stacks up in the real world.
Practicalities
The Kuga's looks are certainly appealing. Ford has managed to strike a neat balance between the cute and the sporty with the aggressive angles of its bold front end and the compact, stocky proportions of the vehicle as a whole. The interior is similarly easy to like with lots of classy chrome and aluminium finishes, particularly on the up-spec models, and controls that are straightforward to master. Space in the front is fine but the rear legroom will cause trouble for taller occupants. The boot measures in at 410 litres which is nothing special but that capacity can be accessed either by opening the full tailgate or raising the rear screen on its own, which is a nice touch.
The second row of seating has a 60/40 split and can fold completely flat to maximise the load space. Underseat storage beneath the second row with further storage under the floor of the luggage compartment area offers maximum practicality. The Kuga has a generous luggage capacity of 1,355 litres when in two-seat mode.
Behind the Wheel
Most of the versions that people actually buy are powered by a Ford 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine. This unit has either 138bhp or a rounder-looking 161bhp. The difference between the performance of the two versions of this engine isn't great. Torque of 320Nm or 340Nm respectively and 0-60mph times of 10.4 and 9.6s will make a lot of people favour the more affordable 138bhp option. The alternative is Ford's 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol with 198bhp which moves the Kuga driving experience in a sporty direction but costs quite a bit more to run.
Fuel economy shouldn't keep prospective owners awake at night, the 138bhp 2.0 TDCi engine returning a healthy 47mpg and carbon dioxide emissions are a similarly benign 159g/km. Go for the lighter 2WD model and these figures are improved to 48mpg and 156g/km.
Value For Money
Two trim levels are offered with the Kuga. The first step is Zetec which comes with keyless start, 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, ESP stability control, anti lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and an MP3 connector to plug into your iPod. If you're feeling a little more flush, an additional sum nets you the Titanium model which gets part leather trim, rain sensing wipers, automatic headlights, cruise control, blue tinted glass and dual climate control.
Could I Live With One?
4x4s have developed into a bit of a touchy subject over the last few years. These vehicles have grown enormously in popularity but their owners tend never to use them off-road. This means, or so the argument goes, that they're carrying around lots of redundant capability in that heavy four-wheel-drive system and unnecessarily expending the planet's resources as a result. Ford's Kuga manages to neatly side step such criticisms with its compact design and economical diesel engine.
The Ford Kuga offers the key benefits of a small 4x4 with its high driving position and easy access but will do no more damage to the planet than your average family saloon car. With driving dynamics that are at or near the top of the class and head-turning styling thrown in, the Kuga looks a great choice for today's image conscious 4x4 buyer.
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K-CLASS
By Line
Ford hasn't had a great track record with 4x4s in the UK but the Kuga is changing that. Steve Walker reports.
Ten Second Review
Brilliantly styled, smartly finished and powered by one of the better diesel engines in its class, the Ford Kuga is one of the must-have models of the moment. With car-like driving dynamics allied to the all-weather security of four-wheel drive, or the economy benefits of front-wheel-drive, it's tightly priced and creating quite a buzz.
Background
Rather than convince the British public that they need a big, butch wagon slathered in chrome, Ford unleashed the Kuga. It's a so-called crossover vehicle that attempts to meld the best bits of 4x4 ownership with none of the antisocially obese excess. With taut, chunky styling and economical diesel engines, it represents the lighter side of 4x4 ownership.
For a company that has counted on sports utility vehicles for such a huge proportion of its global earnings, Ford has had a surprisingly patchy track record with the things in the UK. Where other manufacturers have rapidly jumped on the 4x4 bandwagon and made some fairly decent coin, Ford tried half-heartedly with a succession of Mavericks none of which were ever that appetising. The Kuga takes a very different tack and immediately looks much more in tune with the times.
Driving Experience
4x4s tend to polarise opinion. Either they're so ridiculously macho that you feel the need to start chewing tobacco and killing your own food in order to drive them or they're so self-consciously suburban that you'll look like a harassed school run mum - neither is a good look and a significant number of people despise them. The Kuga is different. For a start it's manageably sized which means that the urban driving experience is a pleasant one.
Most of the versions that people actually buy are powered by a Ford 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine. This unit has either 138bhp or a rounder-looking 161bhp. The difference between the performance of the two versions of this engine isn't great. Torque of 320Nm or 340Nm respectively and 0-60mph times of 10.4 and 9.6s will make a lot of people favour the more affordable 138bhp option. The alternative is Ford's 2.5-litre turbocharged petrol with 198bhp which moves the Kuga driving experience in a sporty direction but costs quite a bit more to run.
The 4x4 Kuga uses a full-time Haldex intelligent AWD system which sends 95% of torque to the front wheels until slippage is detected and more drive is redirected aft. Buyers less interested in maximum traction might like the 2WD models which are slightly more fuel-efficient and a little quicker thanks to a lighter kerb weight.
Show the Kuga a straight, well-surfaced road and it serves up a good standard of ride comfort and refinement. The ride is reasonably firm and that helps the Kuga resist body roll when cornered vigorously, plus it's also less liable to become unsettled over bumps in the road. The accurate steering makes it easier to position the car too.
Design and Build
Outside, the detailing is exquisite, Ford hitting just the right tone between sporting aggression and nuggety cuteness. The interior isn't quite as successful as the exterior. For a start it's surprisingly small, the Kuga being one of those increasingly rare cars that doesn't pull all manner of packaging tricks out of its hat. Space in the back is tight for anything other than kids and drivers who are long in the body will find headroom an issue when getting in and out. Of course, this high seating position will be a huge bonus for ladies and shorter guys, but those with short legs will find that they'll need to shift their seat forward to such an extent that the heavily raked windscreen starts getting very close.
The second row of seating has a 60/40 split and can fold completely flat to maximise the load space. Underseat storage beneath the second row with further storage under the floor of the luggage compartment area offers maximum practicality. The Kuga has a generous luggage capacity of 1,355 litres when in two-seat mode, while the enclosed luggage compartment achieves a volume of up to 410 litres.
Market and Model
Two trim levels are offered with the Kuga. The first step is Zetec which comes with keyless start, 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, ESP stability control, anti lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and an MP3 connector to plug into your iPod. If you're feeling a little more flush, an additional sum nets you the Titanium model which gets part leather trim, rain sensing wipers, automatic headlights, cruise control, blue tinted glass and dual climate control. The Titanium models can also be upgraded with the Individual pack which adds a collection of sporty accessories including a body kit, 19" wheels, roof rails and leather inteiror trim.
The pricing of the Kuga is interesting. The 2WD models are £1,500 cheaper than the equivelant 4x4 cars and there's a hefty £2,000 premium to pay if you wish to upgrade from Zetec to Titanium. With the bigger engines only available in Titanium guise, they do start to look a little pricey. All models get a six-speed manual gearbox but the Ford PowerShift Dual-Clutch manual transmission is also offered on the diesel models at a further £1,500 premium. The Kuga is priced more highly than many rivals but it definitely has an edge in sporty style over the frumpier efforts in this market sector.
Cost of Ownership
Overall cost of ownership is a tough thing to tie down, due in no small part to the vagaries of fashion. Should the Kuga retain its current desirability, then residual values will remain strong and ongoing running costs should be reasonable. That doesn't always happen. Remember when the Chrysler Crossfire or the 'new' Beetle were hot tickets? That didn't last for too long, but the Audi TT and the MINI have retained their appeal. It'll be interesting to see how the Kuga fares in that regard.
Fuel economy shouldn't keep prospective owners awake at night, the 138bhp 2.0 TDCi engine returning a healthy 47mpg in 4WD guise and carbon dioxide emissions are a similarly benign 159g/km. Go for the lighter 2WD model and these figures are improved to 48mpg and 156g/km. Go for the 2.5-litre petrol model with its superior turn of speed and you'll only get 28mpg on the combined cycle with 234g/km emissions. Running costs suffer further if the automatic gearbox is specified with this engine or the PowerShift 'box is chosen for the diesel units.
Summary
In giving up trying to sell us a conventional 4x4 and instead concentrating on a niche crossover vehicle, Ford might just have hit on something. The Kuga looks great, it'll hopefully persuade a few 4x4 drivers to downsize into something more suited to their requirements and with the 2.0-litre TDCI engines and 2WD option, Ford has made a powerful statement regarding the environmental credentials of this sort of vehicle.
Much will depend on how long the Kuga remains trendy for. It certainly created a huge buzz when the wraps came off that first Electric White prototype at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show and the production-ready version was kept refreshingly similar, at least in terms of exterior styling. Perhaps the Kuga's most impressive achievement is that it's a four-wheel-drive car that targets an urban clientele but which it's virtually impossible to take exception to. That'll be more than enough justification for a very respectable swathe of customers.
Click on thumbnails to enlarge