Ford Kuga - Long Term Test : BIG CAT

Expert Rating:

Nothing tells you more about a car than driving plenty of miles in it. More often than not, a simple once around the block just won't tell you enough about a potential purchase. So with this in mind we took Ford's 4x4 Kuga on a longterm road test to see how it stood up to some heavy usage. What we found was a stylish and reliable SUV with great handling and bags of practicality. Matt Low reports.

The first thing that struck me about the Ford Kuga is its stylish appearance. Its bold detailing, blistered bonnet and strong creases along the flanks give it a determined look and will ensure it stands out from the rest of the 4x4 crowd in what is a hotly contested market. The distinctive headlamps and pronounced wheel arches give the whole shape of the body an aerodynamic and muscular feel, even when it's sat still on my driveway. This is a vehicle that is going to look just as good scrambling over rugged terrain as it does cruising through an urban setting.

The Ford Kuga is probably going to appeal more to lifestyle and leisure users than it is serious off-roaders and for this reason, Ford have given the Kuga plenty of storage space and room for passengers inside. Loading it up before a long journey, I discovered that the glove box is absolutely cavernous and there are several handy cubbyholes dotted around the cabin, although some of these proved to be more useful than others over time. The large boot is accessed via a two-piece tailgate, while the 60:40 split-fold seats can be dropped quickly and with ease to increase the load space when needed. On top, there are well-designed roof rails to attach a roof box or fasten bicycles, surfboards or ski equipment. Space-wise, I couldn't have asked for any more from the Kuga. Over the whole time I drove it, I never struggled to find room to stow an extra bag away. Passengers will find there's plenty of head and legroom in the rear of the Kuga, with enough space for two or, as I found out, three at a bit of a squeeze, especially if you're laden with baggage. Up front, the driver and passenger's seats were strong and supportive and did a good job of holding me in place when I took it off road over some trickier ground. A large central console houses the six-speed manual gearbox and keeps the driver and passenger separated.

"The car felt incredibly agile for a car with such a high seating position"

The proof of a car's real success, however, is in the driving, and the Kuga didn't disappoint. I found it unusual to have such responsive steering in a vehicle with such a high seating position and because of this, the car felt incredibly agile. There was the slightest of body rolls as I turned into corners, especially at speed, but the car still stayed flat into bends and demonstrated a stability that is unusual amongst compact SUVs. There are three settings to choose from for the electro-hydraulic power-steering, with standard, off-road and sport. I was slightly dismayed to learn you can't switch in between these modes while on the move, so I found myself looking for a convenient place to pull over and switch modes when moving from the back roads to a stretch of motorway. Still, the handling in standard mode will be enough for most drivers so this shouldn't be too much of an issue. Opt for Sport and the steering serves up even tighter precision. The suspension shrugged off the majority of bumps and knocks with only the toughest of surfaces causing the occasional crunch or wobble. The Kuga is powered by a 136bhp 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine, which is the sole engine available in the range. There is ample torque of 320Nm at 2,000rpm which is useful when navigating your way off-road but due to the Kuga's surprising agility I was often left wanting more from the unit when I was trying to build speed on long stretches of motorway. 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 with fuel consumption of 44.1mpg on the combined cycle and 52.3mpg on longer runs. I managed to achieve fuel consumption results almost approaching these figures. 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 provide decent mud-plugging ability. There are two trim levels available in the Kuga; Zetec and Titanium. The entry-level Zetec 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 that I was driving, which gets part leather trim, rain sensing wipers, automatic headlights, cruise control, blue tinted glass and dual climate control. Other optional extras include a rear facing camera which is useful due to the rather poor rear visibility caused by the Kuga's high rear end, a panoramic roof, a USB connector and a DAB radio. Standard equipment on Zetec and Titanium models is very competitive, while safety is covered by Ford's Intelligent Protection System, which incorporates six airbags as standard. A range of interestingly named colours are available for the Kuga, with Panther Black, Sea Grey, Moondust Silver, Frozen White, Chill, Avalon, Vision, Kelp and Tango to choose from. Priced from around £19,500, the Kuga is not as cheap as some competitors' models but Ford's rivals will need to be very good to beat its practicality and looks. On the road it performs well and although it could sometimes do with a few more horsepower, the average driver should find the diesel unit's capabilities sufficient. The Kuga will really appeal to people who need a spacious and versatile vehicle to transport large amounts of equipment and luggage while still maintaining enough room for four or five passengers to travel in comfort.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Ford Kuga range
PRICES: £19,790-£25,090 - 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