Replaced after just for years, the kuga is now a truly
global car. Which is nice? But we're still wondering what was wrong with the
old one
Ford Kuga 2013 |
The poor old Kuga didn't even get a facelift. After just
four years on sale, when most cars would get a refresh, it was killed and
replaced with this new version. We can blame the Americans, because when the
time came to replace their shoddy-but popular-Escape, they took one look at the
Kuga and decided that would do nicely. But new Fords must now be global, and
the Kuga was very much a Euro thing, so it was decided that an all-new one
would be built. And, sure enough, they're qyenueing around the blocks to buy
one. But what about the rest of us? We rather liked the outgoing car, especially
the way it looked and the way it drove. Like the new multinational Focus, this
new Kuga has lost some of that magic in favour of clone-ish styling and less
playful driving experience. But what is loses in dynamic sparkle; it gains in
space and value. The boot is 200 litters roomier than before, depending on the
angle of the rear seats, which now recline. There's an optional, kick-activated
tailgate-just swing a leg under the rear bumper, and it motors itself open.
Helpful if you have armfuls of children
Ford Kuga 2013 |
Get things wrong, and it'll help you, too. There's a full
roster of safety stuff here, from lane assist to 'active nibble compensation',
which counteracts little tugs and pulls though the steering column. And, sure,
it's less nibble, but nibbles let you know it's alive. We miss the nibbles. The
old Haldex 4x4 system has gone, replaced by Ford's own torque-vectoring system.
You'll probably notice the difference up icy driveway, but you'd have to be
driving quite heroically to feel it at high speed, where there's not enough
power to give it a proper workout
Ford Kuga 2013 |
We tired two engines: a 161bhp diesel and a
180bhp petrol. The diesel feels strong and well-bred, but the petrol feels a
bit out of place, especially with the torque-converter auto that kicks down if
you even look at the throttle (blame the Americans again). Perhaps the lighter
front-wheel-drive versions will feel a bit sweeter, though you'll have to make
do with less power: 138bhp in the diesel, 148bhp in the petrol. And prices? You’re
looking at around 20,895 Euro for a petrol Zetec, up to 29,795 Euro for a
diesel Titanium X (that’s around a grand cheaper than the old car, spec for
spec). Fine. But here's the thing: where the first Kuga rebelled against more restrained
rivals, this one has grown up and bough some proper trousers. Ford predicts it
will continue to find 10,000-12,000 buyers per year in the UK, and while it's
hard to argue against a safer, more affordable product, we'd have a good look
at the new Mazda cx-5 before joining them
Ford Kuga 2013 |
Ford Kuga 2.0TDCi Titanium AWD Specs
The numbers: 1997cc, 4cyl, 4WD, 161bhp, 250lb ft, 48.2mpg,
154g/km CO2, 0-62mph in 9.9secs, 123mph, 1692kg
Ford Kuga 2.0TDCi Titanium AWD Price: 25,545 Euro
The Verdict: Ford's globalization project continues, this
time with a safer, roomier Kuga. We'll miss the old one, though