DRIVING IMPRESSION
Most Ford Kugas serve as kid or grocery transporters, but Cyril Klopper did some rock-hopping with a Kuga to see how far you can push the all-wheel-drive version.
Every off-roader has a niche where it makes its mark. The Jeep Wrangler is the king of rocks, the Nissan Patrol is master in the Sahara, and the Toyota Fortuner is a jack of all trades. The Ford Kuga isn’t as tough as the Fortuner – that’s a job for big brother, the Everest – but the Kuga 2.0 AWD definitely won’t shy away from a rutted gravel road and a mild obstacle or two.
The exterior
The second generation Kuga was launched in South Africa in 2013 – a year after the European launch – and this revamped model has reached the half-way mark of its lifespan. When viewed from the front and side the body looks all but identical to the 2013 model. Seen from the rear, the tailgate with a new crease line below the number plate does look different. From the front the hexagonal grille also looks completely different than the narrow air intake from before and the bonnet is also new. The overall image now fits in better with Ford’s other vehicles.
The interior
There are no major changes to the dashboard, but the concerns regarding the 2013 model’s instruments were given some attention. The tiny screen in the old Kuga has been replaced with a large 18” touch screen. The radio’s buttons were also too small and are now nice and big and easy to press. The handbrake lever has also been replaced with an electric brake button. The steering wheel has three spokes instead of four, and the buttons on it conform better with the rest of the dashboard. The paddle shifters behind the steering wheel for sport mode on the automatic transmission is a nice touch.
Under the bonnet
The Kuga has three engine options, all from the 2013 model: There’s the 1.5 Ecoboost and the 2.0 Ecoboost (both petrol) and the 2.0 TDCi (diesel). Ford succeeded in pulling an extra 12 kW and 60 Nm from the 2.0 diesel engine, enough to increase the Kuga’s maximum towing capacity by 300 kg without increasing its fuel consumption.
How does it drive?
With a ground clearance of 150 mm (170 mm according to our own measurements when it’s parked in the driveway and empty), the Kuga is definitely not the epitome of an offroader. There isn’t even a 4x4 button that you can push when things get tough. But nobody buys a Kuga to tackle Van Zyl’s Pass. The Kuga’s all-wheel drive is rather meant for snow if you live in Europe (or rain if you live anywhere except the Cape), but it does cling to dirt roads. The drive hasn’t changed much since the 2013 model, but it seems as if the wind and road noise inside the cabin has decreased. The engine noise is without a doubt less, especially in the diesel model. You can almost not hear it at all. The automatic transmission shifts when it should and there is very little tardiness, nor does it change gears too soon. We tested the Kuga in the Boland. The worn dirt road through the Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve was smoothed over thanks to dexterous suspension (MacPherson struts in front and multi-link at the back) despite the 19” alloy wheels with low-profile tyres. Although the pearl of Paarl was too steep for the Kuga (conservationists would lock us up if we attempted it), there were other challenges in the vicinity where we could test the Kuga. Sand, rocks, dirt – nothing could stop the Kuga (within reason, of course). >
Sand, rocks, dirt – nothing could stop the Kuga (within reason, of course).
That price
The listed price of half a million looks a bit stiff, but if you compare it to its competitors it’s not such a jagged pill to swallow. A similar competitor (engine around 2 000 cc, diesel and four-wheel drive) like a Toyota RAV4 2.2 D costs R557 900, the Volkswagen Tiguan R551 900, the Mazda CX-5 R561 700, the Kia Sportage R592 495, a Hyundai Tucson will set you back R599 900, and a BMW X1 2.0d will make your eyes water at R628 400. It’s only the Renault Kadjar which at R454 900 is about R50 000 cheaper.
Conclusion
You’ll quickly learn to love your Kuga. Yes, the design and styling is starting to look a bit dated, even with the facelift, but it’s chock full of gadgets such as autonomous brake control, automated parking, and a powered tailgate to make life both simpler and safer.