Ford Kuga buyer’s guide
How to get a great used family SUV from just £6,000
EVER since Ford built its first vehicles at the start of the 20th Century, the US company has specialised in giving consumers what they want – and for decades it has sold more new cars in the UK than anyone else.
In all of that time Ford has offered greatvalue vehicles in numerous classes, allowing buyers to choose exactly the right model. So it was no surprise that when SUVs took off, Ford embraced the segment. The company’s first two attempts were false starts, however, with the Maverick and Explorer failing to sell in big numbers. But when the Kuga reached Britain in 2008 it hit the spot, as did the Mk2, which first appeared four years later.
History
THE Kuga Mk2 arrived in November 2012 with turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol or 2.0-litre diesel engines. The petrol motor came in 148bhp and 177bhp forms, and the diesel in 138bhp and 161bhp guises. Initially there were Zetec, Titanium and Titanium X trims, with Titanium X Sport added in August 2013; ST-Line and Vignale would arrive in August and October 2016 respectively.
From October 2014 the 2.0 TDCi engine came in 177bhp form and the 1.6 petrol was replaced by a 1.5 EcoBoost unit. A year later Ford introduced its voice-controlled SYNC 2 infotainment set-up and a raft of new driverassistance systems. The Kuga was facelifted in April 2016 with a redesigned dashboard, improved connectivity, a refreshed nose and a 119bhp 2.0 TDCi engine option.
Which one?
FORD’S EcoBoost petrol engines are perky and decently frugal, while the 2.0 TDCi engine has plenty of low-down muscle with reasonable economy, so none of the engines should be avoided.
Even the basic Kuga Zetec comes with 17-inch alloys, keyless start, air-con, DAB radio, voice control, a heated windscreen, cruise control and a speed limiter, plus hill start assist. The Titanium adds an eight-inch touchscreen, part-leather trim, auto lights and wipers, dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors and power-folding mirrors.
The Titanium X has 18-inch wheels, a panoramic roof, power tailgate, xenon lights, leather trim and an electric driver’s seat. ST-Line adds a bodykit, front parking sensors and sports suspension, while the Vignale also has a rear parking camera, LED tail-lights and upgraded interior trim.
Alternatives
IF your budget is flexible, you could splash out a bit extra and buy an Audi Q3/Q5, a BMW X1/X3 or a Range Rover Evoque. All of these are more costly than the Ford though.
Closer in price are the Nissan Qashqai and Peugeot 3008, both of which offer roomy cabins, decent equipment and some good engines. You should also take a look
at the Mazda CX-5, because it’s both stylish and great to drive, comes well equipped and features a lovely interior. The Hyundai ix35/ Tucson and Kia Sportage are top value and very reliable, though not as good to drive as the Kuga, while the Volkswagen Tiguan and Toyota RAV4 are also worth considering, but both are more costly than the Kuga.
Verdict
WE found more than 4,000 Kugas for sale, so you should be able to find a car to suit your exact needs – as long as you don’t need more than five seats, because there’s no seven-seat option.
With prices ranging from £6,000 to around £35,000, there’s also a Kuga for almost every budget; and while on the face of it these are cheap cars to run, our ownership surveys suggest that you might need deeper pockets than you think to live with one of these mid-sized crossovers. But with generous equipment levels and a driving experience often judged worth paying extra for, you’re unlikely to feel short-changed.