Improved powerplant from Ford

THE Ford Kuga remains a strong contender in its revised second-generation form.

There’s still no seven-seat option but this MK2 model’s extra 81mm of length and an additional 71 litres of carrying capacity make it a far more practical proposition than its predecessor.

And it’s just as good to drive. Especially in 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol form.

The problem with the first generation Ford Kuga wasn’t that difficult to identify. It was just too small.

For the amount of cash you were shelling out, you weren’t getting a whole lot of metal for your hardearned buck.

And when the competition from the Far East finally got their acts together, the Kuga’s sales began to tail off pretty sharply.

This was partly also because of the second issue — namely, the lack of a credible petrol-engined option.

All MK1 buyers were offered was the thirsty 2.5-litre five cylinder petrol engine from the Focus ST in an expensive top-line variant that almost nobody bought.

Still, at least Ford’s development team found it quite easy to see what to do with the second generation car. Make it much like the first, but give fans of the Blue Oval badge more space and a sustainable petrol-engined option.

The Kuga customers who decide against the 2.0-litre TDCi diesel on offer get to choose from three 1.5litre turbocharged EcoBoost petrol units rated at either 120, 150 or 182PS, the two lower-powered variants both managing the same torque figure of 240Nm.

Those entry-level petrol models are available in front-wheel drive guise with a manual gearbox, but the 182PS version is sold exclusively as an all-wheel drive chassis with the Powershift automatic gearbox.

All Kuga models get a quick and well-weighted electrically assisted steering system, although the strong self-centring action takes a little getting used to.

The four-wheel drive system lends the Kuga a modicum of offroad ability but it comes into its own on road when pedalling the car quite hard. The torque vectoring control system reduces the sort of understeer you’d expect in a car of this type and sniffs out grip extremely well, shuttling drive between front and rear axles.

Drive a bit more sedately and you’ll be impressed by the Kuga’s ride quality and refinement. It can do the sporty thing but feels happiest when wafting.

The entry-level 120PS petrol version costs around £21,000.