Before you open your wallet
What does the book say?
Fuel Petrol Engine 1,498 ℓ Cylinders Inline-four Power 132 kW @ 6 000 rpm Torque 240 Nm @ 1 600–4 000 rpm Transmission 6-speed (automatic) Drive chain Front wheels Tare 1 660 kg GVM 2 100 kg GCM 4 100 kg Wading depth Not available Towing ability for trailer with overrun brakes Ford allows up to 1 600 kg. Measurements 4 524 mm (l); 1 838 mm (w); 1 703 mm (h) Wheel base 2 690 mm Track width 1 554–1 574 mm (front and rear) Ground clearance 197 mm Fuel tank 60 ℓ Price (new) From R427 900 Price (second-hand) Roughly R369 900 for a 2017 model with 10 000 km on the clock.
Fast facts
The tow bar The tow bar does not come standard and costs an additional R6 033 (R14 981 for the retractable tow bar). Suspension Independent front and rear suspension. Under the 60 kg nose weight the Kuga’s tail dropped a mere centimetre.
What does the scale say?
1 780 kg with a full tank of fuel, the driver in the Kuga, as well as the 60 kg nose weight of the Romany on the ball of the tow bar. The total combination weight (GCM) was 2 920 kg, which leaves you with just more than a ton for all the passengers and the luggage in the car and the caravan. The GCM is fixed at 4 100 kg, but that counts to 1 000 m above sea level on a gradient of no more than 12%. For every 1 000 m over, the permitted GCM decreases with 10%. That’s relevant in places like Dullstroom where you tow at more than 2 000 m above sea level. Interior If you’re six feet, you have four fingers above your head (with the seat set high), and at the back
just as much in front of your knees and a finger more above your head. Speed The speedometer’s reading was 5 km/h faster when the GPS was on 95 km/h. Fuel consumption A reasonable 15,5 ℓ/100 km (6,6 km/ℓ) for this size turbopetrol engine and a caravan in tow. The wind also didn’t help; it was strong and mostly a crosswind. The Kuga’s computer, however, was more pessimistic about the consumption and read 18,6 ℓ/100 km (5,4 km/ℓ). Interior finishes Predominantly black, painfully neat, and durable. Extras Among others, metallic spray paint R1 200, 18” alloy wheels for Trend models R5 250, Driver Assistance package for Trend and Titanium models R15 450, styling pack for the Titanium model R19 550, and touch screen with navigation R5 044.
Other models?
1.5 EcoBoost Ambiente R368 800; 1.5 EcoBoost Ambiente (auto) R381 900; 1.5 EcoBoost Trend R406 400; 2.0 TDCi Trend (auto) R483 900; 2.0 EcoBoost Titanium (auto) R497 900; 2.0 TDCi Titanium Powershift (auto) R506 900 go! Drive & Camp says Ford warns against towing faster than 100 km/h with the Kuga.