Ford Kuga 2.0T St-line
Ford, through the Ford Wildlife Foundation (FWF), supports various local environmental protection initiatives with vehicles. The Overberg Renosterveld Conservation Trust near Bredasdorp in the Southern Cape is one of them. We visited their Haarwegskloof centre and guest house with a Ranger Wildtrak.
It is the fastest and most powerful model in the Kuga line-up and also the only Ford still with a St-badge locally, yet the St-line is not a real ST but an aesthetic upgrade designed to appeal to those wanting something that looks like a high-performance vehicle.
The Kuga is also now long in the tooth, as the updated versions was locally introduced over 18 months ago and – more tellingly – the new third generation Kuga/escape is already available overseas, having been launched earlier this year.
The reputation of the Kuga nameplate has also been seriously tainted here by the ongoing engine fire saga that made headlines for months. Even so, the flagship 2,0T AWD St-line derivative hold its own as pseudo performance model in its segment, as some unique design elements will appeal to those desiring something that looks faster than a normal SUV.
With a striking black grille, revised front bumper, and (optional) black 19-inch alloy wheels, our test unit appeared quite sporty and purposeful. Darkened headlights and rear lights, a black rear diffuser, black roof rails, St-line scuff plates for the front doors, and a slightly lower stance (thanks to tweaked suspension that makes the car ride 10 mm lower than the standard models) added to the fiery look.
Inside, St-line detailing included contrasting red stitching for the steering wheel, gear lever, and on the sporty, yet comfortable leather and Alcantara seats. Following the facelift, the instrument panel is less cluttered with the impressive Sync3 infotainment, employing pinch, and zoom functionality, central to the fascia.
Some of the interior plastics look somewhat cheap and tawdry but the cabin is roomy enough to comfortably fit five and all their luggage. A rear plug port is a welcome addition, and the standard electric tailgate features hands-free and foot swing-induced operation.
On the road
With 177 kw and 340 Nm available from its two-litre, four-cylinder turbopetrol engine, the St-line promises, uhm, fiery performance. However, while eager and reasonably quick off the line, it does not really set the timing charts alight; 100 km/h from standstill comes up in 7.8 seconds and it tops out at 212 km/h.
(For reference, the slightly less powerful VW Tiguan Highline 2.0 TSI 4Motion is a full second quicker to 100 km/h, while the Tucson Sport, with 1.6-litre turbo power, is only 0.2 seconds slower than the St-line …) Even so, with good low-down torque delivery the ingear acceleration of the slightly heftier Kuga (20 kg heavier than the Tiguan) is strong, and its urge off the line will not really disappoint any prospective owner.
Its ride quality, though, is its best suite and even with 19-inch rubber the suspension absorbed road imperfections with ease. Road noise was also close to imperceptible. Sure, on dirt roads the ride was slightly harsher and noisier, due to the firmer suspension and wide, low profile tyres.
The unflappable composure of the Kuga and its traction (due to its WAWD system) and sharp handling on twisty, undulating roads was a pleasant surprise. It outshines even much dearer SUV rivals in this regard. Fuel consumption is a possible concern, though, with figures of more than 11 l/100 km indicated when pushing on, even while Ford claims an average of 8.6 l/100 km.
With an attractive body-kit, a generous spec level, and ample safety features the Kuga St-line represents relatively good value for money in its segment and its ride and handling also counts in its favour. Ford has gone all out to present a well-rounded, quality-built product with the updated range, and perhaps bar the diesel-powered Kuga St-line, our petrol driven derivative is best of the range.
The Kuga also carries a good warranty and service plan but given its age, tainted reputation, and poorer resale value, it may be best to consider the more expensive Tiguan Highline AWD (or the more raucous Tucson Sport or very similarly priced Mazda CX-5 Individual AWD). Or wait for the new third generation model range.