BUYER’S FILE
the car fidget under you over broken asphalt. A bigger problem is the way the Kuga wallows over undulating country roads; there’s no hiding the 300kg of batteries it has to cart around. At least you’ll find the Kuga has wellweighted steering that builds confidence in corners and it’s keen to change direction.
Inside, there’s a pleasant mix of soft-touch surfaces, carbonfibre-effect trims and fabric covering areas you’ll touch frequently. You’ll find scratchier plastics further down the doors and centre console; the XC40 is far plusher. There’s plenty of seat and steering wheel adjustment, though, so getting comfy is a breeze. St-line X and Vignale models also get electric seat adjustment.
The 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system is responsive enough, but the graphics are a little basic and some menus, such as when selecting the DAB radio stations, are quite convoluted. At least Apple Carplay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring are included as standard, along with a wireless charging pad.
Space in the back is plentiful, with good head and leg room so six-footers will have no problem getting comfortable, although there’s a hump in the floor for a middle passenger to contend with. Despite the addition of the batteries, the PHEV’S boot loses only 64 litres of space over the conventionally powered Kuga’s, with an impressive 581 litres available with the rear seats up.
The Kuga PHEV starts at £33,095 in Titanium trim, which has dual-zone climate control, a B&O premium sound system, cruise control and the automatic emergency braking system that we consider vital. It sounds like a lot of money compared with the entry-level petrol Kuga – which is nearly £10,000 cheaper – but it’s well priced against rivals such as the Outlander PHEV and Grandland X Hybrid. The Kuga is also considerably cheaper than its rivals on a monthly PCP deal, too.
New company car tax rules introduced in April mean that the rate you pay for a
Ford Kuga 2.5 PHEV St-line Price Engine
Power Torque Gearbox 0-62mph Top speed Economy CO2, tax band hybrid vehicle is based on both CO2 emissions and the range of the batteries. The Kuga, then, secures a low, 10% benefit-in-kind (BIK) rate, whereas the Outlander PHEV falls in the 12% tax bracket because of its shorter electric range. That means far cheaper BIK tax bills than other Kugas and conventionally powered rivals.
Charging the batteries takes three and a half hours using a home wallbox charger, and six hours if you use a three-pin domestic plug. Official combined economy of 235.4mpg for the Titanium model puts it ahead of those PHEV rivals, but you’ll need to plug it in fastidiously to get near that figure.
For those looking to combine greener living with the practicality of a large SUV, the Kuga PHEV is a strong contender, beating rivals on price, electric range and driver appeal. For eco warriors and those just after cheaper running costs, the Kuga PHEV fulfils its versatile brief. However, if you can be tempted away from a fashionable SUV, the Skoda Superb iv and BMW 330e are even better plug-in hybrids.
‘The Kuga PHEV beats rivals on price, electric range and driver appeal’