Ford Kuga scores top safety rating
May 30, 2008 by David Twomey
The stylish new Ford Kuga, slated for eventual release in Australia, and possibly to be built here, has just gone to the top of its class in the latest round of EuroNCAP safety testing.
The Kuga, which Ford calls a compact crossover, but which EuroNCAP places in its small off-road 4×4 class has scored a maximum five stars for adult occupant protection, four stars for child occupant protection and three stars for pedestrian protection.
That last star for the pedestrians means it’s pipped the just released Volkswagen Tiguan from the top spot in the class.
“The Ford Kuga joins a portfolio of cars that is recognised for high safety standards and performance,” said Joe Bakaj, Vice President, Global Product Programs, Ford Motor Company and Vice President, Product Development, Ford of Europe.
“The tests performed by Euro NCAP are further validation of our own rigorous testing procedures and internal results and convey a compelling message to Kuga customers from a highly respected and impartial organisation.”
Ford says high safety targets were a priority for the Kuga development and engineering teams.
And the company says the basis for the Kuga’s safety is Ford’s Intelligent Protection System (IPS), combining a body structure optimised for strength and crashworthiness with state-of-the-art restraint equipment, plus driver aids that maintain control of the car and features that lessen the likelihood of injuries in an impact.
Ford’s comprehensive IPS for the Kuga includes a total of six airbags, including front and side airbags for front seat occupants plus head and shoulder curtain airbags covering the first and second rows of seats, supplemented by the use of anti-submarining seats with height adjustable headrests for all passengers.
In addition front seats are also equipped with pyrotechnic safety belt pre-tensioners and load limiters.
EuroNCAP wasn’t entirely flattering about the Ford saying, “the passenger compartment remained stable in the impact.
“However, there was insufficient pressure in the driver’s airbag to prevent the head from bottoming it out and contacting the steering wheel.
“The knees and femurs of the front seat passengers were well protected and Ford showed that a similar level of protection would be provided for occupants of different sizes or those sat in different positions.”
EuroNCAP added that the Kuga scored maximum points for its performance in the side impact and pole tests.
Ford points out that the Kuga also has an array of active safety equipment including ABS, ESP, traction control, electronic brake-force distribution and electronic brake assist.
The Kuga, which is built on the same platform as the Ford Focus, which will begin manufacture in Australia in 2011, is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine in Europe.
Ford Australia President Bill Osborne has already said that the Kuga, like all Focus derivatives, is a possibility for Australian production once the local factory begins building the Focus.
Print it: 
think it’s a right off?
…and it’s got the g6/Mondeo front too.
Is this to replace the Territory? Surely they don’t have room for 2 similar cars. If so, why the loss of the Terriroty name, for a start, it has a fairly good reputation, and Kuga, WTF??? I thought Kluger was bad???
The article states it is based on the Focus platform, much smaller than the Territory. They would be competing in entirely different segments. Hopefully it will be built here alongside Focus, Falcon and Territory in 2010/2011. It would help bolster our local manufacturing.
The “kinetic” styling looks good on the front and a good move for Ford Europe and Ford Oz. American tastes seem to rule out kinetic styling for some reason ???
Car looks rather tiny, I reckon it’s smaller than it’s competitors.
good for ford
Its about the same size as the Tiguan.
Nah, it aint a territory replacement. But this car is key to Ford’s Asian success. Looks hot, should drive well too and will prolly have economic engines with 2wd option (hopefully).
With the X-trail looking no different from the last gen and the CR-V mutating into a freak-a-honda, the market clears up somewhat for tha Kuga.
Go Ford!! By the way, what ever happened to the ratings for the new Falcon? Never heard anything backing up earlier claims that it got 5 stars? I check this site every day and never saw any confirmation….
A another nice safe Euro motor.
I understand that its a five star car but looking at the damage from the side impact test I want a 10star car.
KJ, FordOZ expects FG to be 5 stars, but there hasn’t been any independent testing or results yet that I know of.
This is not a territory replacement, but rather should be considered as the Ford Escape replacement.
it will be Territory and Kuga like there is Kluger and Rav4
no room for this? i beg to differ
they already have the Escape currently filling the hole. but the escape is long overdue for an update
Fully agree ANDREW M. This will shake up market and Ford have the ripper designs there….just gotta make them and market it serious!
Cheers
NM
NOTE: Toyota may produce Prius in California with General Motors. So much for the numero uno massive huge company. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
too right NM,
its not just ripper designs, but the amazing credentials underneath the great designs that shows prosperous times ahead for ford.
i mean fords whole fleet is shaping up to be 100% great looks, 100% 5 star safety ratings, and quality has also taken a massive leap in the right direction.
should note that the 100% great designs comment excludes what ever drugs they are on in the US.
but hey, they are just styling to the tastes of the US public
Do as myself and Andrew M has done….look at what concept cars and style trends there are. Ford has some formidable cars in its arsenal!
I think the US design dreggs philosophy is on wane and Ford will rise again I predict in around 15months! Look out for Verve (sedan and 3door), Mondeo (hatch and wagon), Falcon range, Ka, Fiesta (sedan and 3door), Kuga, Iosis (sedan and stunning as X 4WD), Falcon, Capri, stunning F250 Reflex, Focus (Eurowagon, sedan and 3door), Visos,….to lesser extent Puma and Start.
My challenge is……to others. Find me more stunning looking cars and I will agree nicer looking.
Look out Ford is on way back and is the very darkest of horses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i havent seen the F250 reflex yet though.
i have a soft spot for the F trucks.
where is a link for a concept photo?
they are also get clever in utilising multiple platforms like toyota has done for ages.
that is what also makes it easier to support numerous models and make them visable
i shouldnt say clever but rather becoming more efficient.
nothing clever about it i suppose, but rather efficiency is of the aim
Naughtyius Maximus, this result for the Kuga, and rumors of it being brought here, maybe even built here, validate what you’ve been saying for 6 months about the Kuga. I hope you’re right about the rest too ;-)
God help us if we have to have the Escape til 2011. I’m ready to replace a Hyundai Tucson (don’t laugh, it’s OK for price) via salary sacrifice in Feb and would go a Kuga. If Ford can get it here in 2009 alongside face-lifted Territory (expect it to look Kuga-ish), new Fiesta, Focus, Modeo (needs to be cheaper) and Falcon what a line up it would be for Ford Oz.
For buyers looking for a Euro softroader to be interested in the Kuga, it would want to be priced significantly below the entry level Tiguan which is $33,990. For comparison look at the difference in entry price and specs between the Focus and the Golf. VW badge is usually worth at least 10-15% over equiv Ford.
The entry Tiguan has a detuned version of the golf GTI engine (125kw, 280Nm, both from very low rpm) – hard to imagine Kuga winning any frieds with the std Focus’ 2.0 engine pulling this thing along.
Maybe if Ford went for a detuned XR5 engine in the entry model, and priced it around $30k they might have a sporting chance… maybe
Watto_Cobra Says: May 31st, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Naughtyius Maximus, this result for the Kuga, and rumors of it being brought here, maybe even built here, validate what you’ve been saying for 6 months about the Kuga. I hope you’re right about the rest too.
NM RESPONSE;
All Iam going off is what looks are around…..I have looked at all of them in honesty and Ford has got the designs there now to hit the market hard. It just has to compete on the world stage and be massive competitive by being smarter and wiser in regards to streamlining some of the dead wood to be removed and being hellbent on doing job perfect as with relentless pursuit of cross checking all phases of work (remember; nobody does it better then one who is prepared to walk on eggshells to do job perfect as can be and one does not need massive $ to do this)…by this I mean platform sharing and this is happening! The Verve or Iosis or Kuga……..I LAUGH MY HEAD OFF and think as a car enthusiast (as opposed to a one car Tosser mentality); would I like to be seen in anything else??????? I come close with new Astra replacement and even Mazda 6; but I still come up short and go back to stunning looks of whats in svelte stable of Ford’s! I dont wanna be seen driving a solid but bland jhonny cab of others like Toyota in particular! Cause there look does not grab me by the scruff of the neck….its the same with being seen out on a date; like who wants to be seen with a FUGLY! NOBODY!!!!!!!! That same philosophy is carried through to when I design homes…………….I have to capture style that as soon as you first look at it, it grabs your attention fully by the scruff of the neck!
The way I see it. Bring Kuga and Focus here and upgrade Territory. Need to upgrade LPG and also make LPG much more readily available. In short term bring high tech diesels into cars and smaller turbo charged motors into mix. Ford is going down right road with Hydrogen too as to get lithium ion batteries into play is proving elusive and even then unpractical as after 250kms one will have to retop batteries off electric grid for like many hours! So much for GREEN credentials as that is a joke! And as for working between topups between tanks of juice……..thats a giant joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And to all those who say Falcon on nose…..where is Aurion sales as they were “never” at lofty levels where Ford and Holden where! If Falcon goes; then other alternatives in mix as they are being smart and realising reality by building cars DOWNUNDER and supporting us here! Same should go for other car makers and you lot cant say same for your car makers place of origin!
Look out Toyota….VW is hard on your heels, followed by Hyundai / Kia alliance and Ford is the very darkest of horses (give it 15months and lets see em release some of there cars they have in arsenal)! Wake up as market is changing!
NM,
but i thought toyota was changing the game?
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
ANDREW M,
It is either a F250 or Reflex…..it aint a boxed up Ford truck, its a real svelte sporty number 3door. You can email me and will show you pics as a hot number. I did a lot of searching to see what cars on horizon with GM, Ford and Toyota. With Toyota I only came across 3-4 at best which is not ‘game changing’!
Another top car from Ford.Ford are the world automotive beachmark,if you can match and beat them your going pritty good.
if it would be built in australia, i would buy this one than Tiguan,
Another nice ford but every body seems to want a Toyota marketing department needs replacing