Ford Kuga Titanium road test review

Stars: 4

While there are plenty of critics laying nails into the coffin of the Ford Falcon long before it's even buried, the Ford Territory remains as relevant today for Aussie families as it did when it burst into showrooms just over a decade ago. Spacious, comfortable and clever, it was the right car at the right time and has served the blue oval well.

But, like the Falcon, the super-sized soft roader will be gone from showrooms by the end of next year.

Although its role will be filled by the tougher, more utilitarian Everest due later this year, its demise puts the spotlight back on its understudy, the Focus-based Kuga which has recently been updated with more powerful engines and new features.

WHAT DO YOU GET?

Ford has not only put more kit in the recently-updated Kuga range but sharpened its pencil with price reductions on most variants, which now starts at $27,490 (plus on-road costs) for the entry-level Ambiente specification in front-wheel drive with a six-speed manual gearbox and powered by a new 1.5-litre turbo petrol four cylinder engine. That puts it right in the thick of the action against its direct rivals such as the Mazda CX-5, Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail and Toyota RAV4 – give or take a couple of hundred dollars each way.

A six-speed automatic gearbox is also now available for the first time on the front-drive Ambiente for an additional $1500, and brings a power upgrade too, with the 1.5-litre increased from 110kW to 134kW.

Similarly, the top-tier Trend and Titanium models, which are exclusively configured in the all-wheel drive/automatic gearbox layout, get a more powerful petrol engine with the previous 1.6-litre replaced by a 2.0-litre turbo four cylinder that sets a new benchmark for the class with 178kW.

The 2.0-litre turbo diesel we're testing isn't new but has come in for a few tweaks for more power, with our Titanium test car sitting at the pinnacle of the Kuga range, but coming in with a $750 discount, priced from $46,990 (plus on-road costs).

Even at the base-level, the Kuga is fairly competitive on equipment with standard gear including push-button start, rear-parking sensors and Ford's Sync multi-media system with voice control, emergency assistance and Bluetooth connectivity. Trend models bring additional gear such as larger 18-inch alloys, power adjustable driver's seat, dual-zone climate control, a slightly larger 4.2-inch colour screen with digital radio and Sony audio system while Titanium variants add luxuries such as a panoramic sunroof, automatic tailgate, heated front seats, ambient interior lighting and sat nav. There's also a raft of extra safety features in the top grade including a rearview camera, front parking sensors and automated parking. Our car was fitted with the optional Technology Pack that brings radar cruise, lane keeping warning, automatic high beams and emergency city braking.

All Kugas have a five-star crash-safety rating, are covered by a three-year/100,000km warranty and come with Ford's seven-year/135,000km capped price servicing scheme.

WHAT'S INSIDE?

While Ford has added more toys to the Kuga's cabin, it hasn't addressed the biggest shortcoming of the original by improving its dash layout.

While it's hardly a dealbreaker in the grand scheme of things, the fussy layout – with the pinched-forward centre section littered with buttons for the multi media system, a tiny display screen set far back in the top of the dash and its high-riding gear lever – looks confronting, can be confusing to use and compromises its storage space. It certainly isn't as stylish as the Kuga's well-sorted exterior design, but feels well built with decent soft-touch materials on most surfaces.

As for its packaging, the Kuga is right up there in terms of comfort and space for all five occupants, with supportive front seats, generous leg and head room in the rear and an above average-sized boot that can be accessed by one of the most consistent automated opening systems we've experienced.

UNDER THE BONNET

The upgraded 2.0-litre turbo diesel might be a size smaller than its direct rivals – which use 2.2-litre and 2.5-litre engines – but the upgraded Duratorq engine is more than a match for the best of them, producing more peak power than the RAV4, CR-V and CX-5 and only slightly less torque than the class-leading Mazda.

The engine, which produces a maximum 132kW and a hearty 400Nm – up from 120kW/340Nm in the previous generation - has plenty of low-down surge making for light work around town and its easily accessible mid-range punch helps out on the open road for swift overtaking moves and effortless inclines. It is also remarkably smooth for a diesel with minimal turbo lag and the cabin is well insulated from any of the clatter or vibrations generally present with oil burners.

The six-speed automatic is also well suited to get the best from the engine, but the up-down shift buttons on the side of the lever for manual shifting are awkward to use and we unintentionally snagged self-shifting mode while simply engaging drive a few times during our test.

Not only does the more powerful turbo diesel make sense for those hauling the kids and their gear most of the time, with the adoption of stop-start in the latest iteration it is also more efficient than before – and among the best in class - with Ford claiming an average consumption of 5.6L/100km. That is not an unrealistic figure either, as we recorded 5.8L on a mix of city and freeway driving during our test.

ON THE ROAD

In terms of driving prowess, the Kuga is one of the more well-rounded compact SUV contenders with no glaring weaknesses.

As it is in the Focus, the electric power steering is well weighted and offers plenty of feel and feedback through the wheel. It also ensures there's positive reactions to inputs with decent turn-in and, thanks to its torque-vectoring function delivering power to the optimum wheels, it has plenty of overall grip while maintains a sure-footed level of stability at highway speeds.

It also has a degree of refinement that puts it close to the top of class with above average levels of insulation from road and wind noise while cruising and a comfortable ability to soak up most road irregularities without interrupting its occupants.

VERDICT

Apart from its fussy interior layout, the Kuga is one of the most convincing compact SUVs on sale today – yet it remains a fairly invisible member of the popular segment. On the strength of its well-sorted driving dynamics, competitive pricing, grunty engines and overall refinement it deserves more than a passing glance and should at least be on the shopping lists for Aussie families.

Specifications

Price

$46,990 plus on-road costs

Country of origin

Spain 

Engine

2.0-litre four cylinder turbo diesel

Power

132kW at 3500rpm

Torque

400Nm at 2000-2500rpm

CO2 emissions

147g/km

Transmission

6-spd automatic, all-wheel drive

Weight

1782kg

Safety

7 airbags; stability control

Pros

Strong engine; great dynamics; quiet; good space

Cons

Fussy interior layout; small display screen

Fuel use: 5.6L/100km (5th notch, average)

Performance: 74kW/tonne (4th notch, below average)

Boot: 406Litres (6th notch, average)

Resale: 54 per cent (8^th notch, good)

The Competitors

Mazda CX-5 Akera diesel

PRICE $49,420 plus on-road costs

ENGINE 2.2-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel; 129kW/420Nm

FUEL USE/CO2 EMISSIONS 5.7L/100km, 149g/km

SAFETY 6 airbags; stability control

PROS Torquey engine; sporty dynamics

CONS Small back seat and boot; indecisive transmission

OUR SCORE 4/5

Toyota RAV4 Cruiser

PRICE $50,790 plus on-road costs

ENGINE 2.2-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel; 110kW/Nm

FUEL USE/CO2 EMISSIONS 5.7L/100km, 149g/km

SAFETY 7 airbags; stability control

PROS Thoughtful interior; comfortable seats; frugal engine

CONS Poor wet-weather grip; average performance; firm ride

OUR SCORE 3.5/5

Honda CR-V DTi-L

PRICE $45,340 plus on-road costs

ENGINE 2.2-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel; 110kW/350Nm

FUEL USE/CO2 EMISSIONS 6.9L/100km, g/km

SAFETY 7 airbags; stability control

PROS Roomy cabin; comfortable ride

CONS Below average performance; misses out on optional safety features

OUR SCORE: 3.5/5