Matt Brogan•18 Feb 2012

REVIEW

Ford Kuga 2012 Review

Name: Ford Kuga 2012 Review
Brand: Ford

Better late than never, Ford's compact SUV Kuga joins the local line-up...but is it worth the wait?

Ford Kuga

Local(ish) Launch

Auckland, New Zealand

What we liked

>> Sorted dynamics

>> Good looking inside and out
>> Grippy all-wheel drive system

Not so much?

>> It’s too expensive

>> Excessive road noise

>> It took too long to get here

OVERVIEW?

-- Tributes flow for Escape

Kuga was Ford Europe’s first foray into the compact SUV market. Its genesis was the salient iosis X concept model which premiered at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.

Arriving in production form at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, Kuga, as it was then dubbed, went on to join Ford’s European model portfolio early in 2008.

Fast forward to 2012 and Australian buyers finally have their chance to sit behind the wheel of the Focus-based SUV. Available to us with a solo driveline option, a 2.5-litre five-cylinder petrol automatic running full-time all-wheel drive, Kuga sits above Ford Escape (nee Mazda Tribute), and below Ford Territory locally.

We will have to wait until next year (2013) for an all-new example and a broader model mix. However, with decent performance and a long list of standard features, the last of this first generation Kuga is a promising, if pricey, contender.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT?

-- Sensibly set?

Kuga will be available in two trim guises Down Under – Trend and Titanium. In this manner it aligns its Australian offer more closely with that of Ford Europe, under the auspices of the OneFord mantra.

Priced from $38,990, the mid-spec Kuga Trend features 17-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth telephony, a split tailgate, voice control, iPod/USB audio connectivity, keyless push-button starter, eight-speaker Sony CD/tuner, cloth seats, power windows and mirrors, leather-bound steering wheel and cruise control.

The up-spec Kuga Titanium retails for $44,990. It adds 18-inch alloy wheels, rain sensing wipers, ‘Quickclear’ heated windscreen, rear parking sensors, powered front seat adjustment, heated leather seats, leather-bound gearshift knob, auto headlamps, dual-zone climate control, and a panoramic glass roof.

Ford says it will not offer an entry-level model with this release.

MECHANICAL

-- Any driveline you like...

Ford cites supply constraints as the rationale behind the solitary driveline offering Down Under. Critically, Australia misses out on the 2.0-litre Duratorq turbodiesel available (and a bestseller) elsewhere.

Still, the Duratec 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo petrol offering, and its 147kW/320Nm output, is a reasonable performer that those familiar with the Focus XR5 Turbo will no doubt recognise.

It's not the most frugal of engines, however. With its hefty 1653kg kerb weight, and on-demand all-wheel drive system, Kuga consumes a claimed combined average of 10.3L/100km while emitting 244g/km of CO2. Transmission is governed by a five-speed automatic.

Kuga rides 80mm higher than Focus to offer a ground clearance of 188mm. Its offroad geometry measures 20.7 degrees approach and 23.7 degrees departure.

Traction is maintained via Ford’s electronically-controlled (Haldex 4) on-demand all-wheel drive system, which can send as much as 50 per cent of drive to the rear wheels (though for the majority of the time Kuga is best thought of as a front-wheel drive offering a 90:10 front-to-rear split).

Ford utilises an electro-hydraulic rack and pinion steering arrangement to deliver Kuga a turning circle of 11.5 metres. Braking is managed by four-wheel discs while Kuga is suspended by a MacPherson strut (front) / multi-link (rear) set-up.

PACKAGING?

-- Kinetic energy

Kinetic design cues familiar to previous generation Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo are similarly evident in Kuga. The appearance of the car, while no doubt fresh locally, still sits a generation behind the latest Fiesta and Focus models. This will change next year. The styling is, however, still very appealing -- Kuga’s clean, contemporary lines are unlikely to create any real divisions among potential buyers.

The dashboard will look familiar to older Focus owners (for very good reason, Kuga and previous generation Focus share the same underpinnings), as will the deep-set and concise instrumentation binnacles. The plastic closer to the windscreen is, however, shiny and hard, and reflects on the lower part of the glass in bright sunlight.

Up front, driver and passenger are offered generous accommodation on firm but supportive seats. These sit high enough to offer a good view of the road ahead, and for the driver, a relaxed driving position.

Rear seat passengers, too, are afforded plenty of leg and headroom, though three adults may find shoulder room a touch squeezy. They will also want for ventilation – Kuga does not offering any rear seat outlets.

The cabin is as practical as it is well finished. The simplistic layout is deceptively well equipped (see PRICE AND EQUIPMENT) and ideally suited to energetic, outdoorsy young families.

There’s adequate storage, especially in the glovebox and console bin, though not all of Kuga’s smaller cubbies offer the same level of faculty. The cargo area, accessed via horizontally-split tailgate is generous at 360 litres. The rear seats fold via a 60:40 split to easily liberate 1355 litres.

SAFETY?

-- Cat-like reflexes

Kuga scored top marks in stringent European NCAP testing, achieving a five-star overall rating. Adult occupant safety was also rated at five-stars while child occupant safety scored four. Pedestrian impact safety was rated at three-stars.

Ford equips both grades of Kuga with the same level of safety kit, which includes pyrotechnic pretensioners and load limiters for the front seatbelts, anti-whiplash head restraints and three-point seatbelts in all five seating positions, as well as front, side and curtain airbags.

Kuga is also fitted as standard with stability control with roll-over mitigation and traction control as well as antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist.

ISOFIX child seat anchorage points are offered in both rear outboard positions, though more relevant to us, top-tether points are also fitted. Both rear doors offer child-proof locks.

COMPETITORS

-- Cluttered climes for Kuga?

With the burgeoning compact SUV segment offering buyers more choice than ever before, Kuga is in cluttered company. Of course, not all of it’s good...

Perhaps the most relevant contenders are those of European origins, such as Volkswagen Tiguan or its twin-under-the-skin Skoda Yeti, or even, dare we say it, Audi Q3 and BMW X3.

Then there are the ever-improving Koreans. Kia Sportage is a credible contender, all things considered, we wouldn’t completely dismiss Hyundai’s ix35, either. Subaru Forester and Nissan X-TRAIL are also worth a look in. All of these offer model variants that significantly undercut Kuga on price.

Of course, was Ford to offer a turbodiesel version of Kuga the argument might be more clear cut. But with fuel prices being such an important consideration in the purchase of an SUV, it’s understandable some buyers may discount Kuga on that basis alone.

Kuga will also have supply issues working against it. Ford Australia says it is able to source no more than 200 units a month from its German production line, the split favouring mid-spec Kuga Trend by a 65:35 per cent ratio.

ON THE ROAD?

-- One hit wonder

Kuga’s sorted chassis demonstrates a level of confidence with which only a handful of rivals could hope to compete. The electro-hydraulic steering responds quickly and accurately to input, the vehicle's reaction one of stability and conviction. Indeed, Kuga is dynamically adept and surprisingly agile -- though not without a degree of body roll expected from such a high-riding vehicle.

The suspension flattens lumps and bumps with surety, even on the NZ-spec 19-inch alloy wheels that will not be offered locally. Only the largest Kiwi craters upset Kuga’s stride, and then only slightly.

Grip is maintained promptly by the all-wheel drive system, with no evidence of the shuffling forward-to-rear we’ve noticed in similar arrangements elsewhere.

There’s a little wind noise about the scuttle panel, perhaps generated from the wipers, but it’s only evident at highway speeds. Visibility, too, is above average for a compact SUV. Most of these issues however will pale into insignificance when you factor in the tyre roar which we measured at an excessive 88dBA on coarse chip surfaces.

Performance is willing but linear. The transmission is smooth, but slow to kickdown, even when driven in Sport or Manual mode. The heavy action of Kuga’s all-wheel drive arrangement and considerable kerb weight does little to assist its athleticism.

On the initial climb from Auckland to Kaukapakapa, Kuga consumed an average of 14.6L/100km, and on the windy but flatter section to follow this fell to 12.9L/100km. With slower B roads and Motorway cruising we managed to curtail this average to 10.9L/100km on return to Auckland Airport.

Although it’s only offered with one driveline option, it is a very good one. It’s just a shame it’s taken so long to get here. Ford says its pricing strategy will ease the pain here somewhat, especially where resale is concerned, although we’re disinclined to agree.

Still, in a market that just can’t seem to get enough of compact SUVs and a confidence on slippery surfaces matched only by Subaru or all-wheel drive Volkswagens, Kuga is bound to throw a cat among the pigeons... If you catch my drift.

Ford Kuga 2012 Review

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