New Ford Kuga from $27,990

Ford has announced a pin-sharp $27,990 (plus on-road costs) starting price and full details for its new-generation Kuga mid-size SUV, which goes on sale in Australia next month.

The sub-$28,000 admission price undercuts the $28,490 starting sticker for Australia’s top-selling medium SUV last year, Nissan’s X-TRAIL, as well as the new Subaru Forester (from $30,990) and Toyota RAV4 and Mitsubishi Outlander (both from $28,990).

Priced from $1000 and $11,000 less than even the ancient $28,990 Escape and $38,990 Kuga it replaces, the new Kuga also virtually matches the $27,490 opening price of Honda’s new CR-V and the $27,880 starting price of Australia’s most popular medium SUV so far this year, the Mazda CX-5.

Like its most direct rivals, cheapest new Kuga will be a six-speed manual-only model that powers its front wheels – in this case with a lower-output 110kW/240Nm version of the 134kW/240Nm turbocharged 1.6-litre GDTi EcoBoost petrol engine fitted across the rest of the range.

The least expensive all-wheel drive Kuga will also be an Ambiente variant, fitted as standard with a six-speed automatic transmission and priced at $31,490, undercutting all of its most direct rivals by at least $500.

While the direct-injection four-cylinder petrol engine requires 95 RON premium unleaded, there will also be a 120kW/340Nm 2.0-litre TDCi turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine available, matched exclusively to a six-speed auto and AWD.

In all, six Kuga model grades will be offered, including the FWD manual and AWD auto petrol Ambiente, and AWD/auto petrol and diesel versions of the mid-range Trend and flagship Titanium.

Curiously, only the base Ambient manual comes with a fuel-saving idle-stop system, helping reduce fuel consumption over its 2.5-litre petrol-powered forebear by 25 per cent, to 6.7L/100km. The automatic version consumes 7.7L/100km, while Trend/Ambient petrol autos consume 8.0L/100km.

While all petrol models come with Active Grille Shutters to save fuel, diesel models are claimed to be 10 per cent more efficient at 6.3L/100km (Trend) and 6.4L/100km (Titanium).

A $2650 Technology Pack will be available for both the Trend and Titanium, comprising a host of advanced driver safety aids like Active City Stop, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Information System, Lane Keeping Aid, Lane Departure Warning, Auto High Beam Control and a Driver Impairment Monitor. An automatic transmission costs $3000 extra, while prestige paint adds a further $385 to all models.

Trend and Titanium models come standard with Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) radios, while their ‘intelligent’ AWD system incorporates the Torque Vectoring Control system developed for the Focus RS and seen across the latest Focus range.

“We’re signalling to the medium SUV market that the all-new Ford Kuga is a serious contender with the front-wheel-drive Ambiente model from $27,990,” said Ford Australia General Marketing Manager David Katic.

“Customers today are chasing value-for-money and the Ford Kuga delivers. With three models to choose from – Ambiente, Trend and Titanium – and the availability of either the standard EcoBoost petrol engine or optional turbo-diesel engine on Trend and Titanium, customers now have an even better reason to put the Ford Kuga on their shopping lists.”

As Ford announced earlier this month, the new Kuga will also come with a range of first-in-segment features as standard, including a hands-free tailgate that can be opened by waving your foot under rear bumper and voice-activated Ford SYNC connectivity with Emergency Assistance – a first for Ford in Australia.

The new Kuga rides on the same 2690mm wheelbase as the model with which it shares its name, but measures 81 mm longer (4524mm versus 4443mm), 4mm narrower (1838mm v 1842mm) and 8mm lower (1702mm v 1710mm).

The five-seater Kuga, which has gained a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating, also offers 46 litres more luggage space than its predecessor, and a rear seatback that reclines over 10 degrees and folds flat.

Seven exterior paint colours will be available including a new ‘hero’ colour Ginger Ale: Frozen White, Panther Black. Ink Blue, Moondust Silver, Burnished Glow and Sterling Grey.

2013 Ford Kuga pricing (plus ORCS):
Ambiente FWD petrol manual - $27,990
Ambiente AWD petrol auto - $31,490
Trend AWD petrol auto - $36,240
Trend AWD diesel auto - $39,240
Titanium AWD petrol auto - $44,740
Titanium AWD diesel auto - $47,740

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