The Kuga combines style with technology and has impressive on-road dynamics coupled with substantial off-road ability. Interestingly, it shares the same platform as the Ford Focus and it has the same 2.5 litre, 5 cylinder engine of the Focus ST.
A major challenge for Ford when developing the Kuga was to bring passenger car-like DNA characteristics into the crossover segment so that the car would perform well on tar as well as off-road.
LOOKS
At first glance, the Kuga strikes one as a bit unusual and maybe even a bit squat. Once you've walked around the car, the dimensions start to make sense though - and its firm stance and low centre of gravity hint at a firm road grip which is a winning quality.
In spite of its compact look, the Kuga's lines are coherent and the pleasing curve of the roof line leads the eye up and around the design of the windows that follows the same line at the top. At the bottom, the windows follow the strong shoulder line that gives the vehicle its strong and muscular appearance. The wheel arches are prominent which again underscores the vehicle's strong road presence. The Kuga also has distinctive headlights, a contoured bonnet with a large trapezoidal grille and twin exhausts at the back create a powerful iconic profile.
One strong plus point is the double-decker door at the back, which means the vehicle's boot can be opened according to the load that needs to be placed inside. A logical option, considering the Kuga will probably be used in different ways - the split tailgate offers separate access to either the upper tailgate section only or both sections simultaneously for flexibility.
INTERIOR
The Kuga has an appealing and welcoming interior. The driver can see all the necessary information at first glance and instrument clusters are clear - and where one would expect to find them. The steering wheel is just the right size and can be adjusted to the individual's comfortable driving position. The seats are also adjustable to a "just right" height and reach from the pedals. Heated seats have always struck me as a bit of a "Marie Antoinette" touch of over-the-top luxury, given the South African climate. On a colder day, however, they were very welcome - particularly when getting in and out of the car often.
Special mention should be made of the funky colour combination in the Kuga that we drove - a metallic deep burnt orange combined with charcoal may not sound like much but it lends the interior a funky charm and emphasises the good design elements. Even people with relatively conservative taste real-ly liked this colour combination.
The vehicle is roomy at front and in the back which is important, given that it will probab-ly see a lot of service as a people carrier.
The second row has under-seat storage and the Kuga has a generous cargo area. A high compartment sill ensures ease of use when loading heavy items in the car. Loose items can be tethered using four D-ring tie-down points. A 'one-touch' push function for the rear cover and flexible netting in the luggage area is available in the Trend which is joined to the tonneau cover for maximum security.
ON TAR
Ford's acclaimed driving dynamics and excellent steering performance ensure conventional passenger car-like handling. The engine is very willing and the Trend has plenty of power. The Kuga is available with a 2.5-litre Duratec Turbo petrol engine and Durashift 5-tronic automatic transmission. With a maximum power output of 147kW at 6 000rpm and a linear torque peak of 320Nm from 1 600 to 4 000rpm, the vehicle reaches a top speed of 202km/h. The Kuga's published combined fuel economy figure is 10.3l/100km and the vehicle has an average CO2 output of 244g/km.
OFF-ROAD
The Kuga boasts an intelligent AWD system for those who want to use it cross-country, which uses an 'on demand' rear-wheel-drive system. This system transmits as much torque to the rear wheels as needed to ensure the best traction under all possible cornering and accelerating conditions, while being careful to avoid a negative impact on the fuel consumption.
We took a short drive off-road and the Kuga was steady and pleasant to drive even in wet, muddy conditions. The vehicle also coped well with more uneven road surfaces and remained comfortable irrespective of the speed travelled.
SAFETY STANDARDS
Like other Ford models, the Kuga is recognised for its safety standards and performance. It is equipped with disc brakes all-round which gives assured braking performance at all times. All model and drive types feature standard Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) with Anti Rollover Mitigation (ARM) and Electronic Brake Assist (EBA).
FEATURES
The Kuga comes well equipped with a host of smart technology features. A Ford Power start button, cruise control, Bluetooth with voice control functionality, full leather trim with 6-way power driver seat and heated front seats, power windows and heated, powered door mirrors are available as standard features.
DETAILS
The Kuga comes with a comprehensive 4-year or 120 000km warranty and 4-year or 80 000km service plan. Added peace of mind comes in the form of a 3-year, unlimited km roadside assistance plan, while service intervals are staggered at 20 000km.
The Ford Kuga Trend was made available for the test drive by Imperial Motors George. For more information, visit the showroom at the corner of Courtenay and Memorium Streets or phone 044 802 5400.
The instrument clusters are where one would expect to find them. The burnt orange trim is repeated on the doors and gives the interior a modern feel.
