Ford Kuga review

The Ford Kuga not only belongs to the super-fashionable family SUV class but also has added appeal because it's available with petrol, regular hybrid or plug-in hybrid engine options, as well as several trim levels.

In other words, there’s a Ford Kuga for most buyers – although if you want an electric car you're out of luck (consider the Ford Explorer or Ford Mustang Mach-E instead). That approach could work in Ford’s favour but also means the Kuga has lots of rivals.

For example, the Honda ZR-V and Toyota RAV4 are excellent alternatives if you’re specifically looking for a hybrid. The Mazda CX-5 and Skoda Karoq offer a strong line-up of traditional petrols and diesels. Meanwhile, the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage offer a similarly varied engine range, and there are premium brand alternatives, including the Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40.

Ford has recently given the Kuga an update for 2024, with a refreshed exterior design, new interior tech and revised trim levels. There are also minor revisions to the mechanicals of the regular hybrid (FHEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions.

So how does the Ford Kuga stack up against the best family SUVs and is it the right car for you? Read on to find out...

The Ford Kuga PHEV is the one for company car drivers to go for because of its low emissions and official electric-only range of up to 43 miles from its battery pack. That's pretty good, although the VW Tiguan PHEV can officially go 62 miles on battery power.

Pairing a 2.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor, it can sprint from 0-62mph in a respectable 7.3 seconds. That's quicker than the PHEV versions of the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage.

The 2.5 FHEV (full hybrid) is a better choice if you're buying privately. It can pootle around for short distances without using the engine, plus it can tow up to 2,100kg (the same as the PHEV). Performance is respectable, with 0-62mph taking 8.3 seconds with four-wheel-drive and 9.1 seconds with front-wheel drive.

The entry-level 1.5 EcoBoost petrol engine lets you tow 1,730kg. Its 0-62mph time of 9.5 seconds is far from being the most sprightly option in the range, but it will easily cope with fast-flowing roads. It’s also only available with a six-speed manual gearbox whereas the hybrid versions get CVT automatic gearboxes.

The Kuga’s suspension set-up varies between trim levels. Entry-level Titanium trim gets a standard set-up, while ST-Line trim gets firmer, sportier suspension. The more rugged Active trim gets a raised suspension to improve the ground clearance.

Even the entry-level Titanium trim with its softer set-up tends to feel a little busy over scarred urban roads, but ST-Line cars are even firmer and tend to thump more often over larger abrasions. Mind you, it’s far from intolerable, and settles down better than a Hyundai Tucson on motorways.

We’d avoid the optional 20in wheels available on ST-Line X trim since these amplify lumps and bumps enough to result in an even choppier ride.

The Kuga's quick steering makes it feel eager to turn in to corners, but is not as naturally weighted as the Kia Sportage steering, so it doesn’t feel as precise or confidence-inspiring during quicker turns that require a deft touch.

This is a tall car, but the Kuga hides its bulk well and feels more composed than a Tucson. Titanium models tend to lean over more in quick corners due to their softer suspension set-up, whereas ST-Line cars stay flat during cornering.

In other words, versions with sharper handling will have a harsher ride, so you'll have to decide how much you're willing to compromise comfort for fun.

The Kuga manages to filter out road noise quite well, with just a faint rumble at speed over coarse surfaces on versions with larger wheels. Optional 20in alloys generate more road noise at motorway speeds so we would avoid those. Otherwise there’s very little wind or suspension noise and the Kuga is more hushed than a Mazda CX-5 on the move.

In pure-electric mode, the Kuga hybrids move around stealthily and the FHEV version is more willing to run on electric power alone for longer periods than a Tucson or Sportage hybrid.

Even when the petrol engine fires up, you won’t find it intrusive as long as you don't put your foot down hard. If you do, the noise picks up because the CVT gearbox causes the engine revs to soar and stay high until you're up to your desired speed.

The Kuga's brake pedal response is pretty consistent and brings the car to a stop smoothly. Only the hybrid versions with their built-in regenerative braking system (which harvests power for the battery) can be occasionally grabby at lower speeds.

“I found the Kuga to be a quiet cruiser, with refinement only disappointing slightly under hard acceleration.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

The good news for lovers of tall SUVs is that the Ford Kuga has a relatively lofty driving position, so you sit high up. The driver’s seat is supportive and there’s plenty of adjustment, including for lumbar support on all trims, as well as generous levels of steering wheel height and reach movement.

All versions come with a 12.3in digital driver's display as standard. It displays important driving information clearly (including battery charge on the PHEV model) and its contents can be customised to your preference. You can’t view the sat-nav map on the driver's display though, unlike in some versions of the Seat Ateca, Skoda Karoq and VW Tiguan.

Unfortunately, the Kuga's climate controls are now integrated into the infotainment touchscreen (previously there was a bank of physical buttons and dials for these). That's a shame because the new set-up is more distracting to use while driving, with small icons for adjusting functions such as the fan speed or temperature.

The Kuga's front pillars are quite wide so they can restrict forward visibility in certain circumstances, such as when approaching roundabouts. The rear pillars are rather chunky too, and sometimes block your view of obstacles behind.

On the plus side, every Kuga comes with front and rear parking sensors as standard, and the entry-level Titanium trim gets a rear-view camera. ST-Line trims and up get a 360-degree camera as standard.

All versions come with bright LED headlights and as part of a Technology Pack they can be upgraded to adaptive LED headlights, which allow you to keep the main beams on without dazzling oncoming drivers.

You get a large 13.0in infotainment touchscreen on all Kuga models. It’s relatively straightforward to use, with a quick touchscreen response and sharp graphics, much like the system in the Kia Sportage and VW Tiguan.

The Mazda CX-5 provides a more user-friendly rotary controller interface instead of relying on the touchscreen, so it's less distracting to use while you're driving.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring are included with all Kugas, allowing you to run sat-nav apps and other phone features through the infotainment screen.

You'll find more hard, shiny and unappealing plastic inside the Kuga than you will in most of its family SUV rivals.

There are some soft-touch plastics, such as on the top of the dashboard and above the door armrests, but they don't feel as dense or plush as their equivalents in a Mazda CX-5. Premium-badged alternatives such as the Audi Q5, the BMW X3 and the Volvo XC40 display far more panache inside and feel better assembled.

“I found the digital instrument panel bright and clear, but it’s a pity have to pay extra for a head-up display, which is part of the Technology Pack.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

The Ford Kuga is one of the more spacious family SUVs available in the UK. You’ll find that the wide interior gives you plenty of space up front, plus the high roofline gives you a decent amount of front head room. Leg room, meanwhile, is very generous, so it’s pretty easy to get comfortable.

The large cubby at the bottom of the centre console is big enough for your mobile phone and wallet, and there are USB-A and USB-C sockets (one of each) for charging your devices.

Between the front seats there are two large cupholders along with a dish for storing change or keys, and the central armrest opens to reveal a deep storage bin and a 12V socket. The front door pockets are quite narrow though, and a 500ml bottle of drink is about as much as you can fit in there.

Space in the back of the Kuga is generous, with more room than you’ll find in the Citroën C5 Aircross. There’s more leg room than inside a Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage and it's not far off the Sportage for head room, although the panoramic roof on ST-Line X models eats into space slightly.

Two tall adults will have no problem getting comfortable, and a third occupant between them should have enough head and leg room, although the middle seat is slightly raised.

The middle passenger will need to straddle the central floor hump, but there’s more space for feet on either side of it than in the Tucson and Sportage. Reasonably tall rear side windows let in enough light to stop it feeling claustrophobic in the back.

Like the Tucson and Sportage, all Kuga models have tilting rear seat backs to improve comfort. However, the Kuga also includes a sliding  rear bench to boost versatility, so you can prioritise boot space or passenger knee room depending on your needs. The rear outer seats are heated if you opt for the ST-Line X trim or add the optional Winter Pack to other trims.

The rear seats can be folded down in a 60/40 split by pulling levers on the walls of the boot compartment. That split matches the Nissan Qashqai but isn’t as handy as the more versatile 40/20/40 split in the Audi Q5, the BMW X3, the Tucson or the Sportage.

Once the seats are down, they lie almost flush with the boot floor, making it easy to slide long or heavy items in and out, although they don’t lie quite as flat as in the Tucson and Sportage.

The Kuga's boot capacity is rated at 412 litres with the second row of seats in their normal position, and 553 litres with the seats slid forwards.

In the normal configuration, the boot is smaller than in the petrol-powered Sportage (591 litres) or the Qashqai (504 litres). We managed to fit six carry-on suitcases in a FHEV Kuga's boot with the rear seats slid all the way back, trailing the Sportage and Tucson’s ability to fit eight cases.

There is some space under the floor, which is useful in the PHEV to stow its charging cables – although if you option the mini spare wheel you lose that space.

Capacity aside, the boot has its strong points. There's no lip at the entrance to get in the way when you're lifting heavy items in and out, and a hands-free electric tailgate comes with all trim levels except entry-level Titanium.

“The Kuga's boot might not be especially large, but it's easy to make the most of the space you do get, because the floor is square and unhindered by wheel-arch intrusion.” – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

For cash buyers, the 1.5 Ecoboost 150 petrol Ford Kuga is competitively priced against the Hyundai Tucson and Mazda CX-5 but doesn’t offer the same value for money as a Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai or Skoda Karoq. The Citroën C5 Aircross and MG HS are considerably cheaper than the Kuga.

Meanwhile, the FHEV (full hybrid) version is more expensive than the Sportage and Tucson HEV. You can find the latest cash and PCP deals by searching our New Car Deals pages.

The cheapest company car choice in the Kuga range will be the PHEV, which rivals the Tucson in terms of BIK tax. With P11d prices closely matching PHEV versions of Tucson and Sportage, the Kuga PHEV will be competitive when paying monthly via salary sacrifice.

Charging the PHEV’s batteries takes 3.5 hours from a 7kW home wallbox or around six hours if you use a three-pin domestic plug.

The Kuga petrol can achieve an average of 44.8mpg officially, but the figure lifts to 53.3mpg for the front-wheel drive FHEV and 49.6mpg for the four-wheel drive FHEV. The PHEV can officially manage an impressive 314.9mpg, but you'll have to charge up the battery regularly to get anywhere close to that.

The Kuga's entry-level Titanium trim comes with a long list of standard kit, including a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear lever, cruise control, 17in alloy wheels, privacy glass, front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera and a heated windscreen. It's a good choice if you want to keep costs down, but is only available with the petrol engine.

You get a few more luxuries (and the choice of hybrid engines) with ST-Line and Active trims, which come with the same amount of kit but have different styling. Both add 18in alloys, automatic climate control, a 360-degree surround-view camera, 12-way electrically adjustable front seats and a powered tailgate.

ST-Line offers sportier styling, sports seats and a stiffer suspension set-up, while Active gives you chunky wheel-arch cladding and raised suspension.

ST-Line X is the range-topping trim and adds 19in alloys, a panoramic roof, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, as well as the same styling and suspension changes as the regular ST-Line trim.

Ford finished in 17th place out of 32 car markers in our 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey – above Nissan (19th) and Renault (23rd), but below Kia (eighth) and Hyundai (seventh). The Kuga itself came in the bottom half of the large SUV reliability table, finishing in 19th place out of 29 models.

You get a three-year/60,000-mile Ford warranty included as standard, which is pretty par for the course. Indeed, it matches what you’ll get from Mazda and VW, but isn’t as generous as the seven-year/100,000-mile warranty you’ll get from Kia. On top of the standard warranty, the batteries in the Kuga PHEV are covered for eight years/100,000 miles.

The Kuga is well provisioned with safety kit. Lane-keeping assistance comes as standard, as does automatic emergency braking (AEB), which can stop the car automatically if it senses an imminent crash. Blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert and lane-departure warning are all standard on ST-Line trim upwards.

Euro NCAP awarded the Kuga five stars (out of five) for overall safety in 2019, and the model scored well for adult and child crash protection. The Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage also scored five stars, but it’s impossible to compare the results because the tests have become more stringent over time and all three were tested in different years.

“I'm impressed by the fuel economy of the front-wheel-drive Kuga FHEV, even though you're unlikely to match its 53.3mpg official figure in the real world.” – Dan Jones, Reviewer

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