New car sales price Ford Kuga

The new compact soft-roader from Ford - due on sale in May - will boast plenty of safety gear and technology features within the model range that kicks off at $27,990 for the Ambiente six-speed manual.

That's $110 over the Mazda CX-5 entry-level model, $1000 below the last of the Escape models and a considerable $11,000 cheaper than the superseded Kuga model that was introduced here for a cameo appearance in February last year.

Opting for all-wheel drive (AWD) in the turbocharged petrol base model, which also adds a six-speed automatic, pushes the price up to start from $31,490.

The mid-spec Trend with the same drivetrain starts from $36,240 or $39,240 for the six-speed double-clutch auto-only turbodiesel; the Titanium 1.6-litre EcoBoost model starts from $44,740 (only with a six-speed auto) or $47,740 for the two-litre turbodiesel with the twin-clutch Powershift transmission.

Ford marketing general manager David Katic says the new Kuga - based on the Focus platform and adopting much of the hatchback's interior design - represents a value-for-money choice.

“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.

“Customers today are chasing value-for-money and the Ford Kuga delivers,” he says. Ford is boasting a number of firsts for the segment, including the voice-activated Ford Sync infotainment system with Emergency Assistance - it links to a mobile phone and automatically summons help to your location (phone coverage pending) if it detects an airbag deployment or emergency fuel shut-off.

The Kuga will also have a hands-free tailgate, operated by “kicking” beneath the rear bumper to open and close the tailgate, and top-spec models will have digital radio on the list, the first Ford model on Australian pricelists to do so.

Ford has also developed an in-house on-demand AWD system - the superseded car had a Haldex system - that operates largely in front-wheel drive until the rear end is required, as well as using a torque vectoring system to brake the inside wheels in corners for better handling.

The range will have three model variants - Ambiente, Trend and Titanium - with the choice of a 1.6-litre EcoBoost turbo petrol engine as standard or the optional turbodiesel engine, the latter available only on Trend and Titanium.

The petrol powerplant is offered in two guises - a 110kW/240Nm version (which also gets stop-start when teamed with a manual) and a 134kW/240Nm, both using active front grille shutters for improved fuel economy, which ranges from 6.7 litres per 100km to 8 litres per 100km depending on the model.

The two-litre turbodiesel - not seen here in the outgoing car - is a carryover engine with some development work, producing 120kW and 340Nm, but only made available to Australia in AWD guise. Fuel economy claims range around 6.3 litres per 100km for the turbodiesel.

The Kuga, measuring 81mm longer, 4mm narrower and 8mm lower, sits on the same wheelbase as the outgoing SUV, with Ford claiming much of the extra space engineered into the new car appearing in the rear passenger area. The boffins are also claiming reductions in wind and road noise for the new SUV, as well improved panel fit and interior quality.

Five stars already adorn the crash safety CV for the Kuga, with Ford contributing much of that to a body structure comprising more than 30 per cent high and ultra-high strength steels, as well as seven airbags (including a driver’s knee airbag), stability control, anti-lock brakes and trailer sway control.

The safety list on Trend and Titanium models can be bolstered further with the optional $2650 technology pack that adds the Active City Stop automatic braking function adaptive cruise control, blind spot and lane departure warning systems and automatic high beam.