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Ford Kuga

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Ford Kuga Review, For Sale, Models, Specs & Interior in Australia

The Ford Kuga was an SUV sold in Australia between 2012 and 2016. It was then replaced by the largely identical Ford Escape.

The mid-sized Kuga was based on the Ford C1 platform sharing a chassis and components with the Ford Focus. It is not to be confused with the Ford Cougar sports coupe sold in Australia from 1999 to 2004.

Before its discontinuation, the Kuga ranged in price from POA for the Kuga Ambiente (AWD) to POA for the Kuga Ambiente (AWD).

The Kuga came to Australia to compete with cars like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5. Over two generations it was powered by either petrol or diesel powertrains, notably from its Australian launch with a 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo shared with the Focus XR5 hot hatch.

This vehicle is also known as the Ford Escape.

Ford Kuga Q&As

Check out real-world situations relating to the Ford Kuga here, particularly what our experts have to say about them.

  • My 2015 Ford Kuga needs an engine replacement

    This crops us frequently as a dispute between car owners and dealerships and it's all because of one thing: Extended warranties are generally not worth the paper they're printed on. They're designed to relieve car buyers of more money, thinking they'll be covered if the worst happens. Usually, the warranty is carefully written to avoid paying out on the things most likely to go wrong. Never has 'read the fine print' been so important.

    Consider that the warranty your purchased only covers the first $3500 of an engine replacement. Where on earth can an engine be replaced for that sort of money? It's a clear case of the fine print giving the warranty provider a convenient escape clause. Don't forget, this extended warranty is not a Ford factory warranty, it's a third party deal that car-dealers love because they get a kick-back from the warranty company every time a car buyer signs on that dotted line. Dealers also love these warranties because it forces owners into over-servicing their cars. Does it not seem strange that the car designed and engineered by Ford to have a 12-monthly service interval suddenly needs a six-monthly service as part of the warranty conditions?

    As far as the replacement engine goes, be very careful about what you're being offered. If the engine is, indeed, a reconditioned engine, it doesn't really matter how many kilometres it has already done because reconditioned means it has been fully rebuilt with new parts. If, however, it's a second-hand engine plucked from a wrecked Kuga, then I would argue that an engine with the same mileage as the one in your car should be fitted. But I'll guarantee you there's some fine print in that warranty that makes me wrong about that, too.

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  • I am looking for a more economical SUV/hatch. I'd appreciate your advice on what make/models you would recommend?

    The newer the car, the more economical it’s likely to be in the real world. If you’re chasing outright fuel economy (and that’s a powerful argument with current fuel prices) then a conventional hatch is likely to be a little more frugal than an SUV of the same size thanks to the latter’s higher ride height (for reduced aerodynamic efficiency) and chunkier tyres.

    A CVT transmission arguably offers a more efficient solution, but not everybody likes the way a CVT feels to drive. The other choice to make is whether to go petrol or diesel or even hybrid.

    Since you’re driving is largely suburban, I reckon that rules out a diesel as you’re likely to have ongoing issues with the vehicle’s emissions control system which won’t appreciate that sort of use. Diesels are better for country running, and that’s just the way it is. A diesel car is also likely to cost a bit more to service over the years.

    That leaves petrol and it’s a fact that the newer petrol engines are a lot closer to diesels in terms of outright fuel economy. But if you really want to save fuel costs in a suburban car, then a petrol-electric hybrid is the solution. These will cost more to buy, but with 40km a day, you’ll probably get that money back in a reasonable timeframe.

    Look at the South Korean makes (Hyundai and Kia) as both brands have a large range of SUVs and still – unlike some brands – still bother with conventional hatchbacks. Check out Toyota, too, which has a good history in hybrid small cars.

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  • Are my engine problems covered by warranty?

    This model has a terrible record in terms of engine overheating. Even the petrol engine version has been recalled by Ford Australia after overheating and engine-bay fires were reported both here and in other markets.

    The diesel doesn’t seem as likely to catch fire, but there’s definitely a trend for it to present with exactly the same problems and outcomes as your vehicle. Those symptoms include a lack of warning that anything is amiss, followed by a total engine melt-down with destructive consequences. As of right now, Ford hasn’t recalled the diesel-engined Kuga for this problem, but it’s definitely a thing around the world.

    In your case, it’s critical to know whether the problem was pointed out to a Ford dealership within the three-year warranty period. If that’s the case, then you have what’s known as a pre-existing problem which means, if the dealer was made aware of the fault within the factory warranty period, then it’s a warranty case. No questions.

    Back when your car was brand-new, it carried a three-year warranty, so, you need to work backwards from the date you first notified the dealer of a problem (when the vehicle was topped up with coolant but not diagnosed further) to see if that falls within the first three years of that car’s registered life. Even if it works out a little beyond the warranty period, you’d have a strong case for a pro-rata contribution from Ford for the cost of repairs, since Australian Consumer law can, in some case cases, over-ride factory warranty restrictions. Your case will be even stronger if you have proof of a Ford dealership service history.

    Even then, there could be some wrangling on the part of the dealer, particularly in terms of what actually caused the engine failure. But I’d be talking to Ford Australia’s customer service division to try to work out a solution.

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  • Should the warranty on my 2015 Ford Kuga cover the clutch?

    Australian-delivered Fords didn’t get a five-year warranty until May 2018, so I’m assuming the warranty you’re talking about is an aftermarket one sold to you by the dealer when you bought the car a year ago. If so, then there’s very little chance that it will cover a failed clutch (or anything else much, for that matter) as these warranties are notoriously worthless. Disputing the ruling could well be a lost cause as the fine-print in the warranty will doubtless be written to favour the insurer.

    However, I fail to see how a failed clutch could cause a manual gearbox to fail, other than if the clutch was slowly dying and you were forced, over a period of time, to be brutal with the gear-shifter to select gears that didn’t want to cooperate. There is the chance that a clutch-pack breaking to pieces inside a dual-clutch transmission could, indeed, cause such a catastrophic failure, but as you haven’t told me what type of gearbox is fitted to your car, it’s a bit hard to say. That said, the Kuga got the wet-clutch version of Ford’s dual-clutch and not the vastly more troublesome dry-clutch Powershift unit. For that reason, the Kuga was not part of the recall that Ford issued for Ecosports, Fiestas and Focusses for transmission failures.

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See All Ford Kuga Q&As
Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.

Ford Kuga Models Price and Specs

The price range for the Ford Kuga varies based on the trim level you choose. The model range is available in the following body types starting from the engine/transmission specs shown below.

Year Body Type Specs Price from Price to
2017 SUV 1.5L, —, 6 SP AUTO
2016 SUV 1.5L, PULP, 6 SP MAN $13,750 $25,080
2015 SUV 1.5L, PULP, 6 SP AUTO $11,550 $21,010
2014 SUV 1.5L, PULP, 6 SP AUTO $10,010 $18,590
2013 SUV 1.6L, —, 6 SP AUTO $9,240 $17,050
See All Ford Kuga Pricing and Specs

Ford Kuga Towing Capacity

The Ford Kuga has maximum towing capacity of 1500kg for the latest model available.

Year Body Type Braked Capacity from Braked Capacity to
2017 SUV 1500kg 1500kg
2016 SUV 1500kg 1500kg
2015 SUV 1200kg 1500kg
2014 SUV 1200kg 1500kg
2013 SUV 0kg 1500kg
See All Towing Capacity for Ford Kuga

Ford Kuga Wheel Size

The Ford Kuga has a number of different wheel and tyre options. When it comes to tyres, these range from 235x55 R17 for SUV in 2017 with a wheel size that spans from 17x7.5 inches.

Year Body Type Front Tyre Size Front Rim Rear Tyre Size Rear Rim
2017 SUV 235x55 R17 17x7.5 inches 235x55 R17 17x7.5 inches
2016 SUV 235x55 R17 17x7.5 inches 235x55 R17 17x7.5 inches
2015 SUV 235x55 R17 17x7.5 inches 235x55 R17 17x7.5 inches
2014 SUV 235x55 R17 17x7.5 inches 235x55 R17 17x7.5 inches
2013 SUV 235x55 R17 17x7.5 inches 235x55 R17 17x7.5 inches
The dimensions shown above are for the base model. See All Ford Kuga Wheel Sizes

Ford Kuga Dimensions

The dimensions of the Ford Kuga SUV vary according to year of manufacture and spec level.

Year Body Type Height x Width x Length Ground Clearance
2017 SUV 1713x1838x4524 mm 163 mm
2016 SUV 1713x1838x4524 mm 163 mm
2015 SUV 1713x1838x4524 mm 163 mm
2014 SUV 1713x1838x4524 mm 163 mm
2013 SUV 1713x1838x4524 mm 163 mm
The dimensions shown above are for the base model. See All Ford Kuga Dimensions

Ford Kuga Interior

The interior of the Ford Kuga was strong for its time. A sleek dashboard design, quality trim, and leather in the high-grade models made it stand out as an impressive offering against some more budget-focused rivals. Check out our images to see what we mean.

Shown above are interior details for the Ford Kuga 2015.

Ford Kuga Fuel Consumption

The Ford Kuga is available in a number of variants and body types that are powered by Diesel, — and PULP fuel type(s). It has an estimated fuel consumption starting from 5.5L/100km for SUV /Diesel for the latest year the model was manufactured.

Year Body Type Fuel Consumption* Engine Fuel Type Transmission
2017 SUV 5.5L/100km 2.0L Diesel 6 SP AUTO
2017 SUV 6.3L/100km 1.5L 6 SP MAN
2016 SUV 5.5L/100km 2.0L Diesel 6 SP AUTO
2016 SUV 6.3L/100km 1.5L PULP 6 SP MAN
2015 SUV 6.3L/100km 2.0L Diesel 6 SP AUTO
2015 SUV 6.7L/100km 1.6L PULP 6 SP MAN
2014 SUV 5.5L/100km 2.0L Diesel 6 SP AUTO
2014 SUV 6.3L/100km 1.5L PULP 6 SP MAN
2013 SUV 6.3L/100km 2.0L Diesel 6 SP AUTO
2013 SUV 6.7L/100km 1.6L 6 SP MAN
* Combined fuel consumption See All Ford Kuga Pricing and Specs for 2017