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

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.

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 The Ford Kuga is also known as Ford Escape in markets outside Australia..

Overview
Likes
Smooth, comfortable ride
Low NVH
Good boot and cabin space
Dislikes
Poor audio quality
Some known mechanical issues

Ford Kuga FAQs

How do I clean the sunroof drain tubes on my 2015 Ford Kuga?

This is actually a job you can tackle yourself. The holes should become visible when you open the sunroof and look at the mechanism from outside the car. Usually, there’s a drainage hole at each corner of the opening in the roof, within the tracks or slide mechanism. With a length of malleable wire, you can simple poke that down into each hole and unclog the drainage holes in just a few minutes.

You can then check your work by pouring a small amount of water (using a small funnel is best) into each hole and making sure that water comes out underneath the car, and not into the sunroof opening. This is a surprisingly common complaint, and you could also take the car to a workshop for the same fix if you’re not confident yourself. The workshop may use compressed air to achieve the same result, but the science is the same.

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Does the 2015 Ford Kuga have a reputation for cylinder problems?

The Ecoboost petrol engine fitted to these cars has been known to give problems, usually in the form of cylinder head faults and oil leaks as a result. The open-deck cylinder block design is often quoted as the cause of these failures, and it’s not inconceivable that such a failure could cause problems with the cylinders or pistons over time.

However, no modern car can be considered acceptable if the engine fails at such a low mileage. Ford is unlikely to consider this a warranty job given the age of the vehicle, but it would be worth talking to Ford’s customer service division to see if there’s any help on offer.

For the record, the cars most affected by the cylinder head failure problem were built between 2012 and 2014, but even if you bought your car in 2015, it could have been made in 2014 and might be one of the affected ones.

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My 2024 Ford Kuga keeps warning me about high temperature

I’d agree that the problem is likely to be something to do with the on-board computer(s) that control the powertrain and other functions. If you’re certain that the engine is not running hot when it claims to be, the cause could be as simple as the sensor is faulty, but it could also indicate a computer problem. The same goes for the power-steering, although an electrical circuit that constantly blows its fuse suggests a short-circuit somewhere in the wiring or connectors.

The code P1299 indicates that the car thinks the cylinder head temperature is too high, while P0118 suggests a problem with the sensor that monitors changes in the engine’s coolant temperature. Either way, this is a brand-new car, so it will be covered by the factory warranty. Make it Ford’s problem, not yours.

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See all Ford Kuga FAQs
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 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.

2015 TF MkII Ford Kuga Titanium interior.
Shown above are interior details for the Ford Kuga 2015.