2013 Ford Kuga Reviews

Graham Smith reviews the 2013 and 2014 Ford Kuga as a used buy. Revised compact SUV is a prospect for solid service. New Ford was so keen to replace its ageing Escape that it released the first-generation Kuga in 2012 even though it was about to be replaced by a new model. Within a year that Kuga was gone and the

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2012 - 2016 Ford Kuga as a used buy. Ford Kuga belongs to an increasingly large class of vehicles that are marketed as SUVs, but are in fact tall hatchbacks with either no off-road ability or, at best, the ability to be driven on dirt tracks and the like. The big appeal of Kuga and others is

Ford' striking new Kuga is up against it in the medium SUV class because there are so many worthy contenders including the excellent new Toyota RAV4 and Mazda's CX5.PRICE AND EQUIPMENTBut they aren't giving it away, with the top of the range Kuga Titanium TDCI Titanium with Tech Pack tipping over the $50,000 mark. They start at $28,000 grand for the front wheel drive petrol dunger model -- which is sharpish.But you'd want at least some of the kit in our test car, especially the driver assistance Tech Pack that brings active city stop, adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning, lane keeping, lane departure warning, auto high beam and driver attention warning. It's the sort of stuff that should be in all cars these days as standard equipment - one day perhaps.ENGINE AND TRANSMISSIONThe Kuga Titanium we drove is an impressive vehicle offering a punchy 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine achieving some 120kW/340Nm output and 6.4-litres/100km.TECHNOLOGYKuga is one of the first vehicles offered here with an automatic tailgate function triggered by waving your foot under the rear bumper. It works ... sometimes. It is also one of the first vehicles in Australia to offer voice operated SYNC using your own mobile (Apple) phone for multi media connectivity (and other things).There's an impressive automatic emergency phone call system built into SYNC that makes the call if the air bags are activated and fuel shut off. Active park assist is standard across the range and extremely helpful but the panoramic sunroof is a delete option as far as we are concerned.SAFETYThe new body is strengthened by selective use of high tensile steel. Kuga has a torque vectoring system lifted from high performance Focus and Fiesta models as well as what Ford calls "intelligent" all wheel drive. The torque vectoring is appreciated as a genuine safety enhancement.DRIVINGWe like the look of Kuga from all angles -- 19-inch alloys, dual outlet exhausts, rear diffuser and the new hero colour Ginger Ale grows on you. But the active cruise control had a hissy fit on the freeway at 100kmh thinking a semi was in our lane... it wasn't. And the Kuga Titanium is kitted out as a five star car -- with all that brings.The engine is not the smoothest, punchiest or most economical 2.0-litre turbo diesel around but shifts the weighty Titanium (1738kg) with purpose once you get it off the mark. This is aided by the slick shifting dual clutch six-speed Sportshift transmission that maximises the engine's strengths as well as offering Sport mode.The funky interior will appeal to younger buyers with its clever functions and appealing style. The dash is info rich and easy to use switches enhance the drive experience. We particularly like the one touch folding rear seat and large load area but the spare is a space saver.VERDICTWorth a look but the 1.6-litre Ecoboost petrol goes about the same, uses about the same amount of fuel and costs less.The complete 2013 Ford Kuga range:Ambiente 1.6-litre petrol FWD five-door wagon: from $27,990 (manual)Ambiente 1.6-litre petrol AWD five-door wagon: from $31,490 (automatic)Trend 1.6-litre petrol AWD five-door wagon: from $36,240 (automatic)Trend 2.0-litre turbo-diesel AWD five-door wagon: from $39,240 (automatic)Titanium 1.6-litre petrol AWD five-door wagon: from $44,470 (automatic)Titanium 2.0-litre turbo-diesel AWD five-door wagon: from $47,740 (automatic)Ford Kuga Price: from $27,990Warranty: 3 years/100,000kmCapped servicing: 7 years/105,000km $2000-$2795 (total, depending on drivetrain)Resale: 50%Service interval: 12 months/15,000kmSafety: 5 starsEngine: 110kW/240Nm FWD or 134kW/240Nm AWD 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo-petrol, 120kW/340Nm 2-litre 4-cyl turbo-dieselTransmission: 6-speed manual (FWD), automatic (petrol AWD) or double-clutch auto (diesel AWD)Thirst: 6.3-8 1/100km, tank 60 litres; 166-186g/km CO2Dimensions: 4.5m (L); 1.8m (w); 1.7m (h)Weight: 1550-1738kgSpare: space saver

The first Ford Kuga was a latecomer to Australia, having already been on sale in Europe for four years before it reached us early in 2012. Ford finally appears to be getting serious in this market segment, one of Australia's fastest growing. This time around the all-new TF series Kuga has reached us only a matter of

June 30 is D-Day. The end of the financial year is the best time to buy a new car because there are always special deals in showrooms. As carmakers and dealers aim to clear their outdated stock, Toyota uses a June push to cement its showroom leadership. Some of the special deals are on cars that have done demonstrator duty, or were built in 2012, or are just not selling as well as expected. So they're not the tastiest fruit in the bowl.But there is great buying across the board as demand for new cars fuels one of the longest growth periods in motoring. The bottom line is that you can save money -- and lots of it. So here's a look at the June sales, with Carsguide's assessment of the best deals on wheels.CITROENThe new importer is pushing hard so the Aircross SUV starts at $31,990 drive-away front-wheel drive or $33,990 with AWD, a saving of $3800. There's $5000 off the C4 Seduction turbo diesel auto hatch at $25,990. Carsguide says: The Aircross isn't great, but the C4 discount is tasty.FORDThe death notice for the Falcon and Territory has not helped buyer confidence but a 2.9 per cent finance push on Fiesta and Focus still looks good. The superseded Kuga SUV from $31,990 drive-away is a $10,000 saving. You can save about $3000 on a 2012 Escape SUV from $27,990 drive-away.The Territory gets a $6500 tickle, the TX seven-seater at $38,490 drive-away (third-row seat usually costs $2500). The impressive Mondeo liftback starts at $29,990. Good buying on Falcons, thanks to the arrival of the VF Commodore, from $33,990 and better if you haggle.HOLDENAs the VF Commodore creates queues, the outgoing Z-Series starts at $34,990 with five years' warranty and roadside assist. That also applies to the SV6 at $35,990 and the Cruze SRi and SRi-V at $23,490 and $26,990. Last year's Barina CD hatches are $15,990 drive-away with a sunroof. The Colorado is $39,990. Hard to see past the excellent Cruze SRi.HONDAClipped prices and free on-roads. The City VTi sedan is $17,990 and the (slightly) more lavish VTi-L automatic version starts at $21,990. The bigger Civic sedan is being cleared from $21,990. Free auto on the Jazz VTi at $19,990. The Civic is worth a look at $2500 off.KIAFree on-roads, discounts and $1000 gift vouchers on many models. A five-door Rio S is about $3K off at $15,990 drive-away with a $500 gift card; the three-door Rio is $14,990 and the five-door Si is $18,990. Runout Cerato TD sedans start at $17,990 for the S, saving about $5000, the Si sedan is $23,990 and hatch at $17,990. All get a $1000 gift card. Cerato SLi and SLS have drive-away pricing but miss the gift card. All Optimas have free on-roads. A 2012-build Optima Platinum is $37,990, saving about $4000 with a $1000 gift card. Most Sportage SUVs include on-roads and a $1000 gift card. Carnival and superseded Rondo pricing is drive-away. The Sportage diesel and Optima are top-notch.MITSUBISHIThe manual Lancer gets an old-school value pack on the Special Action Model for $19,990 drive-away. The Mirage is $12,990 drive-away for the ES manual, with a $500 cash-back that also applies to the auto.Driveaway prices also for the compact ASX at $24,990 for the 2WD manual, the Outlander LS 2WD auto at $29,990, Pajero GLX-R auto at $54,990 or $59,990 for VRX. Both come plus $3000 cash-back, saving about $6000.The Triton ute is now tackling Great Wall from China at $19,990 drive-away for a GL single-cab 2WD with alloy tray, or add luxury for a GLX dual-cab 4WD diesel at $31,990 drive-away with $2000 cash-back, saving about $14,000. The utes look good at those prices.NISSANA 2.9 per cent finance package, with agreed value after three years, makes the Pulsar ST sedan look good at $49 a week or $19,990 drive-away. The X-Trail ST 2WD petrol manual cops a $4000 reduction to $25,990 drive-away, while the Navara RX 4WD dual-cab manual is cheaper than ever with a $9500 cut to $30,990 drive-away. The Pulsar sedan deal is attractive.OPELThere are drive-away deals across the range. The basic Corsa is down by about $2500 to $16,990 drive-away, the Astra is from $22,990 drive-away for the 1.4-litre turbo petrol hatch with three years of free servicing, saving about $5500. The top-line Insignia sedan is from $39,990 drive-away with heated leather seats. The Astra is easily best of this breed.PEUGEOTFree on-roads at Peugeot on most models but not the cool new 208. The 4008 SUV cops a $1500 saving from $29,990 drive-away and there are deals on the outgoing 4007. Nothing to see here.RENAULTA Koleos from $26,990 drive-away looks even better with interest-free finance. The Megane hatch is from $22,990 drive-away with finance pegged at 1.9 per cent. The slow-selling Fluence and Latitude sedans are available with 2.9 per cent finance. The Megane CC convertible goes from $43,990 including on-roads. The sporty Clio RS is from $34,990 drive-away and the hotrod Megane RS has 2.9 per cent finance.Commercial deals start with the short-wheelbase Kangoo petrol manual with dual sliding doors from $20,990 drive-away, moving up to the Trafic short-wheelbase manual for $29,990 and the long-wheelbase manual for $32,990, while the Master large van starts from $46,990 drive-away. There's a five-year/200,000km warranty on all light commercials ordered in June. Hard to argue against a $3000 bonus on the Koleos but stocks are tight.SUBARUDrive-away pricing -- for savings of $3000 to $4000 -- is the bait, with Impreza pricing from $23,990 (excluding the WRX, of course). The Tribeca from $54,990 now includes on-roads but you need to visit a dealer to get the full story. Nothing outstanding.SUZUKIThe front-drive SX4 gets a Navigator pack with voice-controlled 6.6-inch satnav with Bluetooth for $19,990 drive-away for the manual and $21,990 auto. That also applies to the 2WD auto Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away, including reversing camera and satnav with Bluetooth. The Alto GL manual also gets satnav for $11,990 drive-away for the manual, with the Swift GL manual at $17,490 drive-away including cruise control and Bluetooth. The Grand Vitara is a polished piece.TOYOTAThere's 2.9 per cent finance on Aurion and Camry with the Camry Altise looking best at $29,990 drive-away. Other drive-away deals include $15,990 for the Yaris YR five-door, $21,490 for the Corolla Ascent automatic, $39,990 for the Kluger KX-R 2WD five-seater, $60,990 for the Prado GXL turbo diesel auto and $39,990 for the HiLux SR 4WD dual-cab ute. The right time for the cabbies' new favourite, the frugal hybrid Camry.VOLKSWAGENDrive-away pricing on passenger cars and zero finance on commercials. The Polo is $16,990 on-road, the Jetta is down to $25,990 and the Passat $36,690. The Polo is Carsguide's 2010 COTY.VOLVOFuel and servicing for three years or 60,000km plus roadside assistance. There are conditions -- with a pre-paid BP card based on 15,000km a year and $1.50 a-litre pricing -- and the latest V40 hatch is excluded. Clever twist on bargaining but a pity it doesn't apply to the V40.Paul Gover's 10 COMMANDMENTSYou must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise.But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price.The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today.If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it.Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties.No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead.The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot.And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs.Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already. 

Just over a year ago, in February 2012, Ford Australia took a toe-in-the-water step by introducing its first Kuga SUV models. The first-generation Kuga was already approaching its fifth birthday in Europe, but Ford’s downunder people knew their Escape SUV was fading in popularity due to its age and outdated looks.An ever-increasing number of more stylish competitors in what was becoming the most crowded sales arena in Australia meant a new, more modern Ford SUV was desperately needed. After what must have been a long, slow wait the all-new Ford Kuga is finally on sale here.Ford uses its standard model designations of Ambiente, Trend and Titanium for the gen-two Kuga. Ambiente is offered in low cost format with 2WD, the front wheels, at a recommended price of just $27,990. It also comes with AWD at $31,490. Trend and Titanium come only with AWD.So important is the launch of the Kuga to Australia that Eric Loeffler, the global chief engineer of the Kuga project, came downunder. Over the dinner after the formal presentations, and during the drive program the next day, Loeffler impressed me with the attention to detail that has obviously gone into the design.Though Ford was keen to retain the practicality of the Ford Escape - with its sensible, boxy, not exactly inspiring looks - the stylists were well aware the medium SUV market has now become part of the automotive fashion scene.People no longer want to buy a practical 4WD to explore the great Australian outback, instead they are looking for a station wagon that can carry all sorts of family stuff - and look stylish in the driveway. While the overall theme of the new Kuga’s body doesn’t really break any new ground its execution is excellent and we feel it’s right up at the head of the medium SUV pack in looks.The frontal shape isn’t unlike that of the Ford Territory and we are told it’s indicative of the next generation Ford products. Ford has paid attention to complaints that the first Kuga was a little cramped in the rear seat and has not only expanded that area by stretching the length, but has also made the boot larger. Kuga’s interior styling is bold, with large sporty looking dials and a centre stack that protrudes towards the occupants for ease of use.Ford is pushing hard on the connectivity theme and, thankfully, is doing what it can to minimise driver inattention. While many drivers will continue to ignore safety warnings and take their attention off the road, the voice recognition system used to control many functions should significantly reduce the number of crashes.A clever feature in the big array of safety features is Driver Alert. This looks not only for driver inattention, but also for signs of fatigue during long trips that are such a feature of Australian country driving. Should you be unfortunate enough to be in a crash the topline models will ring 000 and get help by informing emergency telephone operators of your position using GPS signals.Talking of crashes, the new Kuga, with seven airbags amongst a host of other damage minimisation features, has obtained the highest ever ranking in its class in European testing. It goes without saying it scored a maximum five stars in Australasian NCAP barrier testing.Power for the gen-two Kuga comes from either a turbo-petrol or turbo-diesel engine. Both are at the head of their respective fields in performance and economy. The 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol unit provides up to 110 kilowatts of power and 240 Nm of torque, when fitted in the lower cost 2WD version of the Kuga. Power is increased to 134 kW, but peak torque remains the same, in 4WD variants. The 2.0-litre turbo-diesel’s power output is 120 kW, with 340 Nm of torque.Even the Kuga Ambiente is well equipped, with keyless start, cruise control with auto speed limiter, a leather wrapped steering wheel, steering wheel mounted audio and cruise controls, Sync in-car connectivity with voice control, single CD audio system that is USB and iPod compatible, 3.5-inch mono TFT screen, front and rear foglights, Bluetooth mobile phone integration, single USB port and Auxiliary port.To this the Trend adds 18-inch alloy wheels, satellite navigation, 5-inch colour TFT screen, leather inserts and bolsters, heated front seats, interior ambient lighting with multi-colour choices, tables on front seatbacks and active park assist. Topline Kuga Titanium gains 19-inch alloy wheels, panoramic glass roof, bi-xenon headlights with automatic levelling and daytime running lights front and rear.We tested a variety of models during a drive program in South Australia that took us from Glenelg, south into the scenic Fleurieu Peninsula and came away with the smoothness and quietness of the ride, even on tough Aussie roads that had seen better days. There’s strong torque through the six-speed gearboxes (manual or automatic in the 2WD petrol Ambiente, auto only in the others).The handling during our brief initial drive of six different variants always felt safe and predictable. Should you approach a bend at a silly speed Ford has installed a range of electronic stability and traction aids that will do all they can to get you out of trouble.Ambiente 1.6-litre petrol FWD five-door wagon (manual)Ambiente 1.6-litre petrol AWD five-door wagon (automatic)Trend 1.6-litre petrol AWD five-door wagon (automatic)Trend 2.0-litre turbo-diesel AWD five-door wagon (automatic)Titanium 1.6-litre petrol AWD five-door wagon (automatic)Titanium 2.0-litre turbo-diesel AWD five-door wagon (automatic)

SUV in Ford-speak stands for ‘Smart’ Utility Vehicle, and that’s what its new Kuga is all about.The US-styled, Spanish-built Kuga is the first on Australian roads to automatically call 000 if you have a serious accident – and it also has attractions such as the ability to park itself and is the first to offer hands-free tailgate opening.A mum with her hands full of shopping need only pass her foot under the bumper to have the tailgate pop up.There are among many more innovative features in the latest contender in the medium SUV sector, a global model that seems to be Ford’s brightest light in a while.The neatly-styled SUV is a bit longer, lower and narrower than the impressive previous 2.5-litre Kuga.It comes in three spec levels and now has 1.6-litre turbo-petrol or optional 2.0-litre turbo-diesel power.The Ford Kuga starts at a competitive $27,990 for the front-wheel drive Ambiente 1.6 Ecoboost with 110kW/240Nm. The automatic model, only available with all-wheel-drive, is $31,490 with 134kW/240Nm.The mid-spec Trend is $36,240 and the top-dog Titanium rises to $44,740. Both are automatic AWDs, and can be had with the diesel motor with 120kW/340Nm for an extra $3000.Standard on Ambiente are 17-inch steel wheels, foglights, Bluetooth, USB and aux jacks for the six-speaker audio system, rear parking sensors, halogen headlights, adjustable splitfold rear seats, keyless ignition, airconditioning, trip computer, cruise control and stop-start (manual only).The Trend comes with 18-inch alloys, leather inserts, powered driver's seat,  auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone climate control, auto-on headlights and nine-speaker audio with digital radio reception.The Titanium runs on 19-inch alloys and adds bi-xenon headlights, a glass sunroof, satellite navigation, that magic tailgate, a reversing camera and a self-parking feature. Plus a lot more.For an extra $2650, there's an optional Technology Pack that stops the Kuga from running into other traffic at up to 30km/h, adaptive cruise control, blind spot and lane departure warning, self-dipping headlights  and a device that tells the driver it’s time to take a break when it detects doziness.Kuga scores a five-star crash rating, but the ‘intelligent’ AWD system does a great job of preventing the car from getting out of control in the first place.The torque vectoring feature uses a plethora of sensors to subtly correct driving imperfections through corners.Other items are a stiffer frame, seven airbags, Dynamic Stability Control with ABS, Trailer Stability Function. Hill Start Assist and Brake Assist.The cabin is roomy, exceptionally quiet and very comfy, the latter due to excellent Mexican-made seats and there’s a big flared panel in the centre of the dash that houses all the main cabin controls, aircraft cockpit style. Pretty impressive.Cargo space has increased from 360 to 406 litres with the rear seats in place, and to 1603 litres when folded down.We drove all three versions – and liked them all.The 2WD Ambiente, the sole manual in the range, was a delight and its six-speed shifter was a honey. Performance was more than adequate for the twists and turns, ups and downs of the South Australian countryside and it had the best economy.Ambiente AWD, Trend and Titanium have the more powerful 1.6 petrol motor, an eager performer that drives through a conventional six-speed auto.Diesel models use Ford's PowerShift twin-clutch 6-speed automatic.Suspension is very Euro-like in being firm, which translates to better handling and road behaviour as well as less fatigue, and the steering is light and precise. The different sized wheels also give each model a slightly different ride.

Appetites for SUVs don't look like being satisfied yet and Ford's new Kuga morsel on the market promises to make the menu choice even harder.Adding a front-drive entry-level model as well as a diesel to the line-up that made a cameo appearance on its pricelist from February last year, the Kuga goes on sale next month from $27,990 for the petrol-powered front-drive manual - a sizeable $11,000 drop to buy into the Ford cat family. Ford Australia marketing general manager David Katic says the price marks the Kuga as a "serious contender.''"Customers today are chasing value-for-money and the Ford Kuga delivers,'' he says. More space within a stronger structure, a diesel engine option and the debut (for a Ford vehicle here) of the Emergency Assistance system are all key points to the Kuga's appeal, says Ford.The Blue Oval has come out swinging the cat, as it were, with the entry-level Kuga - the Ambiente front-wheel drive petrol six-speed manual - starting from $27,990, rising to $31,490 if you want the more-powerful all-wheel-drive and a conventional six-speed automatic.Standard fare includes cloth trim, stop-start and brake energy recovery fuel saving systems, 17in steel wheels, fog lights, a reach'n'rake adjustable leather-wrapped steering wheel, Bluetooth phone link, USB and auxiliary inputs for the six-speaker sound system and power-adjustable heated exterior mirrors.There's also rear parking sensors, halogen headlights, manual front seat adjustment, splitfold rear seats with rake adjustment, keyless ignition, air conditioning, trip computer and cruise control. The mid-spec auto-only Trend starts from $36,240 for the AWD petrol-auto, rising to $39,240 for the dual-clutch turbodiesel auto AWD. For the extra outlay the Trend offers 18in alloy wheels, leather trim additions, power adjustment for the driver's seat, an auto-dimming centre rearview mirrors, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, automatic headlights and the Sync nine-speaker sound system with digital radio reception.The Titanium flagship retains the same drivetrain, asking $44,740 for the petrol and $47,740 if you prefer a diesel/dual-clutch drivetrain, adding 19in alloys, a glass sunroof, bi-xenon headlights with LED running and tail-lights, leather trim, front seat heaters, ambient LED interior lighting, power-folding exterior mirrors, the hands-free tailgate, front parking sensors, aircraft-style rear fold-down tables for rear occupants, keyless entry and ignition, satellite navigation and a reversing camera.There's an optional (on all bar the Ambiente) Technology Pack available for $2650 that adds the Active City Stop (automatic braking at up to 30km/h), adaptive cruise control, blind spot and lane departure warning systems, as well as auto high beam and the driver impairment monitor, which  monitors driver behaviour to prevent fatigue-related problems.The new Kuga claims a 25 per cent lower thirst for petrol (between 6.7 and 8l/100km) by way employing the 1.6-litre EcoBoost direct-injection turbo petrol engine - the entry-level car gets a 110kW/240Nm tune or the AWD models upgrade to 134kW, still down on the outgoing (but thirstier at 10.6) Kuga's 147kW/320Nm output.The two-litre turbodiesel - not seen here in the outgoing car - is largely a carryover engine, producing 120kW and 340Nm with a thirst around 6.3 litres per 100km. The new Kuga's all-wheel-drive system takes stock every 16 milliseconds to control the power split front to rear, which can be up to 100 per cent front or rear as required.The Sync infotainment system brings with it Emergency Assistance, which uses a paired mobile to summon help and provide GPS location to emergency services in the event of an accident serious enough to require airbag deployment or the emergency fuel shut-off.Sharper looking than the outgoing car, the new Kuga has the same wheelbase at 2690mm but is 81mm longer, 4mm narrower and 8mm lower - the boffins have given the rear occupants and the load area the benefits of revised packaging to improve rear space.The roomier cabin is more comfortable - thanks to extensive seat development - and also quieter, says Ford, who have concentrated on, among other things, re-shaping exterior mirrors and A-pillars to reduce wind noise. Cargo space has risen from 360 to 406 litres when the rear seats are occupied, or when folded the volume has gone from 1355 to 1603 litres when only two-up.A structure boasting more than 30 per cent of high and ultra-high strength steel - including the A and B pillars and door sills - has helped get the Kuga five stars from NCAP, as does a front chassis subframe that detaches in severe frontal impacts.The safety features list also includes a driver's knee airbag, dual front, front-side and curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability and traction control, roll-over and trail sway control systems.Kuga is wading into the competitive SUV market with an arsenal worth considering. It looks good in the metal, not just a Focus on stilts. Seat comfort front and rear is good - better than the firm cushioning might first suggest - and the rear seat space is improved somewhat.Cargo space has also grown appreciably, although the space-saver spare points to the on-road bias of the little Ford SUV. The mid-spec Trend model in all-wheel drive guise has the upped power output and a conventional six-speed auto, a drivetrain that works with intent to get the SUV going while not slurping as greedily as its predecessor.Around town its quiet and smooth, with a ride leaning towards firm but rarely uncomfortable and only a wind rustle around the mirrors to catch the ear - perhaps due to lower noise levels from elsewhere.The small turbo petrol powerplant is serviceable but it’s the turbodiesel that is likely to prove the better all-rounder - also smooth and quiet, the extra torque on offer is obvious from the first few minutes on the road. The all-wheel drive system is front-biased but shifts drive aft without much provocation, dealing easily with unsealed road surfaces securely. Open road running is the Kuga's forte, with an easy cruising manner; it can hustle through back roads as well, but the light steering could do with a little more meat for the driver. It's certainly at the top of the heap for road manners and dynamic ability, although just shaded by the CX-5 for steering and diesel outputs. Complaints are few - there are no rear vents on the base-model Ambiente, which in manual front-wheel drive guise impresses otherwise, with a slick gearshift from the six-speeder and a livelier demeanour than the heavier auto AWD models - the entry-level car was only let down by excessive road noise from the Goodyear rubber, which was more noticeable than the noise from the Continental tyres on the Trend and Titanium models.It has more enthusiasm for the press-ahead driving than the entry-level Mazda opponent, Ford could do worse than offer higher-spec models in this FWD guise. Other markets also get the two-litre petrol models and Ford could also do worse than to look at adding that model to the line-up - in the same way Mazda has recently added the 2.5 to the CX-5 range.The optional Technology Pack adds a number of key active safety features, but also undoes Ford's good work by returning the indicator to the lefthand stalk from the preferred right-hand side elsewhere in the range.

After a couple of false starts Ford finally has a world-class compact SUV on sale in Australia. After more than a decade of the rather rudimentary and box-shaped Escape, and a fleeting 12-month appearance of the superseded Kuga model that replaced it out of Europe, we now have the car that all this fuss was about.The new Kuga is Ford’s global SUV. It was designed in North America after borrowing heavily from the company’s European influence and will be made in four factories around the world, including the USA, Russia, China and Taiwan.Our Kuga comes to us from Valencia, in Spain. But it very nearly could have been built by Ford Australia in Broadmeadows. This new generation Kuga shares its underpinnings with the latest Ford Focus, which was to be built in Melbourne from 2011 -- until those plans were axed in 2009.It all seems like ancient history now, but given that the small car and compact SUV segments are the two biggest in Australia, Ford would have been on a winner if these were made here.Ford has an attractive headline price for the new Ford Kuga range. The basic front-drive model starts at $27,990, undercutting some of the toughest competition.But that price advantage evaporates as soon as you tick the box for automatic transmission, as 99 per cent of customers do in this class of vehicle. The jump to the base model auto adds a whopping $3500 (not the typical $2000) because it also comes with all-wheel-drive.The mid-grade Trend model (available as an all-wheel-drive only) starts at $36,240 as a petrol, while a diesel engine adds $3000 (to $39,240).Unfortunately, you don’t get a rear camera on the four most popular models in the range (see “technology”). You have to climb all the way to the top Titanium model, which starts at $44,740 (petrol) and $47,740 (diesel). Most of the Kuga’s main rivals have rear cameras as standard even though they start close to or below $30,000. At least rear sensors are standard.Metallic paint adds $385 on all models. And a technology pack that includes auto emergency braking, radar cruise control, blind spot warning, lane keeping, auto-dipping highbeam cost $2650.The new Ford Kuga SUV will be the first car on sale in Australia to automatically phone emergency services if you crash.The driver has 10 seconds to cancel the call if police and ambulance are not required, but if the line is silent the car will give 000 operators its GPS co-ordinates to send help. The system is so sophisticated Ford is training emergency services across Australia on what it sounds like and how it operates.The technology is standard on all new Ford Kuga SUVs, which start from $28,000. The only requirement is that a Smartphone is connected to the car via Bluetooth -- and that the crash happens in mobile phone range.Holden had a similar system from 2001 to 2010, but it required drivers of crashed vehicles to press a button to enlist help. The Ford system is automatically triggered when airbags deploy.The Kuga is among a growing number of cars making it increasingly difficult to have a crash. As with a number of cars from Volvo, Volkswagen and Subaru, the new Ford Kuga will brake automatically to avoid rear-ending another car in low-speed traffic.It will also steer straight if you wander from your lane, warn you of cars about to overtake you, and automatically dip the highbeams as other vehicles drive towards you at night.For mums and dads on the run, the new Ford also has a tailgate that can be opened with a deft swing of your foot (similar to kicking a soccer ball), providing the key is in your pocket or within 1 metre of the car. It’s handy for those will their hands full, or little ones to watch.But for all the gadgets, the car that Ford describes as the “Smart SUV” does not come standard with a rear-view camera -- even though most of the top SUV competitors have it across the range and is now seen as a basic feature.A rear camera is only available on the top-line Ford Kuga which starts at $44,000, whereas the Mazda CX5, Subaru Forester, Honda CR-V and Nissan Dualis have a rear camera on all models, which near or below $30,000.Up to two-dozen infants die in driveway incidents each year and hundreds more are seriously injured. Up to 80 per cent of cases involve an SUV or ute -- even though they only account for about one-third of vehicles on the road.When asked why Ford had not made a rear camera available even as an option on the most basic version of its latest family car, the sales and marketing representative for Ford Australia, Brad Brownwell, said: “Part of the philosophy was … to get people to go up to the .”The Ford representative downplayed the safety benefit of rear-view cameras. “You don’t want people to look in their mirrors and just stare at the little and throw the car in reverse. You’ve got to be aware of your surroundings”.The new Ford Kuga looks a lot like the old one, mainly because Ford liked the European model so much.This car replaces the box-shaped Escape in the US which is why, rather cleverly, it has the same cargo space as the old Escape, even though it looks smaller thank to its sleek lines and sloping roof.As with most new Fords, the Kuga gets the company’s premium-look interior with a “command centre” in the middle of the dash for all the main cabin controls. It looks impressive but is not as practical as big simple buttons and dials. Less would have been truly more in this regard.Seven airbags and a clever stability control system that keeps the car secure in corners. According to ANCAP, the new Ford Kuga has among the highest score in its class. Earning its five star rating, the Kuga scored 36.33 points out of a possible 37 (compared to 35.91 for the new Honda CR-V and 35.1 for the new Mazda CX-5). Then, of course, there is also the equipment designed to stop crashes in the first place (see “technology”).On the road, how the new Ford Kuga drives depends on which model you choose. During the media preview drive in Adelaide this week, Carsguide sampled all three model grades and both the petrol and diesel engines.The diesel is surprisingly quiet for this type of engine, and has good power once you're on the move but can feel a little sluggish around town in low-speed situations because of both the delay in the diesel engines power delivery, and the response time of the twin-clutch automatic gearbox.The 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine feels spritelier by comparison, and its conventional 6-speed automatic transmission is a smoother operator.The new Ford Kuga feels secure in corners and the steering is very precise, however the trade-off for this is a busy and at times firm ride over what appears to be smooth road.Inside, the new Ford Kuga is one of the roomiest among its rivals with good head and knee room for backseat passengers and a deceptively big cargo area.However, the tapered window line which gives the Kuga its sleek appearance comes at the expense of visibility when parking. Despite all the Kuga's worthy safety technology, a rear camera is inexplicably not standard across the range of a vehicle that needs it most. Four of the six models are not available with a rear camera, even though its main competitors have the safety feature as standard, at a lesser price.Another issue that we would like Ford to address on the mid-life update of this car would be to include a digital speed display on the screen in the instrument panel, as Ford has done with the Falcon and Territory, and as is increasingly common on new models sold in Australia.

Walkinshaw Performance works their magic on a Ford Kuga SUV. A Ford Kuga, even a lowered one, doesn’t normally turn heads. One with Walkinshaw Performance badging does the trick though.  The tuning house is spreading the love with its aftermarket affections and has chosen the Blue Oval’s base product to showcase its wares. That’s a role reversal for a company traditionally associated with go-fast Holdens but Walkinshaw Performance general manager Tony Harris is adamant it’s not sacrilege so much as strategic positioning. “We aren’t just about Holden or Commodore,” Harris says.“Walkinshaw is a full-house performance shop and we intend to keep growing the business. GMH will still be a major part of that but the SUV market is where all the movement is and like the Captiva, the Kuga shows that we can work on any vehicle that fits in with our criteria.”Those criteria include having a sporting focus, delivered in this case by the five-cylinder turbo engine, solid driving dynamics and a premium European look.“Kuga buyers have already chosen something different, we’re now giving them the option to take it up a notch. Taking a car to the next level while still delivering a full warranty is an untapped area and one that Walkinshaw sees a lot of potential in,” Harris says.It costs $5750 to transform the donor $44,490 Kuga Titanium into a WP edition. The kit was developed by Irmscher in association with Ford in Germany and is primarily intended to improve the look and handling of the mid-sized SUV.The WP model rolls on 20-inch Irmscher rims, and a lowering kit reduces the ride height by around 40mm. A set of polished sidesteps completes the dress-up package. The engine hasn’t been chipped or remapped - given there are only going to be 80 vehicles, it wasn’t cost-effective - but the throttle response module has been sensitised to the point where it’s touchier than a first night lap dancer.Imrscher is a core supplier for Walkinshaw Performance and the two share common traits. Both aspire to develop products to original equipment standards and both have a history of developing aftermarket gear for General Motors vehicles. Just as Walkinshaw sees a future beyond Holden, so too has Irmscher looked farther afield than its traditional tie-in with the troubled Opel/Vauxhall brand.The German tuners have developed an RC Line for Peugeot owners and are now selectively courting Ford buyers in segments where the Blue Oval doesn’t have its own halo cars. The One Ford global platform policy lets Walkinshaw apply that expertise to local vehicles.A beefy set of wheels always accentuates a car’s look - it’s the same reason that concept cars generally have rims that fill the entire guard. It works well on the Kuga, toughening up the already smart styling and giving the SUV a more purposeful stance on the road. The sidesteps are a highlight and make you wonder why Ford doesn’t have a set in its accessories catalogue.WP hasn’t touched the interior and it is here the car’s 2008 origins are starting to show. The switchgear is still good, but the alloy centre-stack is button-heavy compared with its competitors. As you’d expect from a mid-$40,000 vehicle, the fitout includes leather upholstery, soft-touch plastics on the dash and doors and a panoramic sunroof.The Kuga is a five-star car but far from top of the class. ANCAP noted that protection for the driver’s legs in the offset front crash was marginal and rated the car at 32.69/37. The more modern design of the Honda CR-V and Mitsubishi Outlander both earned higher marks.The Kuga makes good use of what it has in the real world, though, with great grip and handling backed by ABS brakes with brakeforce distribution to help avoid a crash and then six airbags if things do go pear-shaped.The 40mm trim in ride height improves the road-holding as much as it does the looks. Given the donor car was already a pacesetter, it puts the WP Kuga well ahead of the SUV pack in terms of driving dynamics. Less movement in the suspension and the tyre sidewalls makes the ride firmer but not to the point of bouncing the occupants around.The Toyo rubber also has prodigious levels of adhesion, wet or dry and makes this one of the few fun SUVs to drive. The recalibrated throttle also gives the impression this car has more toe than the standard Ford. It doesn’t - outputs are still 147kW/320Nm - but it doesn’t take nearly as much movement of the accelerator to access that grunt.Gran probably won’t enjoy feathering the throttle around the carpark but will appreciate the off-the-line surge. There’s still room for five and the two-piece tailgate makes loading a breeze, even if it does need a motor or bigger struts to make opening/closing less of a chore.