2014 Ford Kuga 1.6 EcoBoost Trend AWD review
You should’t believe everything you read, especially on the Internet. Except for this, you should believe everything you read here. But delve into the depths of the internet and you’ll find some random things that’s hard to believe. Modern media would like to have you believe that every young male across the globe have fantasies about ‘cougars’, women of a certain age that ‘prey’ on younger men. Think Madonna and whatever pre-teen she’s dating this week or that shows such as ‘Cougar Town’ and ‘Desperate Housewives’.
It’s a generalisation but doesn’t mean there isn’t any truth to it. This phenomenon of young men having an interest in older women could do with a number of things. One theory is that there aren’t enough young celebs to fancy, most of the popular female celebrities are in their late 30s-40s. Charlize Theron springs to mind.
Another sort of thing that gets said a lot and is based on a generalisation is when car reviewers claim that an SUV feels like a hatchback to drive. This isn’t always the case. The Hyundai i30 is a good car to drive but the iX35 doesn’t feel quite as nimble. It’s a well known fact that tall things aren’t made made for cornering, which is why basketball players run up and down a straight court. Is it a court in basketball? Field. Whatever.
But the new Ford Kuga/Escape really impressed me because it genuinely felt like a less elevated car to drive. The Kuga is a new name for Australian/New Zealand markets. As a much need replacement for the prehistoric Escape, the first generation was introduced into our market in 2010, which was quite late in its life. The second generation was launched in 2013 and has been a great success for Ford.
It’s not hard to see why. It’s a genuinely handsome thing, even in this gold/green Gingerale Metallic (I love that name!) colour. And I’m not just saying to win favour with Ford in hope they’ll let me drive the new Mustang when it arrives here next year (hint hint). No, the Kuga is genuinely good looking. It manages to look taut and aggressive without shouting about itself. Ford is set to facelift the Kuga in a year or so to bring it in line with Ford’s new design language but it’ll be hard to improve on its current design.
Ford’s ‘One Ford’ policy is key to the conception of the Kuga, not just its design. Previously Ford had two mid-sized crossovers sold in different markets across the world. The first Kuga was sold almost exclusively in Europe with the exception of a few Asian countries such as Japan getting it as well, albeit in small numbers. Catering to Asia-Pacific markets was the old Escape which wasn’t as quite as good or as mordern as the Kuga. The ‘One Ford’ policy consolidated the two cars which meant the Escape’s practicality was merged with the Kuga’s style, sophistication and European dynamics. The Kuga is sold as an Escape in other markets such as North America and Asia.
Ford had to be cautious in designing the Kuga so that it’d work as well on the streets of New York and Shanghai as it will in the Italian countryside and the Australian outback. To me the exterior is the perfect blend of global tastes. The interior however isn’t quite a effective. It’s not a horrible place to sit in by any means, in fact being stuck in traffic the vast amount of buttons can keep you entertained. It’s a classic case where more isn’t necessarily better. Once you’ve gotten used to where the buttons are and what they do it’s not as bad, but at first it was a bit daunting.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the small 4.2-inch display screen either. Not only was it small but it felt like it was in a galaxy far far away. The top of the line Titanium trim gets a larger display screen but it seems a bit unfair to have to go all the way to the top of the line just to get a decent looking display screen. The ‘Trend’ trim as tested came with iPod connectivity and a bluetooth compatible stereo. Connecting my phone to the stereo was quick and simple. The MySync system wasn’t as easy to use, though I’ve yet to come across a voice control system that was. The quality of the sound was good through the Sony sound system.
Other things I wasn’t particular fond of were the strange SelectShift auto. It’s not that it doesn’t work as a gearbox but feels like it can’t quite decide which gear it wants to be in. It lingers on a gear and when you put your foot down it suddenly decided to change down a couple of gears. Drive it sensibly and it works jolly well. Change gears yourself via the thumb shifter and it solves the problems of the indecisive gearbox.
However, when you do its not quite as simple as you’d think. To change up and down gears you use a button on the right side of the stick so you have to use your left thumb. Granted, it’s a novel way to change gears and at first it does feel strange but after a while it was surprisingly easy to use. That could have something to do with me being part of the ‘Playstation generation’ though. It’s not a big deal as its not exactly an out-and-out sports car and really I’m just knit picking because the rest of the Kuga is hard to fault.
First the engine. This particular Kuga had a 1.6 EcoBoost engine which pumps out 178 bhp and 240NM of torque sending power to all four wheels. In fact all Kugas in NZ are AWD. This little engine has revved its way to my heart. It’s a fantastic bit of engineering. 1600cc with a turbocharger and can get this 1.6 tonne from 0-100 kph in 9.7 seconds. While it doesn’t sound like a lot, the torque is available low down (as little as 1600rpm) so the punch comes earlier than expected. It’s responsive too, however the auto does struggle a bit when you demand more from it. The upshot to this small engine is big fuel savings. Ford claims a combined fuel consumption of 7.7L/100km. So it’s as aggressive and pushy as a ‘cougar’ at a bar but drinks considerably less. That’s mighty impressive indeed. If you want better mileage you can opt for a 2-litre diesel which can return 6.2L/100km and produces a healthy 162bhp and 340NM of torque.
What impressed me most about the Kuga though was the handling. It’s very good for an SUV of this type. I’d go as far as to say its the best in class, certainly compared to rivals I’ve driven. It has more life to it than the Hyundai ix35 and compared to the Nissan X-Trail it has a sportier edge. There are reports saying this new Kuga doesn’t have the dynamics of the old one but I find that hard to believe. This one is already so good the old one must’ve been like a Focus ST.
There’s little body roll around corners and the steering is light and precise. You can place it just where you want to. It doesn’t offer telekinetic levels of feel but its about as good as it gets for this sort of car. The downside to the good handling though is a slightly harsh ride, especially compared to the velvety smooth X-Trail. This is most noticeable when you encounter pot holes or harsh road surfaces where it shows its disapproval. Most of the time I found perfectly acceptable.
Around town its very easy to drive. The high driving position gives you good visibility all round and the large wing mirrors with blind spot assist are a godsend. I honestly don’t know how I’ve gone through life without blind spot assist. That said it is a must have driver aid on modern cars as the c-pillars seem to get bigger by the day. The ones on the Kuga aren’t as bad as others however its the thick A-pillars that annoyed me most. I found myself leaning forwards to to see cars at intersections.
Parking the Kuga is good, rearward visibility is good and the park pilot gives good audio and visual aids. Thanks to the light steering manoeuvrability was very good too. Go for the top-spec Titanium and you get Active Park Assist which does the tricky bits for you like it does in the Focus.
The sporting nature of the Kuga doesn’t take away from its family car credentials. It’s as vast inside as a desert and there’s lots of storage spaces scattered around the cabin for you to lose your children. The cubby hole under the central armrest is chilled too. Its easy to get comfy in the front, electrically operated seats allows anyone to find the perfect position. The sports seats offer great support, especially the side bolsters, as well as comfort.
Space in the back is great, there’s virtually no transmission tunnel interference so the floor is pretty much flat. The back seats are comfy and could easily seat three adults in comfort, let alone children. You sit slightly higher up as well giving a sort of stadium feel. It get’s better round the back. Open the large tailgate and you get easy access to a large boot, 406L of space to be exact. Its 71L more than the previous Kuga but isn’t quite class leading.
Because it’s aimed at families the safety equipment is generous. Along with more airbags than I can count all the safety acronyms typical of a 21st Century car, you get passive safety aids such as blind spot assist and Forward Alert which came in handy when I got a bit too close to the car in front. Similar to the Collision Prevention Assist in the Mercedes A-Class, the car warns you by making a loud noise and bright lights on the dash when you get too close for comfort. It’ll partially apply the brakes as well to get its full stopping power ready when you eventually hit the pedal. There’s even a drowsiness monitor.
With prices starting from $39,990 for the 1.6 EcoBoost Ambiente AWD and comes with everything you need as standard it presents good value compared to most of its 2WD-biased rivals. Step up to the Trend model for $4,000 more and that comes with everything you want such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping assist and City Safe with Forward Alert. The option of a diesel (from $45,990) sets it apart from the petrol-only Japanese offerings.
Thinking back to it the Kuga is a good SUV but the X-Trail is a better family car. The X-Trail does all the important practical stuff better, the 7-seat option is a massive advantage and so is the bigger boot and simpler controls. However, the Kuga has something else. It’s a very likeable car and it made me smile. That, above all else, is what matters to me and for that reason I’d rather have the Kuga.
Compact SUVs, mid-sized SUVs, crossovers… whatever you want to call them, this particular segment is as crowded as a Tokyo subway at Monday morning rush hour. It’s more competitive than Olympic athletes and is more important to car manufactures than Jesus. Almost every manufacturer has an SUV be it Dacia or Porsche. The choices car buyers have these days if they’re in the market for a practical, high riding family car is insane. You have to stand out if you want to do well. Look at the Mazda CX-5. That sells well because it looks good, drives well and is economical yet fun to drive. The RAV4 sells well because its a Toyota and will survive a nuclear apocalypse while the Holden Captiva 5 doesn’t sell because it’s quite ugly.
I’ve seen a few Kugas around and they’re generally driven by women. I’m guessing these are mums and I can see the appeal. The Kuga is certainly one of the more fashion-conscious choices in this segment and the fact that it works well as a family car and the sporty way it drives are just bonus points. What makes the Kuga great though is yes it’s appealing and yes it’s a very easy car to recommend. You know how some people say ‘you are what you drive?’ Well the Kuga is an example of this. I’d wager that most of the women driving a Kuga, mum or not, would indulge in this whole ‘cougar phenomenon’. There is a caveat though, just remember not to believe everything you read.
Verdict: 8/10
Pros: Handsome looks, energetic engine, space, handling, funky interior, capable family car, price and spec, made me smile
Cons: Weird auto, small and outdated display screen, thick A-pillar, funky interior
Does many things just as well as rivals but rises above the rest in particular area; it made me smile.
Revved Up 