Ford Kuga (2013 – 2020) Review

If you're looking for the newer version, you need our Ford Kuga review.

The Ford Kuga is one of the UK’s most popular family SUVs. It’s not hard to see why, because it’s as good to drive as a hatchback, as spacious as an estate car, and there’s a Ford dealer in most towns and cities. Launched in 2012, and facelifted in 2016, the Kuga takes on cars such as the Vauxhall Grandland X and Peugeot 3008, but few competitors can touch the Ford in terms of driver appeal. The ST-Line edition does a great impression of a hot hatchback, while the Vignale edges the Kuga into premium territory.

Launched in 2012, the Kuga enjoyed a long innings as Ford’s most popular family SUV, eventually bowing out when the all-new model arrived in 2020. Thanks to a facelift in 2016, the Kuga remained relevant in a fiercely competitive segment, rivalling the likes of the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Vauxhall Grandland X. It's now a great used SUV buy.

If we were looking for a unique selling point, we’d say it’s the way the Ford Kuga drives. It feels as sharp and precise as the Focus hatchback, making this the ideal SUV for drivers who enjoy a spirited run along a British B-road. The penalty for the sharp handling is a rather firm ride, with the Kuga lacking the cushion-soft suspension of some of its rivals.

Front- and four-wheel-drive variants are available, along with a choice of gearboxes. We’d favour the six-speed manual gearbox, primarily because it’s sweet-shifting, but also because the automatic transmission robs the engines of power and puts a dent in the fuel economy.

Speaking of engines, the Ecoboost petrol units should be avoided, as they’re not as efficient as the modern breed of small turbocharged engines.

Even the 2.0-litre TDCi diesel is a little lacking in the economy stakes, which makes the 1.5-litre TDCi the best option when buying a Kuga. It was added to the range as part of the 2016 facelift, which also saw a significant styling overhaul and a much-improved infotainment system.

Inside, the cabin is hard-wearing and robust, but you won’t find much in the way of soft-touch plastics and plush materials. We’d also argue that the dashboard is a little cluttered, although the Kuga makes up for it in terms of equipment.

Avoid the Zetec model, but other trim levels boast the kind of kit you’d expect from a family SUV. The Titanium models are the most popular, but the ST-Line trim offers cosmetic upgrades to match its lowered suspension.

There’s also a plush Vignale trim, which edges the Ford Kuga into premium territory. Smarter exterior styling combines with a more upmarket interior to give the Kuga a genuine luxury feel. Although it was too expensive when new, heavy depreciation means that it makes more sense on the used market.

Although prices start from £6,000, we’d up the budget to £11,000 to secure a facelifted model. Not only does the styling look more contemporary, you also have the option of the 1.5-litre diesel engine, not to mention the improved infotainment system. Pre-facelift versions have to make do with a system that seems woefully dated in 2020.

Boot space is excellent, making this one of the most practical cars in its class. There’s seating for five in the cabin, with the Kuga offering class-leading levels of headroom. No wonder it proved to be so successful for Ford.

If you’re after a mainstream SUV that’s great fun on a B-road, the Ford Kuga should be at the top of the shopping list. Just make sure you remove the shopping from the boot before you hit the first corner.

It feels more like a low-slung hatchback than a tall SUV, with very little body-roll, sharp handling and positive steering. The way it feels inspires so much confidence, but there’s also a great feeling of stability at high speeds. The Kuga is brilliant, regardless of whether you’re on a motorway or a country lane.

There is a penalty for the sharp handling: ride quality. The Kuga lacks the soft suspension favoured by many SUV buyers, so you tend to feel the bumps in the road. The larger the alloy wheels, the bigger the problem, although many buyers will revel in the tautness.

The 2.0-litre TDCi diesel dominated early sales of Kuga, with the engine offered in 140PS and 163PS guises. It’s generally fine, although it lacks the efficiency of later diesel engines. Most cars left the factory with a six-speed manual gearbox, which is slick and satisfying to use.

Later 2.0 TDCi units came with 150PS and 180PS outputs, but the biggest change was the introduction of the 1.5-litre TDCi. This more modern diesel engine offers the best blend of punch and efficiency, feeling quicker than the 120PS output would suggest.

Avoid the automatic transmission, which robs the engine of power and fires a missile through any hope of achieving decent fuel economy.

We’d also avoid the petrol engines, which are uneconomical, regardless of whether you opt for front- or four-wheel-drive. The best option is 1.5-litre Ecoboost, with the 182PS version feeling particularly fruity. The 150PS version is fine for short trips and the school run.

The Ford Kuga was awarded a five-star safety rating when it was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2012. Amazingly, it scored a maximum 100 percent for safety assist features, although it’s worth pointing out that it would unlikely to get anything close to this in 2020.

It’s not that the Kuga isn’t as safe as before, it’s just that safety technology has moved on and the Euro NCAP testing regime is more stringent.

All versions come with multiple airbags and, on models with sat-nav, a comprehensive emergency assistance system. It uses sensors to alert the emergency services in the event of an incident. It will even send the location of the car to the rescue services. An upgraded Active City Stop system was part of the 2016 facelift.

This is a good tow car, with the 2.0-litre TDCi versions boasting a maximum towing capacity of 2100kg. Other versions range from 1200kg to 2000kg, depending on the engine and transmission, but the automatic should be avoided if you’re towing a heavy trailer or large caravan.

The boot offers an impressive 456 litres of luggage capacity, making the second-generation Ford Kuga far more practical than the original. It’s a useful space, aided by a low loading lip, a wide opening and seats that fold flat. Do this, and the boot space increases to 1,653 litres, while the rear seats split 60/40 for added convenience.

Higher trim levels feature an electric tailgate, although it’s an option on other models, so the Kuga you’re looking at might have one. On some versions, you can even wave your foot below the bumper to open the tailgate. This was a novel feature when the Kuga was new.

Some rivals are more spacious in the cabin, but there’s enough room in the Kuga for five adults. The headroom is impressive, making the Kuga a great SUV for tall people. It helps that the floor is nearly flat, although the middle rear seat lacks the comfort of the outer seats.

Everything is robust, hard-wearing and fit-for-purpose. You could argue that these are important attributes in a family SUV.

Everything feels solid, but you’ll need to progress beyond the Zetec trim for anything approaching a premium feel. Take the Titanium X, which boasts heated leather seats and a panoramic roof. The Vignale trim features premium leather trim, ambient lighting and a leather-trimmed instrument panel to edge the Kuga into premium territory. It comes at a high price, mind.

There are two things to remember about the infotainment system in a Ford Kuga. Firstly, the system was dire on early models. Secondly, even later Zetec models featured a sub-standard setup without a touchscreen.

Things improved in 2016, when Ford added the superior Sync 3 system to the Kuga. Although the Zetec had to make do with a simple DAB digital radio, a 4.2-inch TFT screen, six speakers, voice control and a USB port, other models gained an eight-inch touchscreen with sat-nav. The Vignale added nine Sony speakers and an enhanced voice control to the mix.

An early second-generation Ford Kuga could cost as little as £6,000. The vast majority of cars at this end of the market will be powered by a 2.0-litre TDCi engine and finished in Titanium or Titanium X trim. Expect to find anything between 100,000 and 150,000 miles on the clock.

A budget of £11,000 is enough to secure a facelifted Kuga. Not only do these cars look better, there’s also an improved range of engines, new alloy wheels and an improved infotainment system. It’s easy to spot a facelifted Kuga – just look for the larger grille, which replaced the earlier design, which is starting to show its age.

A late 2019 Kuga should cost no more than £25,000. These cars are likely to be backed by the manufacturer, with the remainder of the original three-year warranty. Some will have delivery miles on the clock, so they represent a cheaper alternative to the all-new Kuga.

Although the Kuga Vignale was an expensive car when new, it sold in surprisingly healthy numbers, so there is a good selection to choose from on the used car market. Indeed, thanks to heavy depreciation, it’s a bit of a bargain, with 2017 models available for around £17,000. Given the premium spec and the interior quality, the Vignale makes more sense as a used car than it did when new.

An early Kuga could cost as little as £100 a month on a four-year hire purchase deal, but you’ll pay as much as £600 a month for a 2019 car. We’d recommend taking a look at PCP deals on the new Ford Kuga, as the monthly costs should be lower.

The 1.6-litre Ecoboost is particularly woeful, offering a claimed 36.7mpg to 42.8mpg, depending on whether you opt for four- or front-wheel-drive. Fine on paper, but the reality is likely to be closer to 25.5mpg to 34.1mpg, according to Honest John Real MPG figures.

The 1.5-litre Ecoboost is little better, offering between 25.4mpg and 34.2mpg, depending on the output and drivetrain. Avoid four-wheel drive, unless you enjoy making regular visits to the petrol station.

It’s not as though the 2.0-litre TDCi is particularly efficient in the Kuga. Figures of between 45.3mpg and 54.3mpg look reasonable on paper, but the reality is likely to be closer to 36.6mpg to 42.7mpg. The 1.5-litre TDCi is better, returning figures of between 48.1mpg and 48.3mpg. Those are Real MPG figures.

Some diesel versions could cost as little as £30 a year to tax, but high CO2 emissions put some petrol versions in a higher band. Bank on spending as much as £305 a year for a Kuga with a petrol engine, four-wheel drive and an automatic transmission.

The Ford Kuga is one of Europe’s most popular family SUVs for a reason. It’s as good to drive as the Focus, more practical than many of its rivals, well-equipped and, in later form, rather stylish. Because it sold so well, there are loads of used examples to choose from, so it should be easy to find the right Kuga for you. We’d recommend the Vignale trim, as steep depreciation means that it makes a terrific used buy.