niCarFinder.co.uk

Reader Review Rating:
click to vote (0 votes)

A Woman's View - Will It Suit Me?

The 4x4 is a type of car that you either like or loathe. Either their aggressive grilles, flared wheelarches and ability to tame mother nature’s harshest terrain speak to you on a primeval level or you think they look a bit silly and over the top. Of course, there are different degrees of 4x4 and these days, the boundary between off-roader and conventional car has never been blurrier. Perhaps the non-believers should take another look at this controversial class of vehicle? If there’s any model with the qualities to persuade them, Ford’s Kuga must have a chance.

The Ford Kuga puts up very little pretence of off-road ability. The manufacturer has taken the refreshing approach of creating a 4x4 that’s designed to travel primarily on the public highway and why not? That’s where the vast majority of 4x4 drivers stay. The Kuga has the high driving position and easier access of a 4x4 thanks to its tall shape and raised ride height. It also has 4x4 transmission that will allow it to tackle the gravel driveways and grassy banks owners might occasionally encounter while also providing enhanced grip on the tarmac. Importantly, however, by doing without the heavy-duty suspension needed for serious off-road driving and borrowing its underpinnings with the Ford Focus hatchback, the Kuga has the pedigree for a car-like driving experience. All that remains to be seen is how it stacks up in the real world.The Practicalities

The Kuga’s looks are certainly appealing. Ford has managed to strike a neat balance between the cute and the sporty with the aggressive angles of its bold front end and the compact, stocky proportions of the vehicle as a whole. The interior is similarly easy to like with lots of classy chrome and aluminium finishes, particularly on the up-spec models, and controls that are straightforward to master. Space in the front is fine but the rear legroom will cause trouble for taller occupants. The boot measures in at 410 litres which is nothing special but that capacity can be accessed either by opening the full tailgate or raising the rear screen on its own, which is a nice touch.

The second row of seating has a 60/40 split and can fold completely flat to maximise the load space. Underseat storage beneath the second row with further storage under the floor of the luggage compartment area offers maximum practicality. The Kuga has a generous luggage capacity of 1,355 litres when in two-seat mode.

Behind the Wheel

The Kuga is powered by a 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine with 134bhp at its disposal. It comes across as a slightly noisy unit when employed in other Ford models but in the Kuga, it remains very quiet thanks to thorough insulation. It’s the wind and road noise that are most noticeable when cruising. Performance is more than adequate with the diesel giving strong responses to your throttle inputs and the Kuga handles with a degree of composure that we’re not used to experiencing in the compact 4x4 class.

Power is sent to the front wheels for the majority of the time but when a loss of traction is detected, the Kuga’s 4x4 system re-routes it to the back wheels to haul the car out of trouble. The diesel engine also manages to return very commendable economy figures with an average of 44.1mpg attainable on the combined cycle and emissions of 169g/km. That’s better than the majority of its compact 4x4 rivals.

Value for money

Two trim levels are offered with the Kuga. The first step is Zetec which comes with keyless start, 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, ESP stability control, anti lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and an MP3 connector to plug into your iPod. If you’re feeling a little more flush, an additional sum nets you the Titanium model which gets part leather trim, rain sensing wipers, automatic headlights, cruise control, blue tinted glass and dual climate control.

Could I Live With One?

4x4s have developed into a bit of a touchy subject over the last few years. These vehicles have grown enormously in popularity but their owners tend never to use them off-road. This means, or so the argument goes, that they’re carrying around lots of redundant capability in that heavy four-wheel-drive system and unnecessarily expending the planet’s resources as a result. Ford’s Kuga manages to neatly side step such criticisms with its compact design and economical diesel engine.

The Ford Kuga offers the key benefits of a small 4x4 with its high driving position and easy access but will do no more damage to the planet than your average family saloon car. With driving dynamics that are at or near the top of the class and head-turning styling thrown in, the Kuga looks a great choice for today’s image conscious 4x4 buyer.