Ford Kuga 2015 Review

It’s been almost two years since the TF series Kuga arrived in Oz, which is just enough time for Ford to offer a freshen-up of its popular mid-size SUV. Available from January, the revised Kuga scores new powertrains, a modest price adjustment, a new automatic entry model and drive-away pricing; at least for a limited time.

The range will also be offered with a dealer-fit camera across the three-grade line-up, though Ford Australia has yet to advise a price, saying we’ll have to wait until 2015.

On the whole, the changes are worthwhile. Ford’s optional Safety Pack — which adds autonomous braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, auto high-beam, blind-spot monitoring and tyre pressure monitoring (new) — is now $1000 cheaper (at $1600), and is available on mid-grade Trend and top-shelf Titanium variants.

As standard the Kuga receives seven airbags and the usual run of electronic driver aids, which see it score a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

But perhaps the biggest news for the Kuga portfolio is the introduction of an automatic transmission to the base grade front-wheel drive Ambiente. The entry model was previously available with only a six-speed manual, the automatic saved for the all-wheel drive. Now, the auto front-driver gives buyers on a budget an easier entry point to the Kuga range, as does Ford’s new drive-away pricing program.

Of course the six-speed manual remains available, though this time in conjunction with a new 1.5-litre EcoBoost (turbocharged) petrol engine. Developing 110kW and 240Nm, the four-cylinder unit consumes just 6.3L/100km on the ADR Combined cycle, jumping to 7.0L/100km (and 134KW) with the six-speed automatic.

An all-wheel drive Ambiente with the 1.5-litre engine and six-speed automatic is also available. The three variants are priced from $27,490 (-$500), $28,990 and $31,490 before on-road costs respectively.

Stepping up to the mid-grade Trend sees the 1.5-litre engine ditched in favour of a 2.0-litre EcoBoost (turbocharged) petrol or optional 2.0-litre Duratorq (turbocharged) diesel. Each is offered exclusively with all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission, and are priced from $36,490 and $38,490 respectively.

The petrol unit — which incidentally is shared with the FG X Falcon EcoBoost — develops 178kW and 345Nm. At 8.8L/100km on the ADR Combined cycle it’s around 10 per cent thirstier than the outgoing 1.6-litre unit, but makes a healthy 44kW and 105Nm more power and torque.

The diesel, on the other hand, now makes 132kW (+12kW) and 400Nm (+60Nm), but uses less fuel than before at 5.7L/100km (-0.8L).

Both units again feature in the high-grade Titanium variant, which is priced from $44,990 (plus ORCs) for the petrol and $46,990 (plus ORCs) for the diesel.

All engine variants arrive as standard with idle stop-start technology, which we should point out now is the smoothest, and quickest, we’ve yet to experience.

The launch drive saw us take in a mix of sealed and unsealed rural roads and inner-city freeways around Melbourne and its outskirts. We sampled the new front-wheel drive automatic Kuga Ambiente, petrol Trend and top-spec diesel Titanium variants, discovering each has its own personalities, though none with any significant downside.

The Ambiente automatic is sufficiently powerful considering its figures, and without the mechanical burden of the all-wheel drive system behind, is more lively than its on-paper figures would have you believe. It’s a free-revving little unit that cooperates well with the smooth-shifting automatic. Higher revs will maintain a pace level with the traffic — even on steeper hills — though we did find fuel economy began to suffer with the regular need for elevated engine speed (we saw 10.0L/100km according to the trip computer).

That aside, the front-wheel drive model is well sorted through corners and not easily upset by lumps and bumps. We did, however, find a little torque steer when getting back on the throttle and a little understeer present on loose gravel surfaces; though it was a gradual and predictable slip gathered efficiently by the stability control system.

The Ambiente’s 17-inch steel wheels (with plastic covers) also proved a boon on rough surfaces, soaking up large potholes and offering far less road noise than the larger diameter alloy wheels on the Trend and Titanium models. Interestingly, there was also less wind noise from the mirrors, perhaps a result of the slimmer scalp offered without the blind-spot monitoring as was fitted to the other variants listed.

It was also interesting to note that the Ambiente had its indicator stalk on the outboard side of the steering column while the Trend and Titanium variants were on the inboard side…

Moving up to the petrol-powered Trend we found a real sense of solidity from the all-wheel drive system, and linear power delivery to boot. It’s a smooth and settled vehicle, even on lesser roads, and when shifting gears was prompt and decisive, though not quite as seamless as the Powershift (dual-clutch automatic) of the diesel-powered Titanium.

The engine’s higher torque value also saw it achieve a better fuel figure than the Ambiente’s 1.5-litre, though only marginally on similar roads. We saw 9.2L/100km on the trip computer at the end of our stint.

The final leg saw us swap to the high-grade Titanium, fitted in this instance with the 400Nm Duratorq diesel. A smooth and refined diesel, the engine cooperated brilliantly with the dual-clutch transmission, the only indication of a gear change noted in increased revs via the tachometer.

The engine also made short work of long, steep grades, and didn’t really seem to present any handling deficit over the petrol AWD, with similar levels of poise through challenging bends.

Ford’s all-wheel drive system is a quick thinking unit, and its torque vectoring technology — designed originally for the Focus RS — is evident when pushing hard through challenging turns. It’s a set-up that really shows up the on-demand systems offered by some rivals, and would be a prudent pick for owners often found in slippery conditions.

On test, the Titanium diesel managed an average of 8.0L/100km though, like all figures noted here, we should point out that the numbers were achieved with a driving style aimed at testing the vehicle, and not its fuel economy [Ed: look-out for our seven-day test of the new Kuga soon for more on this].

So while little has changed in terms of amenity and equipment, the mechanical changes to the Kuga are really quite noteworthy. It’s now one of the most comprehensively well packaged medium SUVs where drivetrains are concerned, though we’re certain this won’t matter one iota to buyers focussed on Bluetooth doodads and Siri whatsits… more’s the pity.

2015 Ford Kuga Ambiente pricing and specifications (as tested):
Price: $28,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 134kW/240Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: TBA
Safety: Five-star (ANCAP)

2015 Ford Kuga Trend pricing and specifications (as tested):
Price: $36,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 178kW/345Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: TBA
Safety: Five-star (ANCAP)

2015 Ford Kuga Titanium pricing and specifications (as tested):
Price: $46,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 132kW/400Nm
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 5.7L/100km
CO2: TBA
Safety: Five-star (ANCAP)

Also consider:
>> Mazda CX-5
>> Toyota RAV4
>> Volkswagen Tiguan