Ford Kuga by Bob Nettleton

Armed with its Kuga, Ford is on the prowl for a sizeable bite of our compact SUV market and the thing that should worry its competition, is that it’s good enough to deliver it.

Ford finally has in the Kuga, a genuinely competitive model in what continues to be a rapidly expanding segment of our new car market. However, it faces some formidable competition but it’s a vehicle that is well and truly up for the challenge. This is the second generation of the Kuga – the first and a very good vehicle in its own right, by-passed New Zealand and was sold mainly in Europe and UK. By contrast this latest version, like the current Ford Focus, is a global model. Both have more in common than you might think, sharing the same underpinnings and automotive hardware with such as engines, suspensions and transmissions.

Given the popularity of this model on overseas market and sales starting to build nicely here, you would have to say Ford appear to be right on the money with this model. It offers pretty much everything you want in a compact 21^st century compact SUV, with plenty of technology and crisp modern styling. For here Ford is only offering the Kuga in 4WD six-speed automatic form. On other markets a six-speed manual transmission, plus two-wheel drive versions are available, along with a wider variety of the engines than the two-litre turbo diesel and 1.6 litre Ecoboost turbo petrol power plants we get. The 4WD system is a fairly sophisticated affair with a smart mix of engineering and electronics allows up to a 100% of the engine torque to be transferred to either front or rear axle, something of a break through for an urban orientated SUV. However the cleverness doesn’t end there, with the top of the line Titanium model featuring a hand-free tailgate that opens or closes whenever the driver swings their foot beneath the rear bumper.

There is a practical side to this vehicle as well, including the rear seats that can be folded down to form a flat loading floor area, simply by flicking a lever. What really impressed me was the intelligent use of technology on the flagship Titanium model especially, that make it a remarkably safe vehicle. A good example is the adaptive cruise control that deploys radar that slows the vehicle if the one travelling in front slows or stops unexpectedly and helps owners avoid rear-end prangs. Another piece of leading edge safety technology earmarked for the range topping Kuga, is a cell phone system that contacts emergency services with the GPS coordinates, if the driver is involved in a crash where there is enough force to detonate the airbags. Whoever is behind the wheel can cancel the call if they aren’t injured. This system is being parked for now, until our telecommunications system is upgraded to a level that supports this potentially life saving safety technology.

There is a “Something for everyone” feel about the Kuga line-up that starts at just $39,995 for petrol only entry level Ambiente, which is about the same price as 2WD versions of some of its rivals. Next rung up the model ladder is the $43,990 petrol powered Trend. From there it’s a $9,000 leap to the Titanium that’s loaded with every imaginable feature. A turbo diesel is a $2,000 option on both Trend and Titanium variants. On its aggressive prices along the Kuga is a mighty tempting package - the fact that it drives better than most of its competition simply makes it irresistible. After driving all three models in recent weeks in both petrol and turbo diesel forms including a week of motoring on Queensland roads, I reckon I have clocked enough drive time in the Kuga to make that judgement.

The 120kw two-litre turbo diesel is my pick of the two engine offering with its strong effortless performance that makes light work of heavy up hill slogs, even when the vehicle is fully loaded. Strong acceleration and pulling power, particularly in the low to mid rev range certainly doesn’t take a backward step on our twisty and undulating roads. In diesel engine circles, this Peugeot made unit has won deserved acclaim for its low noise levels, exemplarily refinement and class leading fuel economy.

The petrol turbo charged Ecoboost motor has a formidable reputation and list of awards, including winning the world engine of the year title for the last two years. A 134kw 1.6 litre member of the Ecoboost family is used in the Kuga. While lively and smooth enough, it always felt and sounded like it was working much harder than the turbo diesel and just lacked the same urgency. I think Ford would have been better to have gone for the 149kw 2.0 litre version of the Ecoboost, rather than settling for this smaller capacity unit that struggled at times propels the 1700kg plus Kuga all that convincingly. Ford’s new six-speed power shift automatic offers crisp yet tight transfers between ratios, with the bonus of a sequential manual shift.

From behind the wheel you are greeted by a modern well thought out dashboard design, with clear and legible instruments and controls that are thoughtfully positioned, so they are within easy reach or view of the driver.

The Kuga is a leader and clear one at that, not a follower almost replicating the same nimble handling as its sibling the Ford Focus and possessing the same razor sharp steering. It’s a credit to the Kuga design team that they have created a model that is a real ride and handling pace setter in the compact SUV class, with Mazda’s impressive CX5 the only model I have driven that comes close to matching it.

What’s the verdict? One of the best handling compact SUVs on the market, looks good and goes well especaily in turbo diesel form, less so with the turbo petrol motor.