Introduced in 2008, the Kuga, also known as the Escape in the U.S.A and Canada, is Ford's compact Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), built based on the C1 platform that is also shared with the Focus.
Ford entered the local compact SUV market when the first generation Kuga arrived here two years after its worldwide launch.
Besides being rather late, the car also lacked the broad appeal needed to capture a meaningful slice of the segment, against an impressive array of famous and popular nameplates such as the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4 and the Volkswagen Tiguan.
Unveiled at the 2011 Detroit Show as the Vertrek concept, the new Kuga moves up a class and this time round, the car is here within only a matter of months into its life.Exterior
Standing at 4,524mm by 2,086mm by 1,701mm (L x W x H), the new Kuga is 81mm longer and 244mm wider, but 9mm shorter than its predecessor.
Ford entered the local compact SUV market when the first generation Kuga arrived here two years after its worldwide launch.
Besides being rather late, the car also lacked the broad appeal needed to capture a meaningful slice of the segment, against an impressive array of famous and popular nameplates such as the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4 and the Volkswagen Tiguan.
Unveiled at the 2011 Detroit Show as the Vertrek concept, the new Kuga moves up a class and this time round, the car is here within only a matter of months into its life.Exterior
Standing at 4,524mm by 2,086mm by 1,701mm (L x W x H), the new Kuga is 81mm longer and 244mm wider, but 9mm shorter than its predecessor.
While the previous model was essentially a two-box design, the new Kuga adds creases, curves and even some shoulders for a very impressive reimaging of Ford's compact SUV.
The front fascia features what could be described as Ford's trapezoidal front grille opening. Enhanced by a sporty front bumper, the Kuga creates a bolder impression in the rear view mirror of the car in front.
New expressive headlamp housings wrap over and onto the top, while sculptured bonnet lines help to give definition and break up a large and flat tract. These characteristics lend the car a feeling of moving forward, which is quite in line with Ford's slogan "Go Further".
The front fascia features what could be described as Ford's trapezoidal front grille opening. Enhanced by a sporty front bumper, the Kuga creates a bolder impression in the rear view mirror of the car in front.
New expressive headlamp housings wrap over and onto the top, while sculptured bonnet lines help to give definition and break up a large and flat tract. These characteristics lend the car a feeling of moving forward, which is quite in line with Ford's slogan "Go Further".
Interior
While its predecessor was saddled with a rather bland and dated interior design, the new Kuga borrows heavily from the Focus to deliver one that’s eye-catching and functional.
There is also emphasis placed on tactile quality with soft touch materials lining the upper door panels and dashboard.
Right in the middle of the console is a 4.2-inch TFT screen that is linked to a nine-speaker SONY multimedia infotainment system (six speakers on Trend trim), providing great aural entertainment along the way.
Slide into the front seats and you will be surprised by the amount of support they provide, with firm side bolstering you would normally associate with sports cars rather than SUVs.
At the back, comfort levels are also high and there is plenty of legroom and headroom for adults. The split folding seats can be knocked forward, offering a reasonable volume of extra cargo space, amounting to a total of 1,603 litres - an increase of 248 litres over its previous generation.
The rear door opening is wide enough for loading in the kids or groceries without becoming a drama and the electric tailgate with an automatic hands-free function (Titanium trim only) - slight kicking motion below the rear bumper to open, close or pause - adds on to the convenience of loading and unloading.
The Drive
Like many car manufacturers around the world, Ford has also undertaken the downsizing strategy. Thus, powering the new Kuga is the 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost turbocharged engine.
Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the powerplant is quite happy to provide mid-range torque for pottering around town.
While we didn't really touch the manual gear toggles, which were placed a little awkwardly on the side of the gear lever, the transmission does a decent job of keeping the gears neat and smooth when left to its own devices.
The steering is nicely weighted with adequate feedback to the driver and the drive in the Kuga is also confidence-inspiring, aided by the enhanced Torque Vectoring Control system, which helps to keep the vehicle in line should you attack the bends too hard.
Like many car manufacturers around the world, Ford has also undertaken the downsizing strategy. Thus, powering the new Kuga is the 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost turbocharged engine.
Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the powerplant is quite happy to provide mid-range torque for pottering around town.
While we didn't really touch the manual gear toggles, which were placed a little awkwardly on the side of the gear lever, the transmission does a decent job of keeping the gears neat and smooth when left to its own devices.
The steering is nicely weighted with adequate feedback to the driver and the drive in the Kuga is also confidence-inspiring, aided by the enhanced Torque Vectoring Control system, which helps to keep the vehicle in line should you attack the bends too hard.
Together with a well-tuned suspension that soaks up bumps and ruts with ease, they give passengers in the Kuga a pliant ride. Road and wind noise have also been significantly reduced to help deliver one of the quietest cabins we have experienced so far.
The new Kuga also comes with an array of safety features such as a forward alert system, which warns of any impending collision.
Conclusion
The all new Kuga is a sleek all-rounder, offering terrific dynamics and a stylish package. It has matured a lot, which is going to give a big boost to the its popularity and slice out a substantial share of the highly competitive compact SUV market.
