Ford Kuga review

The Kuga starts at £26,445, but FHEV and PHEV cost from £33,595 and £36,555 respectively. The RRP isn’t half as important as the finance packages – which are strong, and the claimed running costs. 

On the official WLTP cycle the PHEV claims 201mpg (massively dependant on whether you can charge it, and the kind of journeys you make) and a paltry 32g/km of CO2. That means the Kuga PHEV will be one of the cheapest cars of its size to tax and to run as a company car. The FHEV meanwhile claims 125g/km and up to 52mpg – it’s better suited to private buyers, especially those who can’t charge, and ought to do similar mpg to the diesels. 

Hybrids are only available in Titanium, ST-line and Vignale flavour – the latter two get bespoke bodywork, grilles and wheels to look sportier or more svelte respectively. Zetec is your base spec. You’ll need at least Titanium trim for the B&O hi-fi and assistance cameras. 

Special props must go to the adaptive cruise control – the semi-autonomous assisted steer is one of the best we’ve tested, accurately keeping the Kuga in its lane at motorway speeds without that unnerving ‘wandering’ most systems exhibit as they ping-pong between the white lines. The Kuga manages its position relative to the lane very astutely, and as a result, you’re more likely to use this system with confidence than, say, the ProPilot offering in the Nissan Qashqai. 

Chief among the UK trims will be ST-line X. The kit-list is long: LED headlights, foglights, keyless entry and go, heated windscreen, dual-zone climate control, the 8-inch Sync touchscreen with smartphone mirroring, wireless phone charging… it’s enormously well equipped. On the options list, go for the furnace-like heated seats, the driver assistance package, and the spare wheel. It’s a hundred quid, and a car otherwise this rounded really ought to include that peace of mind.