Ford Kuga review: spacious and nimble hybrid family SUV

Quick verdict

The third-generation Ford Kuga is easily the best iteration of family SUV the brand has produced so far. It blends great driving dynamics with useful on-board tech, good safety kit and plenty of practicality. 

The Kuga doesn’t offer the plushest interior compared with its close rivals, but the overall package remains compelling. With efficient hybrid and plug-in hybrid models available and competitive prices across the range, the Kuga offers exceptional value for keen drivers who need a little more room for the family.

Ford Kuga: price, specs and rivals

A quick look at the Ford Kuga family tree reveals that the first generation of this family-friendly SUV, launched in 2008, was little more than a high-riding Ford Focus. This was a good thing, though, and meant customers were treated to hatchback-style handling, while benefiting from the extra space and practicality of the larger five-door family car.

In 2012, Ford introduced the second generation of its mid-size SUV. Growing a little rounder in its middle age and, with increasing competition from the likes of the Peugeot 3008, Renault Austral and Kia Sportage, the Mk2 Kuga struggled to make its mark. Uninspiring looks, tired tech and the loss of its sharp driving dynamics did nothing to help its cause.

Ford’s latest crack at the Kuga is just right. The manufacturer has concentrated on all the key areas, providing the Kuga with eye-catching good looks, decent levels of standard kit, an efficient range of engines, and solid safety credentials. It drives rather well, too.

The third-generation Kuga is based on Ford’s C2 platform, which shares its underpinnings with the Focus hatchback. Ride and handling are back to being standout attributes for the Kuga, and there’s more driving fun to be had compared to rivals such as the Honda CR-V,  Hyundai Tucson, and Toyota RAV4.

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The VW group offers up the smart, but rather bland trio of the Volkswagen Tiguan, Skoda Karoq and SEAT Ateca. At the same time, there’s also the stylish Mazda CX-5 or the ever-popular Nissan Qashqai to consider.

A revision to the engine range in 2021 saw Ford remove diesel power altogether from the Kuga lineup. Engine choices now consist of a 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol, a full-hybrid, and a 2.5-litre plug-in hybrid. The 1.5 Ecoboost engine is paired solely with a six-speed manual transmission, while the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models use a CVT automatic gearbox.

Equipment levels have mercifully been simplified as part of the refresh. The entry-level Titanium trim comes exclusively with the 1.5-litre Ecoboost engine, and gets 17-inch alloys, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors along with a reversing camera, a 13-inch infotainment touchscreen, climate control, lane keep assist, and the all-important heated windscreen. Next up is the sportier-looking and very well-equipped ST-Line trim that’s available across all engine ranges. It has larger 18-inch wheels, a 360-degree camera system, an electric tailgate, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and electric front seats with driver-side memory.

Next up is Active trim, which only comes with hybrid or plug-in hybrid engines, and is the least expensive way into a four-wheel drive Kuga. It doesn’t add much over ST-Line in terms of equipment, but it does look a little more rugged with black exterior trim, a raised ride height, and mircosuede interior seat materials. The top-of-the-range ST-Line X has 19-inch alloys, front and rear heated seats plus a heated steering wheel, a panoramic glass roof, and red brake calipers.

Prices for the Kuga start at around £32,000 for a 1.5 Ecoboost in Titanium trim, or roughly the starting price of our favourite mid-size SUV, the Hyundai Tucson. There’s a big jump in price for the next trim level up, ST-Line, which costs a little under £37,500. A smaller financial leap is needed to get into an Active trim, starting at just under £38,000, while the top-of-the-range ST-Line X comes in at just under £40,000.  

Used and nearly new

If you can afford it, then the third-generation Ford Kuga offers the most complete package as a family SUV. It's been on sale since 2020, so second-hand examples have had enough time to find their way onto dealer forecourts. Buyers may be able to land a Mk2 model for far less money, but will need to be prepared for the average load space and a cheap-feeling interior. First-generation cars, although older, were offered solely with the well-equipped Zetec and Titanium trim levels and are mostly available with diesel power – although there was a short-lived spell of 2.5-litre, five-cylinder petrol models using the same engine as the Ford Focus ST.

Ford Kuga history

Ford Kuga Mk2: 2012-2020

You won't find any efficient plug-in hybrid tech with a second-generation Ford Kuga, just straightforward petrol and diesel units. Compared to rivals such as the SEAT Ateca, the Mk2 Kuga was average to drive, with most models offering a front-wheel-drive set-up.

A variety of different trim levels were on offer, from entry Zetec through to Titanium, ST-Line and luxury Vignale versions, while a facelift in 2016 saw styling tweaks to the exterior, a redesigned dash, revised on-board tech and a new 119bhp diesel engine.

Ford Kuga Mk1: 2008-2012

The first-generation Kuga was relatively compact compared to the latest one, but its Ford Focus underpinnings meant it was one of the best-driving SUVs of its time. The practicality gains over the hatchback were minimal, though, and models fitted with the 2.5-litre petrol engine were thirsty.

Opting for diesel power meant more sensible running costs, but the purchase price of the Mk1 Kuga was quite steep. Build quality was solid, though, and it also boasted a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.