2023 Ford Kuga facelift previewed by new Escape model
This is how the facelifted Ford Kuga will look once it arrives in Britain
With the Fiesta facing the axe, the Ford Kuga will be expected to pick up some of the sales slack in the near future. An upcoming facelift could potentially help boost Ford’s mid-size SUV in the eyes of buyers and thanks to its Escape-badge US variant being released, we now know what to expect from next year’s updated Kuga.
We’ve previously caught the Escape testing in America undisguised and we now know that the final production car is unchanged from what we’d seen. The front features a narrower grille with the Ford badge embedded in a similar fashion to the facelifted Fiesta and Focus, as well as new LED headlights with a central light bar, and a redesigned bumper.
The full range of existing Kuga variants could be carried over, with cheaper models receiving smaller alloy wheels and plastic body cladding while higher spec versions get chrome trim, body-coloured bumpers and door handles, chrome exhaust tips and LED fog lights. The facelift brings a new design of rear light signature as well.
We also expect the new Kuga to get an update inside. The latest version of Ford SYNC4 infotainment will appear, operated via a new 13.2-inch central touchscreen, although the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster will probably remain. The US-spec Escape can be had with various safety systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, collision avoidance and pedestrian detection. Optional extras include a head-up display, panoramic roof and a wireless smartphone charging pad.
The engine lineup should change with the facelift, with a line-up kicking off with a 148bhp 1.5-litre petrol, a 187bhp 2.5-litre petrol hybrid and a 222bhp 2.5-litre plug-in hybrid petrol. All-wheel drive versions of the Kuga are available in America, but Ford is likely to stick with front-wheel drive models of Kuga in the UK.
We’re yet to see the facelifted Kuga testing in Europe and we don’t expect a full unveiling until later in 2023. Pricing for the new Kuga should start slightly higher than the current car’s £28,755 starting price tag.
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