Ford Kuga Titanium X review

If you want a high-spec Ford Kuga, the Titanium X could be for you. It has plenty of kit and is well suited to coping with the demands of family life but the price is on the high side. It may not have the sharp drive of the previous generation but this is sure to appeal to family buyers looking for a more comfort-focused set-up.

The Ford Kuga Titanium X sits between the standard Kuga Titanium and Titanium X Sport models at the upper end of the Kuga compact SUV line-up. The Titanium X features a range of extras over the Titanium model, focusing largely on the interior and kit list.

Buyers can choose from EcoBoost turbocharged petrol engines and TDCi diesels with manual or Powershift automatic gearboxes also offered. There are 2WD and 4WD transmission options too with most buyers opting for the lower-priced front-wheel-drive option in light of its superior fuel economy. 

Equipment offered over the Titanium model consists of 18-inch alloy wheels, heated leather seats, a hands-free powered tailgate (operated by waving your foot under the rear bumper), panoramic sunroof and bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights.

The comprehensive standard specification of the Titanium is retained, so a Sony DAB audio system features, as does Bluetooth with USB connectivity, auto lights and wipers and Ford’s SYNC system with voice control and emergency assistance.

The Kuga Titanium X kicks off at £25,400 for a 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine putting out 148bhp. This is a six-speed manual in front-wheel drive form. Moving up, there’s another 1.6 EcoBoost with 178bhp, driven through a six-speed auto ‘box and all-wheel drive.

On the diesel front, there are two 2.0-litre TDCi engines on offer kicking out 148bhp and 161bhp. The lower-powered version is front-wheel drive and has a six-speed manual gearbox, while the 161bhp model is all-wheel drive with the option of a manual or six-speed Powershift automatic gearbox. The Titanium X range tops out at £30,300 for the 2.0 TDCi 161bhp AWD Powershift.

If fuel efficiency combined with decent performance is your priority, the Titanium X 2.0 TDCi with 138bhp is your best bet. It returns 53.3mpg on the combined cycle, and CO2 emissions of 139g/km ensure it remains fairly competitive with its closest rivals. It can’t match the headline figures of the Mazda CX-5, though, and the Mazda is a sharper drive.

The Kuga Titanium X retains all the remaining characteristics of the Kuga range, so it offers a boot bigger than that of the VW Tiguan, but smaller than the Honda CR-V, a practical cabin with plenty of head and legroom and a generous kit list.

On the road, the latest Kuga isn’t as involving as the previous generation, which felt more like a Ford Focus than a mid-size SUV. There’s plenty of lean through the corners – despite a body roll control system – and the suspension has been set up for comfort rather than agile cornering ability.

The steering feels quite light thanks to the fully electric steering, but this makes it easy to manoeuvre in town and tight car parks. This is important because the Kuga is larger than before so it is more difficult to thread through small gaps.