Ford Kuga review - MPG, CO2 and running costs
Efficient engines, low insurance costs and decent residual values make the Ford Kuga an appealing SUV to run.
A key feature of a capable family SUV is its ability to offer reasonable running costs, and the Kuga has this area more than covered. Whether you choose petrol, diesel or hybrid power, you won’t see average fuel consumption (on the combined cycle) drop below 40mpg, and business users will benefit from the low emissions offered by the PHEV model.
The 148bhp petrol version returns 42.8mpg, with CO2 emissions from 151g/km. The 197bhp full-hybrid is a more efficient option, managing 51.4mpg and emitting 130g/km of CO2.
The 118bhp 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel can achieve 60.1mpg when paired with the six-speed manual gearbox, while the 148bhp oil burner with mild-hybrid tech delivers an average of 57.6mpg.
Despite producing more power, the 187bhp 2.0-litre AWD diesel with an eight-speed auto transmission is still able to achieve an impressive official figure of up to 49.6mpg.
For the best efficiency, the Kuga 2.5-litre petrol plug-in hybrid is the one to choose. If charged regularly it’s able to return a fuel consumption figure of 201.8mpg, although you’ll need to run most of your journeys on electric drive to replicate that. The PHEV model has an all-electric range of up to 35 miles, so if it suits your work and commuting circumstances, then it’s definitely possible you could get close to this figure.
Insurance groups
Insurance premiums shouldn’t be too steep, as the entry-level 118bhp petrol Zetec version sits in group 10, while even the 148bhp variant in top-spec Vignale trim is only in group 16.
Diesel cars attract a slightly higher insurance group, with the base 118bhp Zetec in group 12 and the 187bhp 2.0-litre Vignale in group 21. The 2.5-litre PHEV occupies group 20 or 21, depending on the chosen equipment level.
Depreciation
Data suggests the Kuga should hold onto around 46% of its value over 3-years and 36,000 miles, with the best combination for residuals being either the 187bhp diesel or 222bhp PHEV engines chosen alongside the ST-Line trim.
In comparison, the Skoda Karoq should also retain about 46% of its original list price over the same period, while the Renault Kadjar isn’t quite as strong, keeping just 39%.
