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. Although diesel power is no longer offered, both the petrol and hybrid models can all officially manage at least 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.
If you're looking for a used diesel example, then 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 39 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 148bhp petrol Zetec version sits in group 14, while even the top-spec Vignale 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 that the Kuga should hold onto around 51 per cent of its value over three years and 36,000 miles, with the best combination for residuals being either the full or plug-in hybrid models in ST-Line specification.
In comparison, the Skoda Karoq fares a little better with around 58 per cent retained over the same period, while the Renault Kadjar isn’t quite as strong, keeping just 47 per cent.
