In-depth reviews

Ford Kuga review - MPG, CO2 and running costs

With fuel-saving hybrid technology, low insurance costs and decent residual values, the Ford Kuga is an appealing SUV to run

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.0 out of 5

MPG, CO2 and running costs Rating

4.2 out of 5

Price
£33,355 to £42,305
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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 available, the petrol models should return around 42mpg, while company car drivers will benefit from the low emissions offered by the PHEV model.

According to Ford, the regular petrol version returns up to 42.8mpg on the WLTP combined cycle, while CO2 emissions ranging from 149-154g/km. The full-hybrid is a more efficient option, managing up to 51.4mpg and emitting 125g-133g/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 achieves 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, Ford claims a fuel consumption figure of more than 250mpg, 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 40 miles, so if it suits your work and commuting circumstances then it’s definitely possible that you could get close to this figure.

Insurance groups

Premiums shouldn’t be too steep for Ford’s family SUV, as the whole lineup sits between insurance groups 14-19.

The plug-in hybrid model is the priciest to insure regardless of trim level, but running cost savings could go some way towards counteracting this expense. If you want lower quotes, though, then the 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine is the one to go for.

You can get personalised car insurance quotes fast with our comparison tool powered by Quotezone...

Depreciation

Data suggests that the Kuga should hold onto around 50-57 per cent of its value over three years and 36,000 miles, with the best combination for residuals being a plug-in hybrid model in ST-Line X specification. In comparison, the Skoda Karoq retains around 46-52 per cent over the same period.

To get an accurate valuation on a specific model check out our valuation tool...

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