Ford’s answer to the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Kuga is the American carmaker's offering in the competitive family SUV market.Combining the sharp driving manners of Ford’s own Focus with the practicality of an SUV, the Kuga also comes as a plug-in hybrid, which means lower running costs than those of a conventional combustion-powered model are available.This makes it a smart, fun and dependable leasing option, which hits a really nice balance between a reliable daily driver and something a little more sporty.
Having grown in size compared to its predecessor, there’s now more space inside these later-generation Kugas. The car is tall and wide enough to comfortably accommodate passengers in the back.
The glovebox and door pockets are a good size, with plenty of other storage areas on the centre console and around the cabin.
All Kugas get an electrical charging point in the back of the front armrest, which will keep your passengers’ phones or tablets powered. And with the rear seats up, the Kuga has 412 litres of boot space. Fold them flat and this goes up to an impressive 1534 litres. There are levers mounted on both sides of the boot to easily fold the seats away.
The Kuga range includes a petrol, diesel, and both a hybrid and plug-in hybrid option. In terms of fuel efficiency, the diesel is second only to the plug-in hybrid model, returning 60.1mpg.
But it’s the plug-in hybrid, which manages up to 201.8mpg, that is the clear winner. It can also go a respectable 35 miles on a full electrical charge, after which it relies on the engine to charge the battery.
Ford Kuga Models Available
Ford Kuga Trim Levels
Few cars match the all-round capabilities of the Kuga, which is up there with the most diverse and affordable family SUVs on the market. One rival that comes close is the Mazda CX-5, which also comes with the Japanese firm’s well-renowned reputation for reliability.
If a premium badge is desirable, then the BMW X1 is among the best for handling in this segment, while the Jaguar E-Pace and Range Rover Evoque are also worth adding to the list.
Fords generally score well in reliability surveys and the Kuga should be no exception. They can be more expensive to fix than some other brands, such as Renault, but mechanical issues should be few and far between. There’s a reason Ford is Britain’s top-selling brand.
The Kuga has 412 litres of boot space with the rear seats up. Fold them down and this goes up to 1534 litres. By comparison, the Renault Kadjar has 472 litres with the seats up and 1478 with the seats folded down.
There are 6 trim levels, ranging from the base Zetec to Vignale. The latter gives more premium styling and has an interior to match. If you’re after a sportier look, then the ST-Line and ST-Line X are worth considering.
Yes, even the base Kuga Zetec gets front and rear parking sensors as standard. Bump up to the Titanium model and you get a rear-view camera as well. The top-spec Vignale gets Active Park Assist, which takes care of the steering for you.
The Kuga has a decent-sized boot, though some rivals’ boots are bigger. There’s some interior storage with well-sized door bins. There’s also a fair amount of space inside for everyone to get comfortable.
Ford has been Britain’s favoured brand for a while now and with SUVs being as popular as they are, it’s no surprise that the Ford Kuga is a popular car to lease. It offers keen driving dynamics in a segment where many competitors’ vehicles lack for such a thing, and the Kuga feels at home both on the motorway and around town.
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With a Ford Kuga lease, you can choose a brand-new model to drive for a set time, normally 2-5 years, while making fixed monthly payments. It’s like ‘renting’ the car and you simply return it once your contract ends.
Once you’ve decided on your preferred Ford Kuga lease model, you can customise your contract depending on your needs. Select your annual mileage, upfront payment and budget. You can also include maintenance and servicing in your monthly payments.
If you’re looking for a family SUV that’s fun to drive, the Ford Kuga is a great package. Perhaps a little more striking to look at than Nissan’s Qashqai, it also comes with a sportier feel when it comes to handling.
The latest Kuga has also grown in size since some of the earlier models, meaning there’s more room inside the cabin. And with a range of petrol, diesel and hybrid options available, there’s bound to be a Kuga that meets your needs. You can find out what our team thought of the PHEV version in our in-depth Kuga PHEV review.
With comfortable seats and a robust, high driving position, the overall design is a big improvement over the previous Kuga. The cabin is very similar to what you’ll find in a Focus.
Build quality is good and the layout of the switchgear is intuitive and easy to use, even if you’ve never set foot inside a Ford before.
The dashboard is fitted with an 8-inch touchscreen, while there’s a 12.3-inch digital dial display on Titanium models and above.
There are also improvements on the infotainment side, with Ford’s SYNC 3 system fitted as standard, which includes both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth and other connectivity functions.
The Kuga is more agile than you would expect, with the suspension keeping body roll in check, even in fast corners. This makes for a firmer ride compared with other small SUVs. However, it remains comfortable and manages to deal well with bumps. Elsewhere, the steering and manual gearbox are both light and easy to use.
Parking’s made easier on the Ford thanks to the Active Park Assist, which automatically steers you into spaces just 20% longer than the car. Even without it, though, the Kuga is still easy to park thanks to the light steering and good all-round visibility.
Whichever engine you go for, the Kuga should be well balanced. The turning circle is small enough to make it easy to drive around town, and it should prove quiet and comfy on the motorway.
Kuga SUV
The Kuga is only available in 5-door compact SUV form.
Even the basic Kuga Zetec trim comes well kitted out, with 17-inch alloy wheels, air con, 8-inch touchscreen with navigation/SYNC3, wireless smartphone charging and automatic emergency braking all included as standard. You also get cruise control with speed limiter, front and rear parking sensors, pre-collision assist and automated emergency braking.
Trim levels available: Zetec, Titanium, Titanium, ST-Line, ST-Line X, Vignale
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