insideKENT Magazine Issue 34 - January 2015 | Page 120
MOTORS
FORD KUGA 2.0 TDCI 163 TITANIUM X 5DR (INCLUDING EXTRAS PACK AND FAMILY PACK)
Price as Tested: £28,150
Top Speed: 121 MPH
0-60 MPH: 9.6 seconds
Economy: Combined 47.1 MPG
Performance: 163 BHP
Combined CO2: 159 G/KM
They may say that 'small is beautiful' but the new
Kuga proves that when it comes to beauty, size
matters not. It really is one handsome looking
beast. Boasting aerodynamic, sporty, sculpted
bodywork; rugged alloy wheels; and a chunky
grille and lights, it has an air of quiet confidence,
and a ready-for-anything feel. The Kuga is a car
that is aesthetically pleasing enough to ensure
that a cheeky final glance over your shoulder as
you lock it, will always result in a proud smile.
One of the most pleasing paradoxes with this
compact SUV – aided by a very Ford-esque
interior – is that whilst this is a bigger car with
lots of space, it doesn't feel like you are driving
a truck. Inside the Kuga, you are treated to some
fine and familiar Ford cockpit design. With a mix
of grained plastics, inlay trims in dark grey, and
matt chrome detailing, the interior exudes style
and sportiness. Its standard kit includes some
real treats, such as a heated front windscreen,
air-con, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, as well
as a rather magnificent sound system for all of
your musical needs. The Titanium model we road
tested also features part-leather trim, automatic
lights and wipers, and dual-zone climate control.
There is plenty of head and legroom in the Kuga,
with space for five adults, and even an option to
recline the seats in the back. In addition, it offers
a whopping 406-litre boot space, which grows
to 1,603 litres if you fold the rear seat.
Those of you who enjoy towing big white boxes
on the back of your car when you go on holiday
(of which I am one) will be pleased to learn that
the Kuga makes for an excellent towing car, with
the diesel model we tested capable of pulling up
to 2,100kgs. A Ford-approved detachable tow
bar is also available.
Drive wise, once again, the Kuga is very
remarkable. Whilst you might be forgiven for
assuming an SUV isn't built for road handling,
the Kuga does a very impressive job of proving
you wrong; it gives a very enjoyable drive on all
road types and even a surprising amount of
manoeuvrability in tight spaces.
The Kuga's performance is far from sluggish
either; its beefy 2.0 litre, 163bhp diesel engine
will get you from 0-62mph in around 11 seconds,
and boasts a top speed of over 116mph. And
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yet another surprise is the Kuga's fuel economy
– even with the heftier 163bhp diesel engine and
four-wheel drive, it manages to attain 54.3mpg,
and emissions of 135g/km. This means that you'll
be paying £110 annually for road tax which,
given the amount of car you'll be driving, is not
bad at all.
The writer, George Eliot (or Mary Ann Evans as
her friends knew her), once said: "Adventure is
not outside man; it is within". A car, no matter
how well designed and engineered, is not an
adventure in itself. It is instead a tool to go out
and seek adventures wherever or whatever they
may be. The Ford Kuga is a truly wonderful
tool with which to achieve this, and what's more,
it allows you to do so in immense comfort
and style.
Haynes Ford Maidstone
23 Ashford Road
Maidstone
ME14 5DQ
01622 616294
www.haynesford.co.uk