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 120 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