Ford Kuga TF.II (2014-2016)

2014 Ford Kuga Trend (Diesel) – The transmission in my 2014 Kuga Trend (diesel engine) which I purchased as a demo model & had just ticked over 100k km’s, has failed, 5 days after my last service!! My car was serviced every year by the Ford dealer I’d purchased it from & allegedly they checked the transmission every service & never once did they mention any issue or potential… Read more

problems with my transmission. Ford are now quoting me between $8500 & $11k to fit a reconditioned transmission & clutch!! I tried going to Ford Australia & they didn’t want to know me saying it was “older than 8yrs & outside of their criteria for assistance”. It just doesn’t make sense that a car, in excellent condition inside & out, worth about $15k, is essentially an economical total loss!! If I can’t find the money to repair it, it would seem my car is now worth scrap value only. I am beyond devastated & don’t know where to turn now.

Good until it's not – Bought a Ford Kuga 2015 Titanium 2.0 Diesel second hand from a dealer, driven approximately 80k km. Car was great with lots of handy little features, e.g. powered boot, heated seats etc. Downsides started appearing few months in with the sunroof not closing - it would reach the end and appear to lose power and then fully open again. I'd then have… Read more

to reset the controls for it every time. Then one day the transmission just gave out. Informed by mechanic that the dual clutch is known problem with all Fords and there's nothing I can do but replace the gear box with a second hand at a cost of $7k. The strange thing is that the exact same thing happened to my colleague with a Ford Ranger 2 weeks earlier. Would not recommend anyone getting for this simple reason - just not worth the expensive risk.

Very Good Car - Can't Really Fault It – I bought my Ford Kuga 2016 Diesel brand new in 2016 from Peter Warren Ford. All my services have been done through the dealership, and I can honestly say, its been very good. I've done 109,000km on it, and it does a fairly healthy mix of freeway, and driving around in the suburbs. I previously had a Volkswagen Golf Diesel, which I traded for the… Read more

Ford. To me, the Kuga trumps the VW in so many areas. The VW transmission and clutches both died at the same time, and I was quoted $10,500 to repair! Uh, no thanks, so it was traded for the Kuga.

The Kuga was making a wierd squeaking rattling noise, and when assessed by Ford, turned out to the the alternator. Whilst I question why an alternator would die in a car that is under 5 years old, it was replaced under extended warranty without any arguement. I just had to pay for a new battery and drive belt. Personally, I can stomache paying $800 better than $4400! They even covered the pre-tensioners under the alternator warranty which is great for me.

Pros:

* Easy to drive, park and so on * Not too bad on fuel, just a bit thirsty than I would expect when around town * It has got hard plastics inside, so not as refined as it could be, BUT, with a child that likes to eat, drink, kick things etc, so much easier to keep clean. A few mins with a damp cloth or baby wipe, good as new! * I've done 109,000km, and on my second battery, replaced alternator (as explained above), and ORIGINAL brake disks and pads. Yes, they are probably due soon, but still impressive they haven't needed changing yet. * Contrary to what I've been reading with the experience some have had with the service departments, I can't say I've had any issues. Fingers crossed it stays that way! * Yes it is a dual clutch, but it is a "wet clutch" which fares better than the "dry clutch" equivalent that there were so many problems with.

Cons:

Not that many, but:

* Would benefit with an extra gear. This could probably help immensely with improving the fuel economy. * Seats are quite hard, but you get used to it * Leather on the steering wheel isn't perfect, but again, I drive alot so wear and tear to be expected

Money pit – Brought second hand just over a year ago, 2014 diesel auto. 114000 on clock. Clear paint coming off around front wheel guards, told car been repeated. Transmission giving no reverse intermittently, gear changing was shuddering, rough taking off. Ford service centre relearned and said it will right itself within a week. Didn't only got worse, went… Read more

back and they looked again and said it was my fault l had not done a 120000 service with them and that the transmission engine oil had not been changed. My gearbox needed replacement and it was going to cost me $8000 around about for a second hand one.

I emailed Ford and they paid over half cost and so they should've. Car seat in workshop for two weeks due to understaffing. Anyway the car continued to get stuck in reverse and took some jigging and brake work to get it into drive. This would happen intermittently, so took it back, they could find nothing wrong and said it drive fine. Got worse over a period off two weeks. Again back to dealership and they actually took the console apart and looked and said nothing wrong again . But this time it what ever he did all gears went smoothly into place.

Next been 3mths since that trouble and now the compressor has gone in air conditioner, works intermittently, but not on long trips in 40° heat or more. They sent me a quote for $1000 alone for compressor and total costing is $1750. Got to wait 3-4 weeks for a part thou. So now l'm waiting for Ford head office to get back to me to see whether l can get them to pay for this trouble. Compressor should last at least 10years not 4 years.

My husband's 2013 Ford Ranger is also up for new automatic gearbox at cost to us.

So we both will not buy a Ford again. As far as we're concerned there a money pit. Spend more money on this top.of the range car then any of my old bombs.

Thought buying a new model car would cost me less in repairs. I think Ford seen me coming.

Excellent small family SUV – This SUV/CUV has been a breeze to drive, excellent road handling and grip. Not to mention the fuel efficiency of the diesel engine which has been incredible. You also get the dual clutch mechanism unlike the previous generation on focus petrol which is different as this is a wet type and has a very smooth shifts. This along with good power and… Read more

torque rating comparable to few higher up the notch including Ford Ranger 2.2 ltr/Territory 2.5 ltrs shows how good this car has been selling in US (top 10). Loved the 9 speaker sony audio and small nifty features on the car - rain sensing wipers, excellent thigh support and rear recline and rear ac vents. Enough boot space and towing capabilities considering it has got an active AWD which has been superb. My next car would still be an Escape which is just a name change and few minor freshening. Considering this is not a heavy SUV and you dont need that extra weight to be chugged along with fuel efficiency on the diesel. On the whole a good family package considering the safety with torque vectoring and knee airbag included as standard.

The best car ever till it was the worst car ever!!!!!!!! – Purchased September 2015 MY2016 Ford Kuga Titanium Diesel. Beautiful car to drive. Then, March 2021, six months out of warranty, the EGR valve (exhaust gas recirculation valve) packs it in, car keeps going into "limp mode", maximum speed 40kmh. After $2,500 repair it runs beautifully till October 2022 then goes into "limp mode" when having to go… Read more

up steep hills. Verdict, entire fuel system disintegrating, $8,500 repair bill to get the car going. They checked for other issues before I let them repair the fuel system. Slow leak in cooling pump and rear gearbox needs dismantling and reassembling, another $5,000. Got them to fix the fuel system, picked up the car and drove straight to the Nissan dealer and traded it in on a Nissan Qashqai!! VERY SAD.

The best SUV money can buy – We bought a 2014 model Ford Kuga 6 years ago. Used daily, it's been nothing short of excellent - Fun to drive, great economy, plenty of power for a 1.6 turbo engine, massive overtaking torque, comfortable seating. We only do the regular annual logbook service. In the 6 years we have had to replace the battery in year-4, and replaced about 3… Read more

blown bulbs, and off course new tyres - that's it - far less issues than any other car that we have owned.

A great buy!

Good car for towing a small caravan – Purchased a 2016 TF2 Diesel Titanium with the safety pack in Dec 2017 with 13K on the clock. It now has 90K. Towed a Karakampa van to Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney a few times, and it has performed flawlessly.. Under normal conditions the gearbox seems to want to use the lowest grear and seems to be under reeving. With the van it detects the load… Read more

and revs higher thus not labouring the gearbox..safety pack is great and a good long distance car... The only thing is if you have a big frame, then the cabin space might seem a bit small..

Big space good enough for me and the family love it – Big car very spacious I do commute to work everyday 25mins each way I use the many functions and handsfree device Bluetooth my dog has the extra space in the wide open boot where he can lie down or stand up love this car it doesn’t last long on petrol but it’s good enough for me  Show details

GREAT SUV – My Kuga is the 1.6 Ecoboost 6 speed manual. I use the Kuga as my daily drive into Adelaide and a country drive on most weekends. I find it be extremely fuel efficient. I average 7.3L per 100kms whether it be city or country driving. I have no problems overtaking on the open road. It has plenty of power. I am really happy with my Ford Kuga  Show details

Downsized from a Territory – I love driving my Kuga. It has great performance and handling. It does have a noticeable amount of road noise in comparison to my territory. I love the technology especially with my Samsung phone options. We get around 9lt to 100k. The trend didn’t come with sat nav which was a little disappointing. I love the park pilot. The speed limiter… Read more

function is awesome. I use it always, no speeding fines for me! the rain sensing wipers and headlight sensors make driving so easy.

Over heating motor and blown transmission – Reliable ,not good,fuel costs good And it up have to replace the motor on on thousand Kilometres and the gearbox blew up three weeks after the motor was put in an absolute disappointment of a car Ford or a bad company And I would never buy another Ford again and I have been buying for is for 28 years thanks for for your bad workmanship you need to… Read more

have better supervision at your factories when making cars your car is only have a two year expectancy

Nice car with a lot of problems – Purchased the Diesel Kuga brand new after driving around I noticed the power shift engaging on its own and in second gear on its own.when I told ford about this they said it must be pressing it .The service could not fault it... this was doing this fault intermittently for 14 months and sure enough the service dept said nothing was wrong. After … Read more

hearing all the issues with the Ford Kuga on the news with transmission issues and this model catching fire all over the world,I decided to get rid of this crap made Spanish car.

When it did drive it was okay,the turbo lag was noticeable on hill acceleration also whoever designed the spacing and size of the accelerator and brake should be fired,the amount of times the foot gets caught in between the pedals is dangerous.

Best thing I did is sell this car....they gave it a crap name as it was a bad seller now they changed it to escape....It’s still a Kuga and it’s a bad seller.

Perfect SUV – New Escape Trend with hands free and technology pack 2 litre AWD is as good as it gets for this type of SUV and is equal or better than it's rivals. Very powerful turbo engine and can be heavy on petrol unless you use a light foot. Very plush inside with every possible feature needed. So far perfect but need more time to update this review.  Show details

Great mid size car – Love this car, it is our second Kuga, great to drive, quiet on the road and plenty of tech, easy to get in and out, you don't climb up into it or have to bend, just the right height, we have the two liter turbo petrol which has more than enough horses on open road or around town, fuel economy - open road 8.5 liter per 100 km easy and around 11… Read more

if in town all the time, I think that's pretty good for a medium sized suv, all in all a great car. The new model has been renamed the escape, we will be looking at one of those in about two years, cheers

Fun to drive – average fuel about 7.2/100km, 680km for full tank. only thing is that missing side step my son has to climb up, window buttons are little bit further than normal car. Diesel engine sound very small while driving, not sure about the maintenance capped service for 5 years including load side assistance.  Show details

Brought 6/5/2017 Titanium 2016 Diesel with tech pack – Drove back from Sydney (live Korora NSW), very impressed so far with how drives, power, very muted diesel ⛽ Safety Tech like Adaptive Cruise Control....nice little touches e.g. drop down tables rear seats recline, although space is just ok once front seats back. Has 6 cup holders for 3 people in rear! Still learning tech (buttons all over place… Read more

for lights etc) and fords take on things like no power option on passenger seat, doesn't lock when walk away & non electronic park brake. Voice control while works well for information (once spell out exactly what want) can't just roll off tongue ...have to say destination, then wait ....address then wait ... But initial impressions = very happy as believe price paid is excellent (6 month old ex ford execs car e.g. insured for12k more ☺)

Just hit 15,000 km (had 8000k b4 owners) average diesel use shows 7.3 l/100km... Found auto can seem to get caught in low gear (motor revs) when not using much throttle (going slow) but otherwise drives fine. Will check when in for service) Fitted slim windshields on all 4 windows and mud flaps (all genuine parts faction of price off ebay) plus fitted DOD Rc500s dash cameras. Wheels are easy to clean and drives well = happy with purchase

New Ford Escape is a beautiful car in every aspect – A little road noise but otherwise performs excellently. Plenty of leg room in front and back. Love the big screen reversing camera and able to text message and read plus tell where I want to go etc. A lot less blind spots in this car compared to earlier ford makes.  Show details

fantastic car – Would have to be one of the best cars i have ever owned. Drives like a dream. 7.3 litres per 100k Diesel. Has more than enough power. Easy to get in and out of. All instruments and dials are easy to use and read. Took a little while to get used to talking to siri, otherwise love the car  Show details

Very happy with my Kuga – I had never planned to buy a Ford but a demonstrate drive of the Kuga sold me. My Kuga only has a 1.6 litre motor but the performance is truly amazing. Great fuel economy, good handling and very smooth to drive. So far it has been very reliable and a pleasure to drive.  Show details

Very happy with our Titanium 2.0 turbo diesel, a couple of minor issues but otherwise excellent – One of the reasons we purchased (August 16) was the better view from the front seats, we wanted to be higher up. Great performance, good handling, good brakes. Interior a little dated, would like oil pressure and oil temp gauges. Fuel economy improving (only 13,000km). Small issues, the fuel tank needs more baffles, thumping noise when full, hand… Read more

brake is not particularly effective, air/con not cold enough on low setting and a minor intermittent issue with the power tail gate. I expect we get most of these issues fixed at 15,000 km service.

Pleasantly surprised! – I am driving a 2016 Ford Kuga Trend (2L Turbo Petrol). Let me start by saying that this is one of the best handling SUV's I have ever driven. The suspension and anti roll are more on the firm side but it makes the car feel planted on the road. With All Wheel Drive it feels secure taking corners and gives me confidence of its ability to stay in… Read more

control in the event of taking evasive action.

The 2L Turbo Petrol is pretty good for a vehicle of this class. There is plenty of low and mis range power; however, it starts to taper off until pressing the pedal feels like it does nothing. As long as youre not fanging it everywhere you wont even notice. Fuel economy isnt the greatest either.

The interior is very.. unique.. it feels like sitting in a fighter jet. Some people may not like this, but it works for me. Seats are very comfortable but are on the narrow side. Back support is good and fine for longer trips.

The 8 inch touch screen system takes a little getting used to but its not bad. Navigation system is good. Split system aircon can be controlled from the separate unit infront of the gear lever or through the touch screen. Its a shame you can only select single zone through the touch screen. I never use the voice controls so i cant really comment on how well they work.

Rear seats fold flat which is pretty standard throughout the class. Love that you can recline them too!!

Havent noticed any noise from the fuel tank as others have complained about. Tyre noise is okay and wind noise isnt too bad, a little loud at 100km/h with a head wind.

Yes I would recommend the Kuga to friends and family. Take it for a test drive and I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Great car love it – I love driving my Kuga it's quiet and smooth with great handling! The steering is light but possitive with good feed back! I like being high up the alround view is good! The seats are firm and the driver seat with its adjustments I can get just right! The interior is good with everything I need for driving comfort in easy reach! It does lack a place for keys and coins for the tolls! I used to Use the ashtrays for this!  Show details

A practical family SUV that isn't boring to drive – This review is based on a 2016 Kuga Titanium AWD with 2.0l EcoBoost petrol engine and 6spd auto. (Updated MY16 model with 8" Sync 2 system.) The equipment level is very good with keyless touch entry, heated front seats, push button start, daytime running lamps, HID headlights with cornering lights, fog lamps, rear LED tail lights, interior LED… Read more

lights with selectable colours, leather steering wheel and seats, large sunroof, AWD, 19" alloy wheels, a powered rear tailgate, rear privacy glass, automatic reverse parking, 8" touch-screen Sync 2 system (with reversing camera, USB audio, Bluetooth, Sat Nav, Digital Radio DAB- with voice control for the audio, phone, climate control and Satnav systems.) There are also rear air vents and fold down tables on the rear of both front seats.

The remote control has a "global open" and "global close" feature - so if the vehicle is hot you can use the remote to open all windows and tilt the sunroof open, or it can close all the windows on locking (the sun roof will stay where it was left prior to exiting the vehicle.) The voice control actually works really well, but you do need to know the correct commands the system recognises eg. "Play Artist xxxx", "Set temperature 24", "Set Destination xxxx". So there is a bit of a learning curve at first. I've found it recognises words I thought would trip it up- like "Play artist Sia". So top marks for voice control that is useful and works. You can even say "I'm hungry" and it will locate close by eating options. If the fuel is low I've been told it will automatically display fuel station locations on the Sat Nav screen.

The dashboard layout has improved a lot with the introduction of the Sync 2 8" touch-screen, but it still isn't as stylish as some of the latest offering from Mazda, Hyundai etc.

The driving experience is where the Kuga excels. The 2.0l EcoBoost engine is one of the most powerful in the class with 178kW and 345Nm torque. The torque is generated at low engine revolutions which means it effortlessly drives up steep hills and has plenty of power for overtaking. The AWD system is called iAWD (Intelligent AWD) and works extremely well- it's effect is noticeable even on sealed roads. Under full throttle acceleration it just grips and takes off. On corners the system has torque vectoring which changes the torque split to each wheel to assist in turning corners. The effect can be felt when accelerating mid corner, when it will turn in sharply instead of understeering like most SUV's do if you apply power mid corner. I have been highly impressed by the AWD and feel Ford don't promote this aspect of the Kuga enough. Other systems (eg. Haldex AWD systems) often do not respond until well after the front wheels begin spinning.

Blind Spot monitoring, Lane Keeping Aid, Auto high beam, Speed Zone Detection, Tyre Pressure Monitoring, Active City Braking and Active Cruise Control are all part of an optional "Technology Package". I didn't opt for the package and have since found out the Active City Braking is only operational at speeds below 35km/h and the Active Cruise Control will also cancel itself once you drop below a certain speed - so they're both of questionable value in my opinion (compared to the equivalent systems offered by other manufacturers.)

The Titanium comes with top of the range Continental ContiSportContact 5 tyres standard in 235/45R19 size. Being a low profile tyre there is an amount of road surface feed back into the cabin (eg. you can feel small ruts and surface imperfections.) The suspension does cope very well with larger bumps, pot holes and has a very good ride/ handling compromise. Keener drivers will find the sensation of the rear end rolling if pushing a bit in corners. In normal driving situations the cornering is reassuring and flat.

Being a relatively heavy vehicle with a powerful engine the fuel economy can be dictated by your right foot. I'm averaging just over 10 litres per 100km in mostly city/ suburban driving. I leave the auto transmission in Sport mode and don't drive for maximum economy. The engine is capable of driving up steep hills at low revs, so conservative driving is effortless and should result in much better figures.

Servicing cost are very good and can be viewed on Ford's website. The 2.0l EcoBoost engine is fitted with a timing chain- so there is no expensive timing belt to be replaced. The automatic transmission is a traditional automatic- not a CVT or Twin clutch DSG style gearbox- so no specialised servicing or expensive fluids are required.

The rear cargo area could perhaps be bigger. In it's favour, the Kuga's rear tailgate isn't as sloped as some of the competition, so large dogs can be carried in the rear. eg. we've got a greyhound who fits in. There is plenty of space in the front for taller drivers- I'm around 187cm and have enough headroom with the factory sunroof. The seats are on the firm side compared to some other vehicles. The driver's seat has 10way power adjustment, both front seats are heated. The glovebox is a decent size and the centre console has a lift out tray with a large storage space beneath. There is a small hidden compartment behind the driver's seat under the floor mats. Floor mats are also included standard. The front dash has the most air vents I've ever seen in a vehicle. The aircon (dual zone climate control) has been more than powerful enough.

The audio system is by Sony and this is the first vehicle I've owned which I'm happy with the quality of the factory speakers. It's also the first vehicle I've owned with DAB and it's fantastic to have CD quality sound from radio stations. I've also found the DAB works well over decent distances from the city.

As part of your yearly dealer service (12mth/ 15000km intervals) Ford Australia dealers will update the Sync 2 Satnav maps for free. A nice bonus.

Best SUV in it's class – Great performance, fairly good economy, very good handling but the auto transmission can be hesitant to down change. I wish I had optioned the automatic cruise control to make driving easier in traffic. Good interior very comfortable seats and good infotainment system. The folding rear seat backs could do with a release to lower them in the boot. No faults in first 5,000 kms.  Show details

Water ingress – 13 plate, water ingress, flooded footwell passenger side, door handles snap off, indicator connection snaps off. There's a weird gap inbetween the back seats and the boot cover, feel vibrations through the accelerator pedal, wind noise sounds like you have trapped a carrier bag in the front grille. But tows a carvan well. Look at other models.  Show details

Great car but Ford should get another advertising company! – This is a pocket rocket! It's got so much power for a 2 litre car it puts most larger engines to shame . I've had this car for 5 weeks and absolutely love it . I've been a Holden man all my life and swore I'd never buy a Ford . I now find myself wondering what have I been missing out on all these years ! I spent 3 months researching SUV's and in… Read more

almost every category the Kuga came out on top . The only disappointment I have is that the voice recognition on navigation is terrible and should not have been released without further development as it only recognised maybe 2 out of 10 addresses and suburbs I gave instructions for . My model came with the large screen but my software is sync 2 and I believe sync 3 is now out so I hope it's improved as I've given up on voice instructions and I'm inputting addresses by touch screen .

The other disappointing thing is fuel economy, I can't get anywhere near the economy Ford claims so I don't know who ran their tests but they must have had a lot of downhill driving . Also the handbook claims you can't use the auto tailgate with your foot motion if you fit a tow bar . That's not true I had an aftermarket one fitted and it works perfectly! Just get a fitter who has fitted one or two before you.

All in all there's a lot to like about this car and if Ford got a new advertising company to do a decent add with real people who have purchased one of these instead of that stupid add with the dad dressed as a spaceship! What does it even mean why does this car have to be restricted to families. What about all us grey nomads who are all cashed up and want to drive our country?

So far all good - TF Ambiente 2016.5 – I have just done 300kms on this car and too early to throw a review. Still I'd like to state all mechanics and electrics are working as expected. Expected fuel consumption is 7.4L/100kms, but average usage indicates 8.1 - 8.2 during my short usage so far. Assume it will improve once the engine settles in a bit. I will update the review once I do initial 3000ks before going to dealer for 1st inspection.  Show details

Dangerous vehicle to drive – My car goes into "limp mode" when I do long trips. When I originally bought my ford Kuga I was also looking at buying a petrol CX5. The salesman at the Mazda dealership knew I was looking at the diesel Kuga and told me diesel motors should not be run around town on a regular basis as diesel engines are better suited to long trips at higher speeds.… Read more

I only ever use my car around town and only do short trips. I very rarely take it on the open road.

When I went back to the Ford dealership before i purchased the vehicle and asked the saleslady if this could be a problem because of my driving patterns, she told me it would not be a problem because the new diesel motors were different to the old diesel motors.

My car has since gone into "limp mode" every time I have taken it on a long trip, which is only about 2 - 3 times a year.The last time I almost had an accident. I went out to overtake a truck and at the same time the car went into "limp mode". When this happens the car loses all power, I had to pull back in behind the semitrailer because by then there was cars coming the other way. When I say it loses power i mean the engine is still running but even when you put the accelerator flat to the floor there is no additional power to the engine.

I was fortunate enough that there weren't any cars behind me because if this had been the case the outcome could have been disastrous.

I have spoken to the local Ford dealership about this and I have spoken to head office and have been told it is a maintenance problem - it is not a warranty problem. Apparently it is up to the owner of the vehicle to ensure the carbon is removed from the engine and the only way to do this is to take it into the Ford dealership and pay a ridiculous amount of money to have it done.

I am still in the process of trying to get this problem fixed . In my opinion it is very dangerous to drive a Ford Kuga unless you intend to use it on the open road at least once a week and get the vehicle up over 100 km an hour for more than 30 minutes.

Very Good – This is my second Kuga, the 2012 awd model was absolutely great, I have just purchased the 2016 petrol awd model and have just had my first 3000k service, the power of the 2lt ecoboost engine is more than sufficient for a 59 year old, the look is good, the fit out is good, the value (compared to others) is good and I would rate it at at least 8/10… Read more ·  1

and that's bloody good as well!

Addition on 11/8/16. What I have found with the Kuga now that I have traveled 8000ks is that the Turbo lag delay is a concern.

If in a highway situation and you come upon a slow moving vehicle and you have to back off, when you re accelerate to pass there is a distinct dead spot before the power resumes.

I am still very happy with the car as a whole but the turbo lag needs to be sorted.

fantastic – I love it this is my 3rd ford car, before l purchased the kagu l tested 8 different cars . Other makes. Came back to ford. Dealership at mentone ,were excellent. I have room in the back two child seats and one adult in the back . Im a working grandmother so seats are very comfortable, l just slip into my seat. Boot space is great pram fits in… Read more

also nanas walker perfectly. Child lock is great, sound system is the best lve every had, navigation and phone is spot on every time with voice command. I honestly feel lm on a winner. Frances

Blinded – Had a Kuga for a week and got to know it intimately as I spent a lot of time travelling in it on a recent business trip doing a mix of city (~ 20%) and highway driving (~ 80%) in Melbourne and country Victoria. As a vehicle, it is acceptable but I found the biggest drawback on the Kuga compared to many other small/mid-sized SUV was the high and… Read more

very thick C-pillar which made checking blind spots a hairy experience when merging into traffic. View out from the rear mirror was also compromised and you wouldn't be able to see out of it if you had adults seating in the rear middle seat. Other than that, as an SUV, you get the high riding position and airy feeling within the large front windscreen.

I found the car well made and generally of good enough quality for its price point but I think it falls behind that of some of the more recent Korean products from Hyundai or Kia. Some hard plastics around and storage compartments were quite small and a mid sized mineral water bottle could not fit the side door pockets. Paintwork did not hold well against small stones thrown up on the highway. This car had over 40,000km on it and the seats were firm and had not collapsed.

Drivability was good and is a tad above that of other cars in its class. I was surprised that steering was generally precise with not much play around the centre and suspension soaked up bumps quite well, perhaps in part thanks to the high tyre walls. I felt the car could do with a little more power as it struggled a little getting off the line. This constant revving did not help fuel economy at in the end after covering nearly a thousand kilometres in the week I averaged 8.8L/100km at the bowser. When at highway speeds, overtaking is somewhat alright but not gusty like some of the other European products.

Boot space was tiny for a small/mid-SUV and they could certainly do with a re-think on the packaging in the next generation. Overall a competent car.

Terrible – Uncomfortable and small. Pointless and garbage. Child lock does not work. Boot space and cabin space too small. Steering was making a loud knocking noise when turning. Wouldnt recommend this car to anyone. Get a ford focus instead. Or better yet dont get a ford at all. Never had good experience woth them.  Show details