Technology, drive, safety and fuel efficiency in a smart SUV

SAFETY: New Kuga was awarded a maximum five-star rating by Euro NCAP.

FOUR years and a half after it was firstly presented in America, the new Ford Kuga is finally launched to the European market. The new Kuga is the centrepiece of Ford’s strategy to expand in the European SUV market. It offers an array of features and technologies, including: Ford’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system; segment first hands-free lift gate that operates with a gentle kicking motion; fuel efficiency with optional EcoBoost petrol engine, and Ford SYNC with Emergency Assist, among others. 

Production of the new Kuga started this month at Ford’s assembly plant in Valencia. Base price starts at €25,150 with the 1.6 EcoBoost 150 Trend, while the top model 2.0 Tdci 163 Titanium is priced at €33,400.

“European customers have really taken the current Kuga to their hearts,” Barb Samardzich, vice president, Product Development said. “The new Kuga retains that charisma and adds remarkable new technologies, features and capability.”

The AWD system pre-emptively reassesses conditions 20 times faster than it takes to blink an eye, readjusting the AWD power split to give the driver an enhanced blend of handling and traction. 

Ford Curve Control acts as a safeguard for drivers who have entered a bend with too much speed. The system mitigates against severe understeer by aggressive braking and can, if the driver is still pushing their foot down on the accelerator, also reduce engine torque.

Kuga offers space for more luggage than the current car and a luggage compartment that can be accessed more easily. Ford’s hands-free tailgate can be opened or closed simply by a kicking motion beneath the rear bumper to either open or close the powered tailgate; and new Kuga offers 46-litres more luggage compartment-space than the current model, while the rear seats fold flat in one movement. The volume of road noise and wind noise audible has also been significantly reduced.

New Kuga will deliver fuel economy through significantly improved fuel efficiency from a powertrain lineup that, for the first time, includes EcoBoost engine technology. Petrol engine fuel consumption has been reduced by 25 per cent and diesel engine fuel consumption by 10 per cent.

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