The 2020 Ford Kuga is another hit for Ford
Believe it or not the Ford Kuga is actually in its third generation. It’s the largest SUV that the brand sells in the UK coming in above its smaller Puma and EcoSport siblings. New for 2020 the Kuga now has a more varied range of engines including a mild hybrid diesel named EcoBlue MHEV and a range topping plug-in hybrid that can do up to 35 miles on electric power alone.
There’s a familiar trim structure with the 2020 Kuga. It returns with the Zetec, Titanium, ST Line, ST Line X and the Luxurious Vignale version. Rivals to the Kuga include cars such as the Kia Sportage, the SEAT Ateca, the Hyundai Tucson and finally the Nissan Qashqai. You can even consider putting slightly more expensive cars such as the Honda CR-V and Volkswagen Tiguan on the radar too. So, there’s certainly no shortage of alternatives! With so much competition out there it has to be asked whether the 2020 Kuga is actually worth buying.
If you climb into the cabin you’ll figure out almost straight away that it’s pretty much the same as the Ford Focus albeit with a little more headroom and a higher driving position. You get an 8 inch central touchscreen which is fitted as standard. Although some rivals have more intuitive systems you do at least get Apple Car Play and Android Auto thrown in on all models. Meanwhile you also get a very impressive 12.3 inch digital dashboard display that replaces the more traditional analogue dials and comes as standard on ST Line trims and onwards. It really does help to add a touch of class to the Kuga’s cabin. All-round practicality is competitive with enough space for three adults in the back and a decent sized boot with sliding and folding rear seats aiding flexibility. There’s even a 3-pin plug socket on the back of the central armrest. You need to keep in mind that the plug-in hybrid versions will get slightly less luggage space than regular petrol and diesel models.
Out on the road the 2020 Kuga is available with seven different engine and gearbox combinations from launch. This includes the mild-hybrid 2.0 litre diesel which is capable of an acclaimed 56.5 miles to the gallon (mpg) and the flagship pug-in hybrid petrol. The latter combines a 2.5 litre engine with and electric motor that produces a combined output of 225 brake horse power (bhp) and a battery charging time of around 3.5 hours. It’s a quick enough setup but feels a little let down by its CVT automatic transmission. It somehow makes the engine work much harder than you’d expect at most road speeds. As for handling, Ford’s reputation for producing sweet driving SUVs was built partly on previous Kuga models. While this latter version will satisfy the majority of drivers it could certainly do with being a little sharper. The ride comfort is decent but you need to note that the ST Line models have sports suspension and are therefore that little bit firmer.
The Kuga is typical Ford in that it’s an SUV that can easily accomplish the everyday elements of driving . Ok, it’s not as sharp or as fun as the original but it’s larger, safer and even more practical. If you’re looking to buy a Ford Kuga then there’s no better place to start your search than on the DesperateSeller.co.uk website. There you’ll find a wide variety of used Ford Kuga cars for sale so you’ll have little problem finding one that suits you.
