New Ford Kuga, Hello Sadness!

The new Ford Kuga is packed with new technologies but in the process still loses a bit more of its soul.

Unveiled in September 2007 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Ford Kuga made a strong impression by becoming the first compact crossover from the American automaker Ford for Europe. With its prominent hood bulges, sharp edges, and adventure-style bumpers, it immediately appealed to a young clientele seeking a versatile fun vehicle.

16 years later, the new generation has gained as much in technology as it has lost in mojo… The design has mellowed to the point that the MG EHS looks like a vehicle from the future. The resemblance between the two is actually quite striking. It’s a pity because these two vehicles are targeting the same market of hybrid compact SUVs, and the prices are clearly not in favor of the American!

With this new Kuga, Ford takes another step toward its goal of launching a 100% electric lineup in Europe by 2035. The powertrain options for the new Kuga include plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and full hybrid (FHEV) versions.

The design of the new Kuga, revised both outside and inside, is at best consensual, at worst bland. Only the Active X trim stands out with a sportier, more rugged style.

Under the hood, things are fortunately more exciting. The Ford Kuga Plug-In Hybrid, the best-selling PHEV in Europe, and the Kuga Hybrid AWD (FHEV) now feature optimized engines and a new, more efficient transmission. The Kuga Plug-In Hybrid accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds, nearly 2 seconds faster than before. Both the Plug-In Hybrid and Hybrid AWD also offer the best towing capacity in their category with 2,100 kg, an improvement of over 30%.

The Kuga Plug-In Hybrid combines the 2.5-liter gasoline engine with an electric motor powered by a 14.4 kWh lithium-ion battery, resulting in a combined output of 243 hp. All-electric range reaches 66 km.

In its FHEV version, the Kuga is available with either Flexifuel E85 front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. In city driving, up to 64% of the time can be spent in pure electric mode.

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