2017
Ford Kuga
Making its debut at Los
Angeles is the facelifted Ford Kuga, the C-segment crossover gets a slew of
updates to enhance its looks, performance and safety.
The rear of the car
also sees some changes, including reshaped tail lights with new internal
graphics and clear lenses, along with a revised tailgate design. New wheel
designs also feature, as well as a Sport Appearance Package for SE and Titanium
trims.
At first glance, the
interior is much the same as before, but closer inspection reveals that there
are a fair few detail improvements here too. There’s a new three-spoke steering
wheel is taken from the facelifted Focus, as well as new climate control
switchgear. Seen here is the faster, more intuitive SYNC 3 infotainment system
with an eight-inch capacitive touchscreen, already offered on the 2016 Escape.
The central tunnel
console has also been reconfigured with a new space-saving electronic parking
brake, a revised gearlever design, cupholders that have been moved forward to
sit next to the gearlever (freeing up space for a new storage tray ahead of the
armrest), a relocated 12V power socket and a new USB port.
Making its debut on a
Ford is SYNC Connect, available in the USA with the SYNC 3 system (activation is
free for the first five years). The new mobile app is able to remotely lock,
unlock and start the car, and can even schedule future starts. Also provided is
vehicle information such as location, tyre pressures and battery and fuel
levels.
Safety has been given a
big boost with the refresh, the Kuga is now available with adaptive cruise
control and forward collision warning with brake support, enhance active park
assist that can now park in both parallel and perpendicular spaces as well as
exit from tight parallel ones autonomously, lane-keeping system (including
alert and aid) and a driver alert system that warns of fatigued driving.
Under the bonnet, there
are fewer upgrades, in the USA, the base 2.5 litre naturally-aspirated Duratec
four-cylinder petrol engine is retained, and while the 180 PS output and 240 Nm torque made from 1.5 litre
turbocharged, direct-injected EcoBoost petrol four is new for that market.
The uprated 2.0 litre
EcoBoost engine is the real news here, first seen on the new Edge, it gains a
new, lighter engine block, an aluminium balance shaft, new pistons with a
higher compression ratio (9.7:1 vs 9.3:1), new fuel injectors, a Borg-Warner
twin-scroll turbocharger and a new integrated exhaust manifold optimised for
the new turbine. As a result, it puts out 245 hp and 373 Nm, 5 hp and 7 Nm more
than before.
Carried over is the
standard (in the USA) six-speed SelectShift torque converter automatic
transmission, but with added steering wheel gearshift paddles on SE and
Titanium models. Other markets should also retain the current six-speed manual
option.
