The fourth-generation Ford Escape debuted with styling worthy of the witness protection program, but the automaker righted the wrongs with a facelift in 2022. However, Europeans weren’t as lucky as the Kuga continued chugging along. That’s about to change as spy photographers have snapped the facelifted crossover undergoing testing in both mild and ST-Line guise. Unsurprisingly, they’re virtually identical to their North American counterparts.
That being said, there are subtle
differences including lightly revised headlights and Ford’s new logo. The Kuga
also eschews round exhaust tips for trapezoidal ones. Furthermore, the plug-in
hybrid variant has a different grille and a more rugged appearance than what’s
found stateside. Spy photographers didn’t get close enough for interior
pictures, but the cabin should largely carryover. However, the Kuga might
follow in the footsteps of the Escape an offer a larger 13.2-inch SYNC 4
infotainment system.
Under the hood, we can expect a mix of
petrol, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid engines. Choices could include a familiar
1.5-liter EcoBoost with 148 hp and a hybridized 2.5-liter
Duratec with 187 hp. The latter is also available in a
plug-in hybrid powertrain that produces 222 hp.
This is expected to be the last update for
the Kuga as both it and the Escape are rumored to be replaced by an electric
crossover. Of course, only time will tell.
