2017 Ford Kuga (Euro)
Ford is celebrating the launch of their facelifted
Kuga SUV in Europe. The company has refreshed the exterior of the new
Kuga with a rectangular grille and redesigned lights all around among other
features, bringing it in line with the bigger Ford Edge. Ford has also added
two new colors, the Guard Grey and the Copper Pulse options.
There’s also a new engine option in the base diesel
version, with the 118 hp 1.5-litre TDCi replacing the old 118 hp 2.0-litre TDCi
unit. Offered only as a FWD, the Kuga 1.5 TDCi can return a combined 44.2 mpg UK
(4.4 lt/100km) and 115 g/km of CO2 when equipped with the standard six-speed
manual.
Other diesel options include a 2.0-litre TDCi
offered in 148 hp and 177 hp guises, while for those who prefer petrol, Ford
offers their 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine in 118 hp, 148 hp and 177 hp versions. AWD
is available in the 2.0-litre diesel models, as well as the most potent petrol
one. A six-speed dual-clutch Powershift gearbox is optional to selected
versions.
The new Ford Kuga also benefits from the addition of
the SYNC3 infotainment system which comes with an advanced voice recognition
system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An eight-inch touchscreen with new
interface allows pinch and swipe gestures for the first time.
Other new features include a series of new driver’s
assistance systems, like the Perpendicular Parking function added to the Active
Park Assist, Cross Traffic Alert and Park-Out Assist. The list of the new
Kuga’s active safety systems now includes an updated version of the Active City
Stop system.
The cabin has been upgraded with better quality
materials and more intuitive controls, with Ford decluttering the dashboard of
the many buttons that were present in the previous versions. The addition of an
electronic parking brake freed up space in the centre console for a bigger
storage compartment while there’s also a new USB charging point.