The chunky looks may have gone but the second generation Kuga is lower (by 8mm), narrower (by 4mm) and longer (by 81mm) than its predecessor making it more family friendly.

This car is a crossover so should not be looked upon as a serious off-roader, but it should negotiate muddy lanes and wintry conditions with ease.

Bland design aside the Kuga has many plus points. This new car offers families more interior space, safety standards while enthusiasts will be pleased that the driving dynamics are still best in class.

Rivals in the Kuga’s class include the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Toyota RAV4 but is it the best all-rounder?

Performance

A range of engines are available for the Kuga starting with the 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol in 148bhp and 180bhp outputs. Alternatively, there’s a 2.0-litre diesel with 148bhp or 178bhp.

With every car capable of completing the benchmark zero to 62mph sprint in less than 11 seconds, the new Kuga has quite a feisty character.

The 148bhp petrol unit, which utilises front-wheel drive, can cover the benchmark sprint in 9.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 121mph.

With other engines, including the entry-level diesel with 148bhp, the Kuga is available in front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. You also get the choice of either the standard six-speed manual gearbox or Ford's six-speed PowerShift automatic transmission. Although the auto is decent, the manual is probably the better choice, even if the throw is a little on the long side.

The Kuga is at its quickest when using the 180bhp petrol unit, front-wheel drive and six-speed manual gearbox. With this set-up, the crossover can cover the benchmark sprint in just 9.2 seconds and hit at top speed of 126mph.

Ride and Handling

On the whole, it's still a class act, with plenty of front-end grip.

When it comes to on-road dynamics, Ford tends to set the benchmark for affordable family cars, and the previous generation Ford Kuga boasted a very composed and enjoyable drive for a car of its type. Compared against its predecessor, the current model loses a little of the feeling of the original, with new electric steering that's somewhat lacking in feedback. On the whole, it's still a class act, with plenty of front-end grip. It's more of an enthusiast's car than the Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V, but does fall short of models like the new BMW X1. Motorway and urban journeys are comfortable thanks to the high driving position and the good visibility and, when using all-wheel drive, traction is great in trickier conditions thanks to a torque vectoring system to manage power delivery.

Interior and Equipment

Before Ford first began selling the Kuga crossover, the manufacturer at one period sold a two-door coupe in the UK and other markets called the Cougar. 

It mightn't be the best looking interior in its segment, but the Kuga's practicality is impressive thanks to a large cabin.  There's plenty of space and room for up to five passengers, and even with the optional panoramic sunroof there's generous amounts of head and leg room for all the family. Plenty of cupholders and storage bins dotted around the inside also means that there's lots of room to store items. Boot space clocks in at 442 litres with the rear seats up, which is more than the Volkswagen Tiguan but a little shy of the Mazda CX-5. Fold the rear seats flat and space increases to a pretty impressive 1,928 litres, while there's also an automatic tailgate and low loading lip for packing cargo.

Cost

The pick of the powertrains is the 148bhp entry-level diesel with front-wheel drive, which emits just 122g/km in CO2 and returns around 60.1mpg.

The pick of the powertrains is the 148bhp entry-level diesel with front-wheel drive, which emits just 122g/km in CO2 and returns 60.1mpg on the combined fuel cycle. All diesel engine options in fact return over 50mpg on the official combined cycle. This figure drops down to 45.6mpg for the basic 148bhp petrol unit, or 38.2mpg for the 180bhp version. The running costs for the Ford Kuga should prove competitive when compared to its rivals. It can deliver cleaner running then certain other similar-sized crossovers like the VW Tiguan and the Kia Sportage. These return CO2 emissions from 138g/km and 135g/km respectively. Some rivals, however, such as the Mazda CX-5, can offer slightly superior emission and fuel economy figures.

Our Verdict

It may have lost its chunky looks and a little of its drivability but the latest generation of Ford’s Kuga is more practical and should prove invaluable for families looking for extra space. There are a lot of strong contenders which the Kuga is up against in the compact crossover SUV sector of the market. The smaller boot and awkward automatic gearbox stops the Kuga from being considered the class-leader. However, it’s still practical for families and has some other real strong points as well, including strong engines and excellent handling. Therefore, the Ford Kuga is still certainly worth considering if you’re interested in buying a new compact SUV.