2018 Ford Kuga Is A Good-to-Drive, Well-Equipped, and Spacious SUV
Introduced in 2008, the Ford Kuga is one of the UK’s most famous family utility vehicles for its hatchback-like drive, spacious cabin, powerful engine choices, and standard tech features. It entered the second generation in 2012 and facelifted in 2016, which Ford sold until spring 2020, before the arrival of third-generation.
The 2018 Ford Kuga is an excellent choice for buyers looking for a family SUV, offering class-leading handling, a practical & roomy cabin, and a choice of various trim levels. It competes with the Vauxhall Grandland X, Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage, and Peugeot 3008 in the UK market.
2018 Ford Kuga Review
Trim Levels and Powertrains
The 2018 Kuga is available in Zetec, Titanium, ST-Line, and Vignale trim levels, each with its distinct standard equipment, which we will discuss later.
Ford introduced the second-generation Kuga with a 2.0-litre TDCi diesel, delivering 140PS or 163PS, both mating to a six-speed manual gearbox, which is efficient and pleasing.
The 2.0 TDCi later got a power boost with 150PS and 180PS outputs, but the most prominent offering was 1.5-litre TDCi. It is an advanced diesel delivering an excellent mix of agility and efficiency, feeling much faster than its 120PS power output hints.
The best of the lot is 1.5-litre Ecoboost delivering 182PS, which is incredibly zesty. The 150PS version is suitable for daily errands.
The engines mate to either front- or all the wheels through a sweet-shifting six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The manual is more fuel efficient than the automatic.
Safety
The Ford Kuga garnered a five-star safety score by Euro NCAP (94% adult protection, 86% child protection, and 70% pedestrian protection) in 2012. Astonishingly, it received a 100 per cent rating in safety assist systems. However, you should know that the Euro NCAP testing got stricter in 2020, and safety tech evolved, as well.
The second-generation Ford Kuga features multiple airbags, a sat-nav with a comprehensive emergency assistance system, and sensors that warn the emergency services when the Kuga meets an accident. The system even pinpoints the location of the Kuga to rescue service. An updated Active City Stop tech is available for post-facelift models.
Towing
The Ford Kuga is an excellent SUV for towing, with the 2.0-litre TDCi models offering 2100kg towing capacity. Other models can tow between 1200kg and 2000kg, based on the powerplant. Automatic isn’t a good choice if your main goal is towing heavy trailers.
Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
1.5 EcoBoost 120 2WD | 35–46 mpg | 12.5 s | 143 g/km |
1.5 EcoBoost 150 2WD | 36–46 mpg | 9.7 s | 143 g/km |
1.5 EcoBoost 150 Automatic | - | 10.0 s | 202 g/km |
1.5 EcoBoost 176 4WD | 31–34 mpg | 11.0 s | 188–204 g/km |
1.5 EcoBoost 182 4WD | 38–38 mpg | 10.1 s | 171 g/km |
1.5 EcoBoost 182 Powershift 4WD | 38 mpg | 10.1 s | 171 g/km |
1.5 TDCi 120 2WD | 46–64 mpg | 12.4–12.7 s | 115–124 g/km |
1.5 TDCi 120 Powershift 2WD | 46–59 mpg | 12.4 s | 124 g/km |
1.6 EcoBoost | 37 mpg | 9.7 s | 179 g/km |
1.6 EcoBoost 2WD | 43 mpg | 9.7 s | 143–154 g/km |
1.6 EcoBoost 4WD | 37 mpg | 9.7 s | 179 g/km |
2.0 TDCi 120 Powershift | 46 mpg | 13.4 s | 164 g/km |
2.0 TDCi 140 2WD | 53 mpg | 10.6 s | 139 g/km |
2.0 TDCi 140 4WD | 50 mpg | 10.7 s | 149 g/km |
2.0 TDCi 140 Powershift 4WD | 46 mpg | 11.2 s | 159 g/km |
2.0 TDCi 150 2WD | 48–60 mpg | 10.1 s | 122 g/km |
2.0 TDCi 150 4WD | 46–60 mpg | 9.9–10.1 s | 122–135 g/km |
2.0 TDCi 150 Powershift 4WD | 46–52 mpg | 10.9 s | 134–140 g/km |
2.0 TDCi 163 4WD | 50 mpg | 9.9 s | 149 g/km |
2.0 TDCi 163 Powershift 4WD | 46 mpg | 10.4 s | 159 g/km |
2.0 TDCi 180 4WD | 54 mpg | 9.2 s | 135 g/km |
2.0 TDCi 180 Powershift 4WD | 54 mpg | 10.0 s | 134–140 g/km |
Standard Equipment
The base Zetec comes equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, a DAB radio, air-conditioning, cruise control, and Ford's Sync3 with sat-nav offering Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. The ST-Line features a sportier appearance with larger wheels and less chrome trim.
The Titanium model brings extra goodies, while the flagship Vignale comes with unique styling, 19-inch alloys, a 10-way adjustable electric driver’s seat, leather upholstery, and a leather-covered dashboard. The pre-collision assist with autonomous emergency braking is a standard affair for all models in the range, as well as the lane-keeping aid with lane-departure warning.
Price
The second-generation Kuga starts from £6,000 and goes as high as £25,000 for the late 2019 models. The 2017 models are available for about £17,000, while the 2018 Kugas are sold for a little higher price.
At Hilton Car Supermarket, you can save money on Kuga with prices ranging from £11,000 to £15,000 for the 2014 to 2018 model years.