Ford Kuga Crossover full 9 point review

• Performance

  4 out of 5 stars

  There are two 2.0-litre diesel engines to choose from, one with 138bhp and one with 161bhp. Both are smooth, flexible enough to cope with all on-road demands, and useful off-road, too. The turbocharged 2.5-litre petrol is fast, but offers no great advantage over the diesel.
  

• Ride & Handling

  4 out of 5 stars

  The Kuga has Focus-based suspension, but rides 80mm higher from the ground. It strikes a good balance between comfort and control, but the steering is slow to react to inputs. In 4WD models, power is usually sent to the front wheels only, and four-wheel drive automatically cuts in only when extra traction is needed. However, the 2WD models are better to drive because they feel lighter and more agile.
  

• Refinement

  3 out of 5 stars

  All the engines are impressively refined, keeping any noise or vibration down to a minimum. However, the Kuga isn't as good at suppressing road or wind noise. The latter is particularly noticeable at motorway speeds, and can wear you down after a while.