We compared Ford Kuga engines, and the efficiency crown goes to…
We compared Ford Kuga engines, and the efficiency crown goes to…
By Martin Pretorius
With three different flavours of petrol motivation and two diesel alternatives, the Ford Kuga should have an engine to suit your needs. The choice should be quite clear-cut, but when you factor in the variations in drivetrain configuration (manual- or automatic transmissions, and availability of all-wheel drive), the picture gets a little cloudy. We looked at the full range of Kuga engines (and their transmissions) to determine which one is the most efficient.
Ford has taken an interesting strategy with their 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine (also known as the 1.5T EcoBoost), by offering it with two power output ratings. When paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox, a combination which is only available in entry-level Ambiente trim, it produces 110 kW and 240 Nm. This derivative has an official (claimed) average consumption of 6.2 litres/100 km – not bad for a large-ish SUV at all.
2. Kuga 1.5T Ambiente and Trend Auto
For use with an automatic gearbox, this engine’s power output gets a bump to 132 kW, even though the peak torque remains at 240 Nm. This is presumably to counter any performance losses incurred by the 6-speed torque converter automatic, ensuring that it doesn’t lag behind the manual variants. However, this extra power brings with it a slight consumption penalty, as the claimed average figure climbs to 6.9 litres/100 km. All 1.5-litre Kugas come with front-wheel drive, though, so at least there are no unnecessary consumption penalties due to an all-wheel drive system.
3. Kuga 1.5 TDCi Ambiente and Trend
Among the smaller-engined Kugas, this one is the real economy champ. Available in both Ambiente and Trend trim levels, it offers a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel with 88 kW and a healthy 270 Nm, coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission. When driven in the relaxed manner diesels prefer, it has a claimed average consumption of only 4.4 litres/100 km. The price for that low consumption is very laid-back performance, though: while the 1.5-litre petrols take around 10 seconds to get from a standstill to 100 km/h, the little diesel needs almost 13 seconds to amble up to that speed.
This one is the profligate drinker in the Kuga range, thanks to its combination of a Focus ST-derived 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol (good for 177 kW and 340 Nm), 6-speed torque converter automatic, and all-wheel drive system. This combination claims pretty decent performance (0 – 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds and a top speed of 212 km/h), but leads to a bit of a drinking problem. Ford claims an average fuel consumption figure of 8.6 litres/100 km, but real-world driving will likely see closer to the 10 litres/100km mark. Then again, if you want horses, you will need to feed them...
With perhaps the most agreeable combination of performance and efficiency in the Kuga line-up, the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel keeps the AWD system, but swaps the torque converter automatic for a more-efficient dual-clutch automatic. With outputs of 132 kW and 400 Nm, the 2.0 TDCi has reasonable on-road performance as well, without paying too much of a penalty at the pumps. Claimed average consumption is 5.4 litres/100 km, although road testing of a (pre-facelift) example yielded a still-respectable 7.2 litres/100 km average figure. Fairly quick (0 -100 km/h in 10.4 seconds) and reasonably light on fuel, the 2.0 TDCi probably offers the most agreeable mix of abilities in the Kuga range.
The Efficiency Champ
Even with its rather limp performance figures, the Kuga 1.5 TDCi still takes the efficiency crown in its model range. It should however be noted that heavy loads will definitely make the little diesel work harder than it would under ideal conditions, which will lead to a noticeable consumption increase.
For this reason, we’d only recommend the 1.5 TDCi to buyers without intentions of regularly carrying a full complement of passengers and luggage, and those with a laid-back mindset towards forward progress. For towing purposes or frequent fully-laden trips, or for those who appreciate petrol-like performance, the 2.0 TDCi will still be the better bet.