Ford Kuga 2.0T AWD ST-Line - Fiercer than it looks

Pros

• Cushy interior
• Excellent ride quality
• Superbly comfortably seats and general standard spec level

 

Cons

• Fuel consumption on this specific model
• Current resale value (although it may get better with time)
• Some choice options can make the price escalate considerably

Styling

This ST-Line Kuga, dressed in its gym gear, looks a little more beefy than the rest of the Kuga lineup. You'll notice those blacked out wheels and a black bumper first, but on closer inspection you'll also observe a black rear diffuser, black roof rails, tinted head- and tail-lights, and some body-coloured side skirts. The Kuga ST-Line also hunches a little lower to the ground thanks to (dropped) sport suspension, which already tells you that real off-roading isn't going to happen all that often, despite being all-wheel-drive which is more of a performance aid, in this instance. It's a handsome package but not particularly eye-catching if you want your sporty intentions to be known.

If you spec the Styling Pack (R 21 400), your Kuga also gets a power-opening panoramic roof, 19-inch alloy wheels and a larger single-wing rear spoiler. High Intensity Discharge (HID) Bi-Xenon headlamps with LED Daytime Running Lights can also be specified on ST-Line models.

Related: Ford Kuga vs. Kia Sportage vs. Hyundai Tucson: here's our winner.

 

Interior

The Kuga's driver-centric interior feels cozy and plush, and there's minimal noise intrusion from outside when you're cruising on the open road. Open the doors and you'll be greeted with ST Line scuff plates and supremely comfy seats finished in Alcantara suede (or Dinamica, as Ford refers to it) — the real racing seat material that doesn't stick to your thighs when you're wearing shorts. The cushy seats envelop and hug you in all the right places when going around corners, and the driver's seat is 10-way power adjustable. An 8-inch SYNC 3 touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay/Android auto and Sony 9-speaker audio system with Bluetooth and voice control (as well as Sat-nav) costs R 5 250 extra, but you still get the SYNC3 system sans touchscreen as standard if you don't opt for the whole infotainment package.

Related: Top 3 things you need to know about the Ford Kuga

 

Space, comfort, and practicality

Space on the rear bench is not the best in its class, but it's generous, even for taller adults. My retired parents, who are both quite tall, joined us for a drive to Betty's Bay, and they both reported that they had sufficient leg room in the back. The Kuga is also rather wide and comfortably fitting a person in-between them would be possible. There's enough room for everyone's feet and the rear seats have a reclining function.

Related: Top 3 Ford Kuga features that stand out from the competition

The boot is average for this segment with 456 litres, and the rear seats (which split 60/40) can be flattened completely. Child seat fitment is straightforward because the doors open wide enough and the ISOFX points are exposed. Sizeable storage cubbies and bottle holders are plentiful, plus there are two USB ports hiding in the front armrest cubby. In the ST-Line, a powered tailgate with a hands-free function is a standard feature, so you only need to swing your foot underneath the rear of the Kuga for the boot to open. This didn't always want to work, though, despite having the key in my jeans pocket. 

 

Safety

The Kuga has seven airbags as well as ABS, EBD and brake assist as well as traction and stability control, trailer sway control, hill-start assist, front park assist and a rearview camera. The Driver Assistance Pack for the ST-Line (R16 060) adds Adaptive Cruise Control, Advanced Active Park Assist, a Blind Spot Information System and Lane Keeping Aid, and an autonomous stopping function should it detect that you're not going to be able to brake in time to avoid a collision. The downside to this is that it's only active at speeds of 40 km/h and higher, so don't bother with it if you encounter daily traffic jams, as it won't be of much use in tight stop/start situations. The Kuga scored a full 5 stars in the 2012 EuroNCAP crash safety test, before it had any of the modern-day semi-autonomous safety kit.

 

Drive, performance, and fuel economy

While the ST-Line Kuga is a hoot to drive, being fiery, well-balanced and dynamic (without being hard), it's a thirsty beast whose drink needs a regular top-up. Not even the perky performance, sporty suspension and comfortable seats could alleviate the pain of the deep hole burning into my pocket. But I am certain that those who do have R 552 400 to drop on a non-German SUV have probably factored in fuel consumption.  With 177 kW and 340 Nm on tap and a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 7,8 seconds, this is about the going rate for a two-litre, all-wheel-drive SUV.

Related: How to work out your car's fuel consumption
Which Ford Kuga is better: diesel or petrol?

Pricing

Once you start ticking boxes, the Kuga quickly gets on the pricey side but none of the optional specifications offer anything that you cannot live without. The 2.0-litre ST-Line diesel model (R576 700) is even more expensive but at least you won't be spending your life savings on petrol. 

Other options in this price range include the Hyundai Tucson as well as the Volkswagen Tiguan...and even the luscious new Audi Q3 which has a starting price of R 565 000 and is much easier on the pump station's liquid gold, partly because it's not as potent as the Ford, of course.

Related: 3 Dashing new diesel cars to keep fuel costs low

 

I would probably not spend my money on the ST-Line variants and opt for the 1.5-litre diesel Kuga (R429 200 for the Ambiente derivative) instead, to gain access to all the things I love about this car — because there is a lot to love — but without the exorbitant price tag. I give the Kuga 2.0T AWD ST-Line 4 out of 5 stars.

 

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