Top Gear
with
Richard Wiley
I've said it before and I'll say it again - Ford (Europe at least!) has mastered the art of balancing good ride, handling and steering characteristics probably better than any other main stream manufacturer.
My opinion was reinforced on the recent launch of their medium SUV, the Kuga, in the Western Cape.
Unfortunately, in the context of a road test that is, the roads we traversed through the imposing mountain ranges surrounding Grabouw and Franschoek were too good to test fully the underpinnings of this Ford as nary a pothole, ridge or undulation was encountered. I was secretly hoping to come across something less than a billiard table just to test the composure - in particular the rebound damping - of the Kuga, but no such luck.
No matter though - when you transfer from one car to another, it takes a matter of seconds to detect whether or not that all-important element called refinement is present. In essence, I guess you could summarise "refinement" as a car's ability or otherwise to isolate noise, vibration and harshness from the human senses. Wind noise, engine noise, road noise and vibrations transmitted through the chassis and body all conspire to spoil that indefinable feeling of isolation the very best cars offer their occupants.
While it would be churlish and untrue to suggest that the relatively lofty Kuga can hold its own among much more expensive saloons, it more than does so among its peers in the SUV brigade such that I rank it number one when it comes to pure driving satisfaction. Some body roll is present as you'd expect but it's very well controlled such that sweeping bends can be taken at a very decent clip and correct placement is assured thanks to beautifully responsive and linear power steering. For the technos among you, MacPherson struts look after the front end while a multi-link set-up keeps the rear in check, and a fine job it does too.
What helps the Kuga's cause immeasurably is the fitment of Ford's charismatic 5-cylinder 2,5 litre turbo motor familiar from the Focus ST, but tweaked in this application to produce more torque and slightly less power, albeit that 147kW isn't to be sneezed at. The crucial thing is that the torque plateaus from as low as 1 600 rpm all the way to 4 000rpm and ensures a delicious supply of pulling power accompanied by a delightful thrum that only a five cylinder mill can produce. (Just don't expect brilliant fuel economy, by which I'd suggest 11-12L/100 km would be the order of the day in the real world, but do expect a top end of over 200 km/h). It's the tone that's so appealing. The sound deadening allows just the right amount of mechanical hum to reach your ears and the door sealing is good enough to keep wind noise in check. Even road-induced noise is well controlled for a car with such a substantial interior resulting in overall refinement levels that are very, very good. If you like changing gears, you may not be pleased to learn that only a five-speed auto is offered. Fear not though as the box, left to its own devices, changes gears very smoothly and allows for a rapid step-off devoid of that awful inertia that once marked all torque-converter autos. I guess an extra ratio would be nice to allow for even longer gearing on the cruise and it's a pity that down changes are a trifle sudden and jerky when manual mode is engaged to obtain, for example, engine braking on a descent. To an extent, I'm nit-picking though as nearly everything, including the powerful and perfectly-weighted brakes, is orientated towards making driving a thoroughly pleasurable experience.
If you're a committed off-road type, the Kuga's permanently-engaged 4WD system features intelligent power distribution which ensures the grunt goes where it's most effective. This is achieved through an electronically-controlled Haldex clutch which distributes most of the torque to the front and only engages the rear wheels when required. The truth is that the Kuga is foremost a road car and secondly an off-roader as it doesn't offer massive ground clearance or niceties such as hill-descent control, but that probably means it appeals to the majority of buyers who like to dabble just a little off the straight and narrow.
The titivation of the senses continues when you open a door. I'm not overly enamoured with all the curves and complex shapes that adorn the dashboard of the Fiesta for example, so the relatively straight-laced execution (with the exception of the burnt-orange finishing bits unique to the Trend model) in the Kuga appealed immediately. Dare I say it, but much of the architecture and even the materials were decidedly VW-esque which in my book is a compliment. The grain and feel of the upper dashboard surfaces and door cappings was lovely and even if the lower reaches of the cabin were adorned in rather hard materials, an effort had still been made to impart an acceptable visual quality. Good quality black leather swathed the comfortable, multi-adjustable seats and also provided that lovely aroma which is perhaps the best part of this type of seat covering. A split tailgate facilitates loading into an acceptably-capacious "boot," the volume of which can easily be enhanced thanks to folding rear seats. Add a veritable Aladdin's cave of visible and hidden receptacles and even the most avid Harrod's shopper would find a place to store all their purchases. In brief, the cabin is a great place to spend a lot of time, especially as the standard aircon looks after the temperature just as you like it.
I've already implied there's more than one model in the line-up and that is indeed the case, albeit that mechanical specs are identical. In RSA, the Trend retails for R375 000 and the Titanium for R20 000 more.
Whichever is chosen, the equipment levels are generous. Aside from an array of passive safety features, the Kuga also sports ABS, EBD, ESP, EBA and even ARM which stands for Anti Rollover Mitigation. There are also niceties like keyless-go, cruise control, Bluetooth with voice functionality, electric windows, and powered and heated door mirrors. Rain sensitive wipers, an auto-dimming rear view mirror, rear parking sensors, a panoramic sun roof, specially tinted glass and 18 inch wheels are included in the Titanium spec.
Ford SA has brought in the Kuga relatively late in its product life cycle - I'd guess that in this part of the world it'll be current for roughly a year - but this has its advantages in that early development problems will have been exorcised and most importantly, the Kuga doesn't look in the least outdated. In fact, it's a case of a classy set of clothes adorning an even more classy chassis.
The sad thing is that this exceptionally appealing SUV (Ford call it a Crossover) is not included in Duly's import plans for Zimbabwe, so if you're keen on having a closer look, go and knock on the dealer's door and see if you can induce a change of mind. Otherwise, I'm sure a Kuga would look really good in the garage at your Ballito holiday home or your Llandudno mansion!
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form