The Ford Kuga is a compact SUV five-door wagon based on the C1 platform produced by Ford since 2008 to the present. It comes in either all-wheel-drive or front-wheel-drive configuration.
First Generation C394 (2008-2012)
Ford launched the first-generation Kuga at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. For this particular model, only the upscale trim levels were available, namely the Zetec and Titanium. You could get it with either of the engines listed below:
- 2.5L Duratec turbo inline-four petrol engine with peak power of 147kW
- 2.0L Duratorq diesel engine with a power output of up to 100 kW
- 2.0L Duratorq diesel engine (4x4 and PowerShift variants) with a power output of up to 120kW
Transmissions available were 6-speed manual, 6-speed PowerShift automatic transmission, and 5-speed automatic.
Second Generation C520 (2012-present)
The second-generation Kuga, also rebadged Ford Escape in Australia, was developed by Ford Europe. It comes with either an EcoBoost inline-four turbocharged petrol engine or a Duratorq diesel engine. The only difference is the capacity and power output. Here are the EcoBoost engines and their corresponding output:
- 1.5L produced 110 kW
- 1.6L produced 110 kW
- 1.6L produced 134 kW for the 4x4 and 2WD models
- 2.0L produced 178 kW for the 4x4 models
The 2.0L Duratorq, on the other hand, came in four variants depending on the market: 103 kW, 120 kW, 110 kW, and 132 kW. The available transmissions were:
- 6-speed manual
- 6-speed 6F35 automatic
- 6-speed PowerShift automatic
From 2012 through 2017, Ford recalled over 200,000 Kugas for engine overheating issues. In 2017, another recall happened due to faulty door latches.
Third Generation (2019-present)
The third generation was unveiled in April of 2019 and was scheduled to hit the market in the third quarter as the 2020 model. Ford based the new model Kuga on the Ford C2 platform, using high-strength steel. The new design is more aerodynamic and has a sleek, elegant finish.
The engines used for this generation include:
- 1.5L inline-three turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engine
- 2.0L inline-four turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engine
- 2.5L inline-four hybrid engine
- 2.0L Duratorq inline-four turbocharged diesel engine
You will get it with either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Eric Anyega