Ford Kuga 2.5 Duratec FHEV 2021 UK review Car News

If you must have a Kuga in your life, Ford certainly has an engine option that is right for you.

There is one gasoline, three diesels (one of which is a mild hybrid) and two suitable hybrids – one conventional, one plug-in. The factor in the four-wheel drive versions available with some and choosing the right Kuga quickly turns into a headache.

Ford justifies offering all of this because the Kuga is now its “heart” car. A sign of the way things are moving, the Kuga and Puma SUVs were both in the UK’s top 10 car sales in April. Development? He slipped out of this upper support.

Here we are testing the 2.5-liter Duratec FHEV (Fully Hybrid Electric Vehicle), with 187 hp and a 0-62 mph time of 9.1 s (a torque figure is not yet available, as the homologation is not finished). It is attached to a CVT, while a 1.1 kWh battery and AC synchronous motor provide electric assistance.

Official fuel economy and CO2 emissions are 49.6 mpg and 131 g / km respectively, which is on the money for rivals such as the Hyundai Tucson. As this is a ‘self-charging’ hybrid, you don’t get as much electric-only range, so the CO2 numbers take a hit compared to plug-in rivals.

Ford talks about the weight savings on the Mk3 Kuga, with lots of aluminum in places like the suspension arms, as well as lighter mats and hollow shocks. The company claims an admirable economy of 80kg overall, but it’s still a big chunk of car, so tips the scales at 1701kg.

As always with a conventional hybrid, the Kuga starts silently in electric-only mode, but it doesn’t take long before the 2.5-liter gasoline engine kicks in – anything beyond the pace of the parking lot starts it up. To be fair, though, it’s a smooth transition and the powertrain is largely refined, with enough horsepower to make any kind of trip effortless.

The caveat above is for the CVT: it’s fine for pottery, but as soon as you ask for more it winds up, the engine note climbs to the top of the rev range and stays there, moaning. It settles down again once you relax, but it lacks sophistication – and the Kuga PHEV with the same gearbox somehow manages to contain the moans better.