Kuga set to arrive with a roar; Ford prepares for launch of its hatchback-4x4 crossover We are among the first to drive the 4x4 Kuga, the car which breaks new ground for Ford. ROBIN ROBERTS reports on the crossover vehicle designed to offer families the best of all worlds with maximum practicality ford

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), April 11, 2008

Byline: ROBIN ROBERTS

THE Ford Kuga, a CMax on steroids, will be flexing its all-terrain muscles from June.

To be launched with a 136ps 2.0 Duratorq TDCi diesel engine with six-speed manual gearbox, it will be joined later this year by a 200ps five-cylinder petrol derivative.

The diesels' prices will start at pounds 20,495 for the entry-level Zetec and pounds 22,495 for the Titanium, but no prices are yet available for the hotter petrol models or for the automatics which will join the range at the same time.

Although closely based on the C-Max MPV and Focus, the five-seat Kuga is Ford's first crossover model and has the looks of an elongated hatchback but the powertrain of an intelligent four-wheeldrive SUV.

Added height to the suspension gives better ground clearance and a taller silhouette. It sits on a longer wheelbase with a wider track than its stablemates and boasts a dual split tailgate providing rear glass or full fifth door opening.

Individually split back seats can be folded flat and you can order a 230v power socket for the rear passengers to run laptops or games machines.

Ford has been keen to ensure the Kuga sets class-leading driving dynamics and has based its suspension on the latest system found under the Focus and Mondeo, but uprated to cope with offroad driving.

The two-litre diesel engine is straight from Ford's car and MPV models and it's matched to the familiar Durashift sixspeed manual box, but drive to the wheels is through a Haldex All Wheel Drive (AWD) system which automatically senses wheelspin and accordingly adjusts drive requirements.

Maximum power of 136ps is produced at 4,000rpm, but 320Nm of torque is available at half that speed, with a further 20Nm available through overboost - a clever system which briefly provides extra boost from the turbocharger.

In diesel form, the Kuga reaches 62mph in 10.7 seconds and maxes at 112mph with a claimed 44mpg overall.

The petrol version will be quicker. Even in standard Zetec form the Kuga is well-equipped and comes with keyless ignition, air conditioning and quick clear windows, easy fuel protection system, sports seats plus extensive safety and stability systems.

Ford expects the best-selling model to be the 2.0 TDCi in Zetec specification.

In a full year, Ford hopes to sell as many as 7,000 Kugas, which would give the Blue Oval brand about 12% of the crossover sector. All the dynamic, sharp responses of the latest Focus and S-Max have been skilfully blended into it.

The Kuga looks tall but not particularly wide or long and the overhangs are short. It actually feels very agile and manoeuvrable and provides excellent sight lines to the front and sides. Over the shoulder and reversing vision is not particularly good, however, and parking sensors are a must.

The two-litre engine gives good pull in mid-range, although it's not quick from rest but cruises with composure and very little noise at the motorway maximum.

I like the positive gearchange and strong brakes. A brief off-road section on the test route showed it to be very capable of tackling muddy hills, descents and small ridges. Bad holes will jar it, but generally it copes very well The Kuga will win over many who want the height advantage and capacity of a traditional 4x4 without the high running costs or sometimes cumbersome feel.

CAPTION(S):

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS - the Ford Kuga looks like an elongated hatchback but can handle offroad driving; CAPABLE - the gearbox on the Kuga is a Dura shift six-speed manual