New Ford Kuga PHEV could be the ultimate Hybrid SUV; Ford Kuga Review & Road Test

The Ford Kuga not only has street cred with its looks, but has added the appeal of being available as a plug-in hybrid or PHEV as we affectionately call them.
The Ford Kuga will provide an ever growing appetite for zero-emissions motoring, with its good electric-only range between charges and UK tax benefits. As well as a PHEV, Ford also offers full and mild-hybrid Kugas with 2.5 litre and 2.0 litre Ecoblue engines and a smaller 1.5-litre petrol engine (the 150 Ecoboost). There’s quite literally a Ford Kuga for all of your family trips, which includes popping down the shops or even towing a caravan.
Theres a wide range of trim levels with entry level Zetec for all round affordability, Titanium Edition if you want lots of equipment, ST Line Edition and ST Line X Edition for added sportiness, and Vignale for top of the range spec with added luxury.
Charging the PHEV’s batteries takes 3.5 hours from a 7kW home wall-box, or less than eight hours if you use a three-pin domestic plug. If you keep the battery topped up and do mainly shorter journeys, your fuel costs will be negligible. When the battery runs out, you can still expect a good level of economy, and we achieved around 47mpg over varied test routes.
You get a three-year/60,000-mile warranty included as standard, while the main batteries of plug-in hybrid models are covered for eight years/100,000 miles.
The entry level Kuga starts from £30k and is well provisioned with safety kit. Lane-keeping assistance comes as standard, as does automatic emergency braking (AEB), which can stop the car automatically if it senses an imminent crash. Blind-spot monitoring, traffic-sign recognition and lane keepy, as well as blind spot mirrors are available as part of the £1000 plus Driver’s Assistance Pack.
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[@daveryder4430]

I've gone from the 1.5 ecoblue 6spd to the PHEV and love the CVT. Smooth and effortless drive.

[@gerrysmith5597]

The automatic pop out door guards are damn good too, you didnt mention those though.

[@davidmellor542]

I test drove the 2.5ltr PHEV ST Line x EDITION. Pick my light blue car up in a couple of weeks with 20" rims. Great review, great car.

[@pbode1]

Love the down to earth review style AJ

[@robhunt7598]

I've owned one for over a year and love it. The CVT is smooth. The phone bluetooth is exceptional, most don't know I'm in a car traveling 60mph when I'm on a call. The adaptive cruise control is amazing. Keeps in centre of lane and I try to use it as much as I can, especially in start/stop travel, it just pulls away. By far the most relaxing car I've driven. My only gripes are if you leave plugged in on charge for the EV Battery for too long (a few days) it flattens the car 12v battery and it wont auto lock over a certain speed.

[@davidchambers707]

I love the CVT it’s very smooth,also when accelerating the roar is a sporty sound being a ST

[@peteclarke5750]

I have a ford kuga st line 1.5 diesel. Lovely car. Very happy with it.

[@davidllewellyn5168]

Good review and excellent points made.

[@axel8414]

Hello nice revieuw (for a very nice car). I'm from the Netherlands so if any spelling mistake sorry for that. I think that the L mode on the transmision swiths is not to keep the car in first or second gear, you mentioned CVT transmission and they have no gears... If you activated the L the car will brake more on the elektric engine for more regen (feels like one pedel driving only it won't fully stop the car), be aware if the battery's are above 70/75% it will start the engine and will use the engine to give you extra break power. We don't use the L when the battery's are above 70%. We did 13260km > petrol 213liter (Still 75% in the tank) and charged 2466kWh. Also for charging at home with the normal house plug it takes the car 5,5 hours from 0 to 100%, I think that's the same in the UK? regards, Axel

[@ceejay85]

Good review 👍

[@samlj7025]

Good vid !

[@user-fh1ey2js2z]

Thanks. A good cheerful and positive review packed with details. Surprised with a FWD there was a prop shaft tunnel. I also don't like CVT but understand a number of firms use them for better fuel economy.Some extras I would never use and although I agree with your comment about the roof I never bother with them myself. Very helpful.

[@johnmckinlay9538]

I've owned a 20 plate Kuga PHEV for 15 months now and love it. As mentioned you get about 35 miles on electric mode, so if your work is less than 17 miles away then it won't use any petrol. I plug it into the mains at my garage door when dry as when in garage the car charging socket is against a wall. Not keen on the noisy CVT auto box, but get used to it. On a journey I use electric on a motorway and at 60/70 I switch to the engine charging the battery when cruising. Going uphill I use electric and use the engine to recharge going down. The main driving mode switch I use is in a poor position at bottom left of centre console. Got to look down for it taking eyes off the road.

[@MrQuasar1958]

Top review,succinct ,to the point, and very informative. Waiting for my st line x to be delivered at end of Jan, good interesting points made. Move over Jeremy Clarkson!!!

[@jchu14]

Good review, but the intro music and video sequence is way too long and way too loud IMO.

[@Truthbomb918]

I was actually going to turn the video off because of the intro

[@farrelito]

Agree!

[@tonywilliams4357]

Three and a half minutes of self indulgent shite before the start of the review.

[@TWARDOWSKY.]

ECVT is the best transition for hybrid cars. Toyota design this technology for over 25 years, the same like Toyota Prius so….

[@petermartin4675]

Rather have a spare wheel than a tow bar.

[@nicho9292]

Pick my 2.5 fhev st line x 2 weeks from today , gunsmoke grey. Looking forward to receiving one thing I don't like is the grey interior red stitching. Looks tacky but Im going to dye grey with fabric pen. Only ordered in May its been long

[@francescomisuraca6277]

Great review does it come as 4 wheel drive.

[@donalshanaghy6381]

Music is WAY TOO LOUD. Your review was good.

[@scottfromengland2303]

Damn!!! My mate showed me 1 of theae briefly today & i was considering to buy 1 .. but to put a CVT in the 2.5 ltr has completely put me off from previous CVT experience!! What a shame...

[@mattcryer1]

I wasn't too keen on the CVT idea, but in practice, having lived with a PHEV Kuga, it works really well. In normal and sport mode, it's programmed to simulate stepped gear changes. Mainly does the traditional CVT thing in eco mode.

[@tapiokotkavuori2170]

Non-turbocharged atkinson cycle engine with the CVT gearbox combined with electric motor is the point here. The point you missed, when complaining about the gearbox.

[@alielectro321]

is this cvt transmission?

[@Northern-Light]

Crikey mate,I tuned in to your Chanel to watch a Ford Kuga vlog, but you lost me on that very long intro! 😮

[@cbenson5697]

Still wondering if there is a spare wheel???

[@billgomersall1001]

Yes,I’ve got one on my 2021 2.5 STx

[@wevved]

You drove the Ford through the ford.

[@vevocack]

Had my st line x for 6 months now and the CVT does really limit what is otherwise a great engine/electric combo. You have to drive according to the limits of the gearbox. That said, once you are up to around 50mph the CVT stops becoming a limiting factor and from 50,mph upwards (in sport mode) this thing really REALLY does move quickly, potentially taking you way beyond UK speed limits (apparently). The head restraints are unadjustable and the mpg isn't great in the real world but it's a comfortable cruiser and engaging on b roads.

[@bazman357]

You didnt mention the entry level comes with 17inch wheels the ST line X comes with 19inch wheels. Im buying a 2024 ST line X in January with the winter pack.

[@davidjones4291]

Barwick ford and around Ware . 😊

[@ralphwilson4810]

The child it’s a bit dated inside. What’s your opinion on that?

[@dino4074]

Smell on Toyota Rav4 powertrain

[@6ormos1]

Mate, have more details in your vids. And arrange your thoughts. I’m actually considering this car and your review of the mods (EV) was not sufficient nor efficient. Could not understand

[@Truthbomb918]

U do know kuga isn't a cat, Cougar is probably what ur thinking of

[@bazman357]

I thought the video was good but agred the intro was way to long of you in other cars.

[@paulgraves7949]

CVT gearbox's are the work of Satan along with the cucumber...🥒 currently got a self charging hybrid ST Line as a courtesy car! Well impressed! Great review👌

[@lesn4528]

Thumbs down for noisy over long intro.

[@fredEVOIX]

a PHEV is not an hybrid it's an EV with an emergency petrol engine attached also from an actual mechanic, never buy sunroofs problem magnets and very expensive to fix so they never are at least not properly k I've seen enough

[@truthnotopinion3659]

ffs review the car, your not top gear!

[@TheTopD]

"Listen to the cvt gearbox" Proceeds to imitate it himself 😂 Eeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[@christopherwhite4153]

Your driving plug in hybrid but you don’t show how many miles you got out of it saying is not the same as showing