Ford Kuga 6 month 8,000 mile review - goodbye to my latest daily driver

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

⭐ If you didn't utterly hate this video and feel I've earned it, please subscribe so you don't miss any new car waffles!

[@Beth9228]

I have a 2020 Ford Escape SE in black. I have driven it a little bit over 6 months. I’m from the USA so the name is different. I just loved how smooth the ride is and even using Apple Car Play. My has a black grill which is very sharp looking.

[@stevedewsnap2128]

I have just received my Kuga ST-LINE X 2.0L Diesel 190PS AWD Auto. I ordered the drivers assistance pack and technology pack also the wirless charging pad for my phone. I love it. It's Agate Black ⚫️

[@DefGef772]

Well chuffed with mine that I’ve had for just over two years, PHEV too in which I use as a sole electric which gives me just over 50 miles I’m not complaining about it😊 the only annoying thing is the rear seatbelts when not plugged in tap the back plastics until you stop and sort it.

[@timrodierides]

You did a video! Finally!

[@craigcawkwellphotography]

Great video. I have bought the exact same one and collect it on Friday. Like yourself I have bought the car for similar reasons coming from an 8 year old Vauxhall insignia. For me the car play, the b&o sound system, the led lights, and the mpg were the top selling points.

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

Enjoy it when it comes!

[@alechopkins6545]

Well done on the gig at motorpoint, will have to check it out 👍🏻

[@isaberabera_]

Is this the first time you've mentioned your new workplace? It's rather nice after watching your lambo/existential crisis series.

[@albertlira7443]

We rented one of these in America, called the Escape here. It drove nice! The power delivery felt smooth, very comfortable and a good all rounder. Not one for the enthusiastic driver, but a fantastic daily. Great to see a Tim Rodie drives video again.

[@DontPanicDear]

This car, in that colour, flys SO far below the radar! I imagine they’re everywhere, but don’t remember EVER seeing one on the road 🤓 I hope the new czar is a nice bright colour 👀

[@mothergingie5765]

Fun fact- Google gave me a paid short survey for this video. I think that's validation you are doing an excellent job! A while 0.16p woot

[@nicho9292]

Pick my fhev st line 2.5 x edition up next week same colour as this, been non stop watching reviews I've seen multiple times since ordering in May last year. Even though I've been an enthusiastic driver in past my present cars a volvo v40 and as I've got older I've become more Conservative when driving taking my time using less fuel smoother ride. Really looking forward to recievig this car

[@neilcam]

Big congratulations on the motorpoint gig, Tim! I'll have to go subscribe. Thank crunchy there's 28 and a half hours in every day for me to watch EweChube videos.

[@euregiojam]

I have test driven 2022 Kuga 2.0l Ecoblue diesel, it had 17000 km on the odometer. This Ecoblue diesel was really rough especially when pushed. I have had experience with Japanese 2.2l diesels in 2008 Accord (i-CDTi) and in 2012 Mazda 6 (MZR-CD), and they were really refined smooth engines. Ecoblue is nothing like this, much more rough, loud, and vibrating, felt like a good match to Transit, but not to a passenger car. The 2.0l Ecoblue does not have a balancer shaft, so maybe 1.5l Ecoblue is more smooth, because smaller engines do not need balancer shafts. On the other hand, in Kuga, which is a heavy car, 1.5l Ecoblue is probably not enough to be comfortable a German highway, 120 hp seems more appropriate to a smaller car. The trim of Kuga was ST Line X, seats were nice, and there was a decent (but not exceptional) audio. But there were also cheap plastics all over the place, and entire passenger doors were made of cheap plastic. Hard to understand how such plastics could be used in such a trim. Also, keyless entry was only for the front doors, and the access to the fueling was not protected (everyone could open even when the car was locked it and put anything in the fuel tank and into the AdBlue tank). That Kuga I have driven maybe fine on country roads, but on a German highway at 140 km/h it does not feel too good, especially in comparison to segment-D cars like Mondeo or Mazda 6 (other cars I have driven a lot). There was a lot of vibrations and it was quite loud. Previously I had a 2018 Mondeo with 1.5l Ecoboost petrol engine, mid trim (e.g. stock audio). One cannot compare with Kuga, zero cheap plastics, zero vibrations, very litte road noise, keyless entry in all doors. So, maybe Kuga with Ecoboost is also smooth, but I think the road noise at higher speeds does not depend on the engine.

[@martinmoss1963]

We have a 71 plate Ford Focus active x 1.5 diesel & to let you know, it’s exactly the same with Adblue which is a bit annoying, has to be topped up every 3k miles, plenty of warnings for that though, as you said happens with the Kuga.

[@chrisswildlife7166]

I thought it was a DBX on the thumbnail

[@davidhayes4814]

Drive a big van, like a Boxer/Ducato, over bumps and stuff with a full load for a month. Then you will find the Kuga handles and performs like a Sports SUV.

[@willtomowen]

I just spat my morning brew out at the ,I’m in big boy pants now’ comment'!!😅

[@TimRodieDrivesStuff]

They still don’t fit 🤪

[@MRT.1977]

Good review, do any Kuga's have a ski hatch? If so, which ones. Thanks.

[@andersriksson100]

Oh, a diesel video. I thought, hoped it was a FHEV AWD... No more diesel for me cos of regulations and DPF-filter maintainance.

[@johnbaldock6353]

Are you sure that's WATER??🤣

[@ronniemcguire]

You didnt have a Cougar, they were obsolete in 2002, you had a Kuga, they are totally different cars☹️

[@robc5955]

A car journalist who states 11 sec is reasonable 0-60 and good mpg etc my goodness, the real world of dismal everyday driving beckons. Right suppose I’d better subscribe to MP for more nonsense. Oh and I thought you said, for a minute, that you went on holiday with young children abroad. Holiday? With young children, hmmm. My memories of holidays with my young kids were awful awful affairs involving nappies, vomit and tedious child friendly days out. At least now they are in early twenties they just bankrupt me.

[@Neil-Aspinall]

The mumbling self indulgent references etc are extremely annoying bud.

[@chrishubert4377]

Very poor presentation.