2015 Ford Kuga | new car sales price

More powerful and fuel-efficient engines added to the 2015 Ford Kuga SUV range.

Ford has updated the Kuga mid-size SUV range for 2015, with a range of new or upgraded engines promising more power and improved efficiency. 

The entry-level Kuga Ambiente manual gains a 110kW/240Nm 1.5-litre EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine - to replace the  outgoing 1.6-litre unit - while automatic Ambiente models use a 134kW/240Nm version of the same engine. Combined fuel consumption for the base manual is 6.3L/100km, rising to 7.6L/100km or the all-wheel-drive auto model.

For 2015 Trend and Titanium Kuga models drop the 1.6-litre four-pot for a 176kW/340Nm version of Ford's 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine which uses 8.6L/100km combined in this application.

The upgraded 2.0-litre Duratorq diesel engine is available in Trend and Titanium model grades and now produces 132kW and 400Nm of torque, or 12kW and 60Nm more than the outgoing Kuga diesel.

Equipped with automatic stop-start technology and active grille shutters, the revised Kuga diesel is also more frugal than before, capable of using 5.7L/100km combined – down from 6.4L/100km.

Ford proudly notes that the updated Kuga diesel, along with the 134kW and 176kW petrol engines are more powerful than the equivalent drivetrains used in the Toyota RAV4 key rival. The diesel and 134kW petrol are also more efficient than their RAV4 equivalents.  The 110kW/340Nm diesel RAV4 uses 6.5L/100kmcombined and 2.5-litre petrol RAV4s use 8.5L/100km.

However, Ford neglects to mention the top-selling Mazda CX-5 diesel, which the Ford matches for fuel efficiency and trumps peak power by 3kW, but the Mazda produces an extra 20Nm.

Comparing the petrol-powered Kuga to its nearest Mazda rival reveals the Japanese product is slightly more fuel efficient.

The Kuga’s diesel and 2.0-litre petrol engines are available exclusively with a Powershift dual-clutch automatic and all-wheel-drive system, with a front-drive and manual combination reserved for the entry level 1.5-litre Kuga Ambiente.

The updated Kuga range is available in three new colours which include Ruby Red, Magnetic grey and Tiger Eye orange, while a tyre pressure monitoring system is now part of the Technology pack – optional on Trend models and standard on the range-topping Titanium model. 

Auto-emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and auto high beam assist are also part of the package.