Used Ford Kuga 2021-present review

Previous generations of the Ford Kuga have been quite popular cars, but not models that particularly set the market on fire or moved the game on in any great way. Ford wanted to change that with this third-generation car, which grew in size and gained a new look and adopted some more modern technology including mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions.

Engines: Two regular petrol engines are available – the 118bhp 1.5 Ecoboost 120 and 148bhp 1.5 Ecoboost 150. The 1.5 Ecoblue 120 and 2.0 Ecoblue 150 diesels mirror the power outputs of the two petrols, plus there’s a 187bhp Ecoblue 190 diesel. Then there's the plug-in hybrid version, the 2.5 Duratec 225 PHEV. It pairs a 2.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor for a combined power output of 222bhp.

• Looking for an older car? Read our 2008-2013 Ford Kuga and 2013-2020 Ford Kuga used buying guides

Trims and equipment: Zetec is the entry-level trim level. This provides a long list of standard kit, including a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear lever, cruise control, automatic lights, 17in alloy wheels, privacy glass, power-folding door mirrors and a heated windscreen. If you want the plug-in hybrid version, you’ll have to step up to Titanium trim. This adds 18in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, part-leather seats and automatic wipers. ST-Line trim brings mainly sporty styling additions and stiffer suspension, while ST-Line X adds 19in alloys, a panoramic roof and heated front seats. Top-spec Vignale trim adds plenty more luxuries, including a head-up display and heated steering wheel.

Ride and handling: On the road, the plug-in hybrid version feels very brisk, with a respectable 0 to 62mph time of just 8.6sec. The best ride comes with the softer suspension setup that's fitted to Zetec, Titanium and Vignale trim (ST-Line is a little firm). It can be a little bouncy over the kind of big dips and crests you encounter along some country roads, but otherwise, it's pretty comfortable. The steering is very quick, which makes the Kuga feel eager to turn in to corners, although there is a bit of body lean. There are certainly nimbler large SUVs out there, but, as far as plug-in hybrid SUVs go, the Kuga PHEV is certainly one of the best to drive.

Interior and practicality: Inside, the seat is supportive and there’s plenty of adjustment, including for lumbar support on all trims, as well as generous levels of steering wheel rake and reach movement.

You get an 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system on all models. It’s reasonably responsive to prods, but its graphics are quite basic and some processes, such as choosing your favourite DAB radio station, are unnecessarily convoluted. You'll find more hard, shiny and unappealing plastic inside the Ford Kuga than you will most of its rivals, although there are some soft-touch plastics, such as on the top of the dashboard and above the door armrests.

There's plenty of space up front, and it's generous in the rear, too. As such, a pair of tall adults will have no problem getting comfortable, and even a third, middle-seat occupant will find enough head and leg room, despite the fact that the middle seat is slightly raised.

The Kuga's boot is pretty average among large SUVs. We managed to fit just six carry-on cases below the load cover. Capacity aside, the boot has its strong points. There's no lip at the entrance to cause nuisance when lifting heavy items in and out, and the boot floor is an unhindered square shape.

If you're interested in buying a used Ford Kuga or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.

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Expect to spend at least £19,000 to £21,000 to secure a good one from 2021, but, depending on spec, trim and engines, this is a useful saving on the price of a brand new one. Spend between £25,000 and £30,000 on a top-spec 2022 or a 2023 model, a little more for the very latest cars.

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MPG

The 1.5 Ecoboost 150 averages 42.8mpg, the 1.5 Ecoblue 120 diesel 60.1mpg, the 2.0 Ecoblue mHEV 57.6mpg, while the PHEV achieves the remarkable on-paper figure of 201.8mpg.

Charging the PHEV’s batteries takes 3.5 hours from a 7kW home wall-box, or around six 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, and when its run out and you're left with mainly the petrol engine, you can expect up to 50mpg with careful driving on a mix of roads.

Road tax

Road tax will be at the current standard rate of £180 per year.

Insurance and servicing

Insurance groupings are in line with the Kuga's rivals, ranging from 13 to 19, and are dependent on specification. Servicing costs should be reasonable and Ford has a number of schemes available to help spread the cost of servicing.

Our favourite version of the Ford Kuga is the plug-in hybrid version. It's one of the best plug-in hybrid large SUVs there is, providing a decent electric-only range, good fuel economy, tidy handling, and all for a sensible price.

Our favourite Ford Kuga: 2.5 Duratec PHEV

The Mazda CX-5 has plenty of room for five people to travel in comfort, plus it's really refined so there's little wind or road noise to distract you. There's a 2.0-litre petrol version if you need it, but we’d suggest going for the 148bhp 2.2-litre diesel because it's much more flexible. The handling is nice and sharp for such a tall car and the steering is well-weighted to inspire confidence. It should be pleasingly reliable too.

The seven-seat Peugeot 5008 is stylish, practical and good to drive. Those rugged good looks cover an interior that's impressively flexible and will seat seven in reasonable comfort. Plus, there's a range of strong engines to choose from, it's well-equipped in all trims and it rides and handles surprisingly well. All in, it's a great car and really good value too.

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If you're interested in buying a used Ford Kuga or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.