There’s been a bit of a to-do about ‘SUV’ sales in the UK recently, following a report calling for adverts promoting Sports Utility Vehicles to be banned, in the interests of air quality.
The New Weather Institute says they are contributing disproportionately to global emissions because of their extra weight and drag. It can’t be denied that some are particularly big – but it’s a broad term and they shouldn’t all be tarred with the same brush.
Some are seven-seater biggies (moving a lot of people in one go, making them, in theory at least, ‘greener’), while others bearing the SUV tag are simply taller, redesigned versions of basic family cars.
There’s no doubt that SUV sales in the UK are booming; Brits bought more of them (12 per cent more) in 2019 than the year before (and more sports cars too, which were up 19 per cent).
Clearly, car manufacturers are reacting to demand, and the demand is coming from families who find the carrying capacity of SUVs, for both goods, kids and dogs etc, highly practical. They also love the fact that they sit higher – because it improves their vision and they feel safer.
Launched into the teeth of this furore is Ford’s own new SUV offering, the stylish-looking Kuga – which rather bucks the trend, and confounds the critics by arriving in clean PHEV (Plug In Electric Hybrid) guise. This means that it achieves potentially impressive MPG figures by using its batteries, and electric motors, to take the strain.
After being plugged in, says Ford, it can achieve around 201 MPG, despite its relatively large 2.5 Duratec engine. There is a diesel version too.
If critics are hoping that buyers will desert the SUV market in droves, they’re going to be disappointed when it comes to the Kuga, which is sharply styled, highly practical, comfy and very good to drive.
To my eyes it looks slightly American, with its rounded lines and big, bulbous rear ‘bumper’. Interesting ‘crease’ lines in the steel give it a dynamic look however – looks that match the driving experience.
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The first thing you notice is the limo-smooth performance from the ride, steering, even the brakes, which combine to flatter the driver, even if the ride can become a little less composed over rippled road surfaces.
The second thing you notice is the roominess, with plenty of space even for adults to stretch out, in both the front and rear seats. The boot is spacious too although – as with most PHEVs – that big bunch of heavy charging cables does eat into space. One day they’ll find a better way of building them into the bodywork, so that they retract, like petrol pump nozzles…
The Kuga feels very well built, adding to the air of overall refinement, while equipment levels are high. The ST-Line version we drove had LED headlamps, privacy glass, Quickclear windscreen, front and rear parking sensors, sports seats, keyless entry, keyless start, smooth ambient lighting, auto-dimming rear view mirror and a nice eight-inch touchscreen, to name just a few of the ‘toys’.
With prices starting at a competitive £23,995, the driving fun factor, and that plug-in set-up giving smooth, ‘clean’ performance, SUV critics are going to have to be a little more targeted in their criticism – or face incomprehension from satisfied consumers.
Details: Ford Kuga ST-Line 2.5 Duratec PHEV CVT Automatic
Price of model tested: £35,685
Top speed: 125 mph
0 – 62 mph: 9.2 seconds
Max power: 225 PS
Charge time from high power outlet: Three and a half hours.
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