I almost CRASHED this car!

Change your car with Carwow: https://bit.ly/Change-Your-Car-1612

Last year, Ford made a decision that shocked car fans the world over - it killed off the Focus!

The question is, should the Kuga be next? Mat’s got his hands on an all-new Kuga to see whether this family-friendly crossover SUV is likely to be next on the chopping block.

What’s more, with so many crossover SUVs on the road today, he’s going to see if it has what it takes to outlive competitors like the Nissan Qashqai. So let’s take a closer look at the car…

Starting with the design, the Kuga received a mid-life facelift last year. This means the front end comes with an updated grille, and the new Ford badge sits in pride of place within it. The car we have here has the active pack, which means there is some silver trim placed below the grille. Along the side, the car is relatively plain, but this edition has cladding around the wheel arches, at the bottom of the doors, and there is also a set of roof bars. As for the rear? Well, it’s pretty outdated compared to some of its competitors, but at least it comes with real exhaust pipes on either side!

Step inside, and there’s one big update over the previous car - there’s now a large infotainment screen set in the centre of the dash. It’s quite responsive, but the menus can be a bit confusing. What’s more, physical buttons for the climate control have now been moved into the infotainment system! Thankfully, though, there is a set of digital dials, and high up on the dash, you’ll find soft-touch materials. Just don’t reach too far down if you’re not a fan of scratchy plastics!

Diesel engine options have been done away with for the new Kuga. The entry-level is a 1.5-litre turbo petrol with 150hp, while there’s also a 2.5-litre petrol plug-in hybrid that produces 243hp. Both of these options are front-wheel drive only, so if you want four wheel drive, you’ll need to choose the standard hybrid, which also comes with a 2.5-litre NA petrol engine, which can produce 183hp.

As of December 2025, the Kuga starts at £33,315, rising all the way to £40,695 for the four-wheel drive edition. The question is, should you choose it over cheaper competitors like the Nissan Qashqai or Skoda Karoq? You’ll need to stick with Mat to see for yourself!

Mat's crossover SUV choice: https://bit.ly/Mats-Choice-1612

Jaecoo 7 review: https://bit.ly/Jaecoo-7-Review-1612

VW Tiguan review: https://bit.ly/VW-Tiguan-Review-1612

Skoda Karoq review: https://bit.ly/Skoda-Karoq-Review-1612

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:12 Cancelled Cars
00:56 Design
02:24 Interior
04:37 Engines
05:24 0-60mph
06:14 Brake Test
06:50 Price
08:35 Back Seats
11:03 Boot
14:15 Annoying Features
15:50 Good Features
17:48 Town Driving
19:32 Acceleration
21:02 Country Road Driving
21:46 Verdict