TECHNOLOGY AND US: The Kuga with a kick: Ray Massey reviews the latest Ford

Wednesday

Ford Kuga: Frugal but willing two-litre TDCi diesel engine develops 163bhp and is linked to an all-wheel-drive 'power-shift auto' six-speed automatic gearbox which helps keep driving fun and fuel bills down

A distinctive, yet handsome, contemporary, family-friendly crossover. Smart without being too flash. The model I drove had the delightfully vibrant looking metallic paint called Ginger Ale.

Frugal but willing two-litre TDC i diesel engine develops 163bhp and is linked to an all-wheel-drive ‘power-shift auto’ six-speed automatic gearbox which helps keep driving fun and fuel bills down. It also propels the car from rest to 62 mph in 10.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 122 mph.

An average 45.6 mpg rises to 51.4 mpg when cruising, with a creditable 38.2 mpg around town.

CO2 emissions are fair at 162g/km, thereby avoiding high, pollution-related road tax bills.

Extras on my model included: the paint job (£545); silver roof rails and privacy glass (£380); powered folding door mirrors and ‘park assist’ system to help the driver squeeze into seemingly ever-shrinking parking bays (£400); plus a ‘driver assistance pack’ (£900), including a blind-spot warning, a lane-keeping aid and ‘Active City Stop’ which helps avoid low-speed shunts by slamming on the brakes when a bump seems likely.

Mine was the mid-range Titanium trim level, which has an upgraded ‘ infotainment’ system, dualzone electronic air temperature control, hands-free phone and voice control, 17in alloy wheels, a mini spare wheel, sports-style front seats with partial leather trim. The entry level model is the Zetec.

A handy hill-start assist reduces the risk of rolling back on an incline, while stability control and an ‘intelligent’ braking system help keep the vehicle on the road in adverse conditions. Also included are push- button start and a remote-control Sony DAB radio/CD .

Plenty of room for passengers and driver in the main cabin. Flexible fold-down seating compensates for a smaller than expected boot in this five-seater.

If you're weighed down with bags of shopping while struggling to open their car’s boot, one optional extra may provide the antidote. The hatchback can open automatically and hands-free with just ‘a kick’. Ford has harnessed a high-tech trick familiar already to many drivers — so-called keyless entry — and taken it further by connecting it to a motion sensor under the rear bumper. So long as you have the key with you, all you have to do is approach the boot, bags in hand, extend a foot in the guise of making a gentle kick so the shoe goes under the bumper, and the boot opens as if by magic. And if you are lifting bags or bulky objects out of the boot, a quick kick or footwriggle under the bumper closes the tailgate. Ford boffins call it the kick-activated automatic tailgate and say they perfected the system with the help of volunteer ‘kickers’ over six months of testing to produce the optimum settings.

Neither was ‘active park assist’ which uses ultra-sonic sensors to see whether a parking space is big enough, then controls the steering to manoeuvre it in. All you do is operate the pedals to move forwards, backwards and brake
Not to be confused with the Ford Cougar of the Nineties, which featured in a pastiche Ford advert of the time starring actor Dennis Hopper and paying homage to the cult biker film Easy Rider to the soundtrack of Born To Be Wild. The Kuga is clearly born to be mild.
This is not a cheap car. The base price of this model was £27,045, but these tantalising little extras quickly added more than £2,000 to rack that up to £29,240.
The dashboard controls look a bit space-age and are not as user-friendly as they might be.
To get an openable glass panoramic roof, ten-way powered front seat and all-round LED lights, I’d have to upgrade to the top-level trim of Titanium X . This also features Torino full leather upholstery.