Published:
15 July 2024In this case, the mass of the battery is handily positioned low and well between the axles. This means that, overall, the Kuga controls itself nicely in day-to-day situations, with good levels of grip and a distinct lack of body roll; impressive given its heft.
But an unwelcome rigidity to how it absorbs poorer road surfaces gets in the way of any enjoyable involvement in the driving experience, at least on the sporty ST-Line suspension that many UK cars are fitted with. It also didn't help around town and over speed bumps, where even in its most laid back mode, Eco, its ride was crashy and uncomfortable.
When you push on you will also discover that the accurate, direct steering that works so well in the Focus doesn't translate to the taller and heavier Kuga, whose rack is too responsive off-centre and feels grabby, awkward, and unintuitive anywhere below 50mph. This can make it difficult to keep the car perfectly centred in its lane.
At motorway speeds, though, it feels just as good as many of its competitors. Refined and smooth between 50mph and 70mph, some additional tyre noise is the only way of being able to tell how fast you’re going.
