A tax-friendly Kuga arrives, so should the Tiguan worry?

Photos by Azfar Hashim

After the wedding and the house, a car is the third most expensive item to spend all your hard-earned money on, particularly here in Singapore. Hence, buying the right new car can be quite the gamble; pick the wrong one and chances are, when little bundles of joys come along, you need to re-shop for a new car. Again. Which can be a chore at times. Let’s not forget that it is something your other half must also like openly; a nagging one who constantly goes “See, I told you to get the other one”, or even “I’m not fond of the seats – why didn’t you listen to me?” and “Sigh… I thought you love me”, well, might be something you do not want to live with.

So it’s no surprise that compact SUVs have long been the car to get as it offers the purposefulness, style and driving comfort a sedan, hatchback or even an MPV can’t exactly offer.

Now, the arrival of the Kuga is also a timely one… Yes, despite the fact that (a) COEs are high and the change in policy makes every car buyer shed a tear or two and (b) banks are not obligated to grant you your wish, the Kuga gives a new option for those looking at the Qashqai/Tiguan 1.4 TSI/3008/Tucson/Sportage/CX-5/ASX/XV/Grand Vitara/RAV4 (my, my, my isn’t that quite a list) - who are all not exactly new in our market - a new candidate.

More immediately though are the 1.6-litre 3008 and 1.4-litre Tiguan TSI that the Kuga has to focus it’s sight on; after all, the pair are Singapore’s hottest-selling SUVs.

Let’s begin with the exterior. At first glance, you will note how properly proportioned this compact SUV is; you don’t see an overly-long front or rear overhang, the 18-inch alloys fits nicely and the body add-ons do give a rugged look. Ford's designers obviously put much attention into the bodily details; note the lines and creases flanking the car, complimenting the flared wheel arches beautifully. Oh, and let’s not forget those roof rails: definitely useful for cycling enthusiasts as you can attach your Thule roof racks without hassle.

It’s easy to tell everyone around you that this Kuga packs quite a punch. Notice that pair of exhaust tips peeking out of the rear bumper? That’s one indication…

In terms of interior, build quality is typical Ford: which means good and robust. The steering wheel is leather-wrapped and nicely crafted together with a myriad of controls, and the displays are clear and concise. It even gets an ‘Intelligent AWD’ monitor similar to the one seen on BMW’s X6/X6M; this informs you which wheel is getting the power. Nice touch Ford: a conversation starter, yup. The center console, which also houses the Sony audio head-unit, unfortunately feels a little, well for no better word, cheap. The buttons feel a tad fiddly plus the shiny plastic reflects sunlight and welcomes stains and fingerprints (yikes!).

Rear seat has the ability to accommodate up to three average-sized adults in comfort, providing ample leg, shoulder and even headroom. But one pertinent issue that needs to be addressed is how the padding seems a little too thin when you compare it to the Tiguan and 3008’s. Let’s also not forget how the bench’s mounts are actually exposed; a real eyesore, and could be embarrassing for such a new model.

That aside, the Kuga’s boot is usefully large. If your job requires lots of lugging equipment around, on top of the obligatory wife and kid’s barang-barang, I’m glad to report that it should be able to swallow all without a hitch. For convenience’s sake, Ford also offers a power tailgate that can open and close itself simply by swiping your foot under the rear bumper; this has to be one of the most innovative feature for an SUV. Alternatively, you can also do it via a button located on the center console.

Power comes courtesy of a - get this - turbocharged 4-cylinder, 16-valves 1.6-litre ‘EcoBoost’ lump. Favourably, this means lower road tax and insurance premium as opposed to the 2.5-litre unit seen in its predecessor. Paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission, it whips out a rather respectable 180 bhp and 240 Nm or torque from as low as 1,600 rpm. Despite being the most powerful as compared to other fellow small-engined SUV compadres, the Tiguan 1.4 TSI (150 bhp, 240 Nm) and 3008 (156 bhp, 240 Nm), the 1,682 kg kerb weight does bog down straight-line performance; it needs 9.7 seconds to get from standstill to 100 km/h.

Power delivery wise, the Kuga is up to task at keeping up with traffic. It also still remains comfortable - hush engine and non-jerky transmission - during expressway cruises.

For an SUV, handling is tight and respectable here. The steering feels weightier than a Tiguan’s, and when going slightly faster down a series of bends, the Kuga does it in an assuring manner; you know where exactly the nose is heading and body-roll is confidently managed by both the suspension and four-wheel drive system.

So, the Kuga has all the promising traits of a compact SUV for the family and comes highly equipped (before I forget, self parking is standard). It drives and handles surprisingly well, and despite the smaller engine, delivers the goods for the daily run(s).

But I dunno… I can’t seem to get over the cabin build quality that needs improvements. And for that, I would park my money with the Tiguan.