The Kuga brake system has no specific flaws, except that the ABS unit occasionally breaks down, and its algorithms for working on uneven surfaces are not ideal - too strong release. In general, the brakes are well loaded - the car came out heavy and quite powerful. Nevertheless, the resource of discs and pads is quite acceptable: discs run at least 50-60 thousand kilometers, and often for one and a half hundred. A set of discs is usually enough for two or three sets of pads, which can be considered an excellent result.

The suspension is generally strong, with the main questions about Ford's parts policy. MacPherson is in front, and he walks for a long time: with runs over a hundred thousand, all silent blocks and ball joints are usually in perfect condition, and only the sagging support of the rack requires intervention. The shock absorbers themselves, with a similar mileage, are already losing in efficiency, but they are not yet flowing, and the car maintains decent behavior on the road.

Dimensions (L / W / H), mm

4 443 / 1 842 / 1 677

The rear multi-link is more difficult. Here, the silent blocks and supports of the lower carrier arm, as well as the silent blocks of the saber arm, are mainly worn out. For those who regularly drive with full load, knocking can begin after 60-80 thousand mileage, but with a low load, the entire system runs noticeably more than one and a half hundred thousand. With shock absorbers, the situation is approximately similar to the front end.

The main disadvantage is that, unfortunately, not all suspension parts can be simply ordered from the catalog: the manufacturer strongly recommends changing the complete levers. Fans of economy have to master the catalogs of Volvo and Mazda. The second flaw is that the wheel bearings on a Ford are generally a sore spot, and Kuga has not escaped this scourge. They are completely "not eternal" here, a low degree of sealing and a lack of lubrication lead to noise or even jam over time. We have to change them - and, as usual, it is better for a variant from Volvo - it is made a little better than the "original".

There is usually no hassle with the helmsman: there is a strong rack and not very strong tips, which easily take the "blow", but wear out quickly in combination with wide tires. It is compensated by the fact that these are very common spare parts.

Transmission

Here is a little more trouble, and they are much more expensive. Only front-wheel-drive cars with "mechanics" have no problems - they only have dual-mass flywheels that sometimes need to be changed or repaired.

Have four-wheel drive cars the Haldex clutch is added to the number of problematic units: it does not like long-term operation and slippage, and besides, it requires an oil change at least once every 30-50 thousand kilometers, otherwise both the pump and its other filling may fail. A two-generation clutch was installed on the Kuga: until the end of 2009, you can find the 3rd generation Haldex - it has a very vulnerable pump, and the operation algorithm is not the best. But after 2009, it's always Haldex 4 - it's less of a hassle with it, but it still needs frequent maintenance and occasionally surprises.

If the inscription “AWD defective” is lit up, then in the case of cars until the end of 2009 it is most likely a dead pump. The cost of repairs is from ten thousand rubles, if only the electrician has suffered. Occasionally, failures are associated with the wiring to the electronics of the unit, since it is located quite openly, and for those who like to climb off-road, the area where the clutch is located becomes dirty, as a result of which the contacts can fail. Unfortunately, the list of hassles doesn't end there.

Drive unit

Oil leaks through the clutch seals often lead to damage to the pump itself, including on machines with a Haldex 4 clutch. And since the volume of oil is only about half a liter, the clutch is extremely sensitive to such losses. With the active use of all-wheel drive, you need to change filters and oil regularly, and the higher the load on the rear axle, the more often. And if the pump, for example, in the event of a breakdown, it is better to buy a new one, then it is easier and cheaper to buy filters from Volvo: catalog number 30787687 for cars with Haldex 3 and number 31325173 for more recent ones. If any of this is neglected, then the structure begins to "crumble": first the pump failure, then the clutch pack and electronics.

All owners of Volvo cars of the mid-2000s are familiar with the most common automatic transmission Aisin AW55-51, it was used on, and on, and even on. Quite strong mechanically, it does not please the owners with a small resource of gas turbine engine linings with active driving and a low valve body resource. He is extremely capricious about any pollution, he has delicate solenoids, besides, the structure as a whole is rather complicated, difficult to repair “on the knee” and requires careful diagnostics.

Nevertheless, 200-250 thousand such a box will work perfectly if the oil is changed on time, especially since on Kuga it works with an external radiator and rarely overheats. But it is still recommended to remove the thermostat, install an external fine filter and change the oil every 30-40 thousand kilometers. Ford got the last version of this automatic transmission, and it is not particularly capricious. All childhood illnesses have long been cured, and you can not be afraid of cars with automatic transmission, unless you carefully check whether the "racer" drove it - the box does not like such loads.

Maximum speed, km / h

But the PowerShift automatic transmission of the 6DST450 series, which is often found with diesel engines, is from a completely different test. This preselective six-speed "robot" turned out to be very problematic, like all preselectives of this generation. The main problem is the long service interval and the associated amount of contamination accumulation in the oil. The main consumables in this case are solenoids and a clutch kit. The complexity of the design turned out to be too high for most non-specialized services, which means that the price of any repair from the "right" people will be rather big. And the price of spare parts bites.

Another serious drawback is the restrictions on towing - the restrictions here are even stricter than those of Audi with their "variator": 20 km at a speed of 20 km / h. And in no case in reverse. By the way, the solenoids are compatible with the Volkswagen "hit" DQ250, and indeed the boxes are similar in design.

Oil leaks and unit vibrations usually indicate that there are overheating problems: most likely, the oil is contaminated to the limit, and the clutch slips under prolonged load. If the box is alive, then we can recommend a very frequent oil change, every 20-30 thousand, and an additional external full-flow filter - best with a pollution sensor. In the case of a timely oil change and highway driving modes, the box demonstrates the wonders of a resource: there are instances with runs for 350 thousand without repairs, but most owners during operation in the city will be limited to a mileage of 150 thousand and very expensive repairs.

Motors

Engines and power

Kuga has few motors, and they are all familiar. The 2.5T gasoline engine comes from Volvo. For use on Fords, it was slightly changed, but not the fact that it was improved. However, on the whole, this is an extremely resourceful motor, “million-plus”, capable of overcoming the mark of 400-500 thousand kilometers without much stress with a minimum level of service, and even more if it is good.

The main problems of the engines on the Kuga are the crankcase ventilation system with a PCV valve integrated into the oil trap, not the best seals, weak ignition modules and expensive turbines. Moreover, some of the problems on Volvo are absent - in any case, with turbines everything is easier there, and there are fewer complaints about ignition modules. The timing belt is driven by a belt with a consistently high resource, about 90-120 thousand kilometers - just watch out for its oiling, since the belt does not live for a long time after oil has entered.

The Pierburg fuel pump fails literally after a few years, so it is better to replace it with a non-original one. And radiators need regular cleaning, especially in predominantly urban traffic. Exhaust often loses its tightness, pipe joints wear out - but this often happens with diesel engines ... By the way, it is not necessary to completely change the so-called "old-style" oil separator: there is a separate PCV valve membrane on sale, and the body can be washed. But a slightly more reliable new one without a "collective farm" is no longer being repaired.

Powertrain proposal

Two-liter diesel engines are well known from other Ford models - these are engines developed jointly with PSA, the DW10 and DW12 series. Their main problems are in the low viscosity of Ford oil (on SAE20 and even SAE30, the chances of crankshaft scuffing and "fist of friendship" are greatly increased) and in the relative rarity of such engines, so not every service will be able to service them well. Expensive nozzles, difficulties with burning particulate filter and other diesel troubles did not escape them either. So such a motor with high mileage can cause a lot of trouble.

Fuel consumption per 100 km

On the other hand, the resource of the piston group is high, and big crossover with a diesel engine, even in traffic jams, it will have a flow rate of less than 10 liters per hundred (and in some cases about 7). And there are enough contract units. But the "short block problem" is very far-fetched: the lack of some components on sale does not mean that the engine is not repairable, since there are pistons and rings, you can buy liners. Just an inexpensive short block really solves a lot of problems, guaranteeing high quality recovery. The main thing is to try not to cause damage to the crankshaft and block. Study the algorithm of the particulate filter cleaning system, pour not the "proprietary", but the right oil... And remember that diesel often requires more money for maintenance - only as much as it "eats" less fuel. When purchasing, check the operation of the vacuum valve of the brake and boost system, as well as the condition of the glow plugs and the serviceability of their control unit.

Summary

The first experience of developing its own European crossover at Ford was clearly not lumpy. Is that a strange choice power units and pricing didn't give it a chance - but it looks like it was intended. In many ways, this car is better, more solid, more convenient and more reliable than its competitors. And of the undoubted advantages, one can note powerful gasoline engines and a design proven by millions of Focuses.

There are also disadvantages, but there are no ideal cars. Four-wheel drive on cars of the first years of production is very capricious, diesel engines during dealer service are at risk, and a robotic box is very troublesome and expensive to maintain, you cannot rely on it. But the price of the cars is more than attractive. In general, if you are in love with this car, but not ready to spend, think about purchasing the simplest option with front-wheel drive and "mechanics". If the difficulties do not scare you, careful diagnostics and patience will help you find an option with an automatic transmission, a suitable engine and Haldex 4th generation clutch.

Prices for some parts

When choosing a car, we pay attention to the corporate appearance, interior comfort and equipment reliability. Crossover Ford Kuga acquired many positive properties in the first generation. So why did the company release the second soon after? The brand inherited both the pros and cons of the crossovers of that time. Therefore, owners and those planning to purchase should be aware of the obvious shortcomings of the 2008-2012 Ford Kuga.

Weaknesses of the first generation Ford Kuga crossover

The spectacular appearance frankly hides weak sides auto:

• engines;
• turbochargers;
• welds;
• electronics;
• salon.

Now in more detail ...

Diesel engines pose a lot more problems than gasoline counterparts. Most problems are related to the intake air supply or fuel system. In mode idle move or vibration is often noted during acceleration. Bad smell and increased consumption fuel during regeneration of the particulate filter is sometimes combined with DPF sensor problems. Low-quality fuel accelerates the wear of the injectors. Flywheel performance also degrades significantly over time. We'll have to replace it too.

Gasoline engines do not require as careful maintenance as diesel ones, but they are not without drawbacks. It would seem that the impressive volume of the tank of 66 liters should be more than enough, but in urban conditions the inefficiency of fuel consumption is especially noticeable.

Turbochargers.

Powerful diesel engines put a heavy load on the turbochargers and significantly reduce their service life. With the mileage, the turbine blades wear out more and more, because they are subjected to constant mechanical damage. Imbalance impeller also causes freezing during severe frosts. An additional unit is not available in the basic configuration, the installation of which can get rid of this drawback.

Corrosive seams can show up in hidden areas of the body, underbody or in a niche windshield as a result of poor build quality. A direct consequence of insufficient tightness is water leakage into the passenger compartment. It is unpleasant in itself, but if the accumulated moisture penetrates the electronic equipment of the transport and disables it, trouble cannot be avoided. Pay attention to such a serious sore as soon as possible. This will eliminate the need for expensive repairs.

Electronics.

Failure of electronic modules is most often associated with insufficient tightness and moisture ingress. In combination with the welded seams of the windshield of frankly poor quality, this is a real disaster. Breakdowns of the suspension and fuel level sensors occur periodically. A short circuit in the oil separator cup heating system instantly blows the fuse. For diesel engines, the glow plugs will need to be replaced quite often. In cases of intensive use, generators are not particularly reliable either.

Cars of the brand are distinguished by acceptable noise insulation. But if you do not be careful and do not listen to the advice on operation, you will have to put up with the annoying creaks of the seats, the knocking of the fixing bushings and the rear door, the vibration of the hood and rear-view mirror, as well as the unpleasant noise of the interior temperature fan.

Among the vulnerabilities of the Kuga, the spaciousness of the cabin and trunk deserves special attention. There is hardly enough space in the rear seats even for three people of average build. There is little space to accommodate cargo. Silver on many decorative elements is subject to scratches and gradual peeling. Rubber seals, which protect from wind noise, weaken rather quickly and need to be replaced after five years.

The main disadvantages of the Ford Kuga 2008-2012 release

1. flaws in the ergonomics of the cabin and trunk;
2. particulate filter;
3. rear silent blocks must be replaced only complete with levers;
4. too high fuel consumption in the petrol version;
5. unpleasant noise due to vibration of the hood or rearview mirror;
6. poor sealing of seams, the likelihood of corrosion and moisture penetration;
7. the capabilities of the car as an SUV leave much to be desired;
8. sometimes only warming up helps to start the engine in frost.

Conclusion.

Judging the quality of the Ford Kuga crossover is a subjective decision of each driver. Some people will like the cross-country ability, responsiveness of control, characteristics of electronic equipment and engine power, quality-price ratio. Someone will not appreciate the uneconomical consumption of gasoline, weak sound insulation, cramped cabin and trunk, rigidity.

It all depends on personal preferences, design features and operating conditions, but in any case, before buying a vehicle, you should familiarize yourself with the specified troubles of the 1st generation Ford Kuga, and make a choice based on them.

Weaknesses and main disadvantages of a used Ford Kuga was last modified: October 15th, 2018 by Administrator

The second generation Ford Kuga crossover has been produced since 2012. At the same time, the model began to be produced by the Ford Sollers plant in Yelabuga. In 2013, Kugu in Tatarstan was already made in a full cycle. In addition to Kug Elabuga production, Spanish cars are often found on the Russian market. Build quality is about the same.

In 2016, the car underwent restyling. You can distinguish such a car, first of all, by the wide radiator grill, reminiscent of Mondeo, and by the reduced rear lights.

In 2015, we stopped selling Kugi with diesel engines, leaving only gasoline engines on the Russian market. This is a 1.5-liter supercharged EcoBoost with 150 horsepower, an atmospheric 2.5-liter engine of equal power and a 1.5-liter EcoBoost, boosted to 182 hp. One and a half liter cars come with four-wheel drive, 2.5 - only with the front. All versions have one transmission - 6-speed automatic transmission, classical fluid mechanics.

Body and interior

What is Kuga valued for? For excellent driving performance, stylish look, spaciousness, comfort. There are seven airbags in this car, and in the top versions there is also an automatic braking system, a parking lot, blind spot monitoring, tire pressure monitoring and much more.

If you buy a used Ford Kuga, first of all, you should pay attention to the condition of the body. Great news - the second-generation Kuga was hot-dip galvanized at the factory, and if the car has not been in a serious accident, there should be no problems with the body!

The Kuga salon is very good for this class, although, of course, some flaws may already appear on pre-styling cars. Pay attention not only to the condition of the upholstery, steering wheel, pedals and gearbox, but also to the safety of the door seals - if dust and moisture are visible, there is a problem with tightness. However, this is not common.

Kuga's electrical and electronics are reliable. One of the most common crashes is a malfunctioning SYNC multimedia system that suddenly starts making noise instead of music. This can be prevented by a simple "flashing", that is, reprogramming the system. Ask the first owner if you need to do this.

Engines and transmissions

Coogee's atmospheric motors are not to be criticized for. If the first owner carried out all the maintenance on time, there will be no problems. Only with a run of about 200 thousand kilometers may it be necessary to replace the dual-mass flywheel - this need can be easily identified by the metal grinding. It is important that all Kugov engines are adapted to run on 92 gasoline. Try to only refuel at networked gas stations. Supercharged EcoBoost engines don't like low quality fuel. Who loves him anyway?

The 6F35 hydromechanical automatic transmission, developed by Ford in conjunction with General Motors, is considered one of the most reliable 6-speed automatic transmissions. This box quietly goes for 200 thousand, if the owner of the car is not fond of racing and observes the intervals of maintenance. It is quite easy to check the box: it should smoothly change gears in all modes and not make noise.

Much more complaints were on robotic box Powershift brand GETRAG, but even then only until 2014. The engineers did some serious work and eliminated the main flaws. So you can buy such cars too. Naturally, after verification. And after purchase, send the car for maintenance with the replacement of all technical fluids and filters.

This car is front-wheel drive. But there are a lot of all-wheel drive Kugs on sale. As part of the system, an electromagnetic clutch of the American brand Dana, which Fords preferred to the widespread Haldex clutch because of its speed. And don't be scared by horror stories about overheating of the coupling - it's almost impossible to do this. And the easiest way to check the operability is also on the move: if all four wheels of the car “row”, the clutch is in order.

Shock absorbers and bearings

Native shock absorbers, with careful operation, serve 150 thousand each, as well as the silent blocks of the front levers. But the rear bushings independent suspension lease twice earlier. And every 50 thousand you have to change the racks and bushings rear stabilizer... However, it all depends on driving style.

Wheel bearing life depends on wheel size. With 18-inch wheels, it is, of course, smaller; replacement may be required at 100 thousand. Parts resource brake system highly dependent on the ambitions of the first owner. Many versions of the Coogee allow you to drive fast - and drivers abuse this opportunity!

Ford Kuga became the first mid-size crossover of the European division of FORD. Kuga is developed on the C1 platform, which underlies Ford focus and Ford C-Max. Serial production of the crossover began in February 2008.

Engines

In the asset Ford Kuga gas engine 2.5L turbocharged 200 hp and turbodiesels with a working volume of 2.0 liters - 136, 140 and 163 hp.

The Kuga petrol unit does not have any major problems thanks to its reliable, time-tested design. The gas distribution mechanism is driven by a toothed belt.

Diesel engines have a timing chain drive. Unlike its petrol counterpart, diesel, its owners sometimes get a little trouble. But, as a rule, it does not come to serious interventions and repairs. Most often, problems are caused by air leaks in the fuel system or at the intake. Some owners note a noticeable vibration when the engine is idling or during intensive acceleration at the moment the speed indicator passes the range of 1800 - 2100 rpm. Vibrations at idle in the winter contribute to tanning in the cold support cushions engine.

To reduce harmful emissions in the exhaust system exhaust gases turbodiesels installed DPF particulate filter. Depending on operating modes diesel ford Kuga approximately every 1000 km when driving on the highway or 500 km - in the urban cycle, the regeneration mode of the particulate filter starts. At the same time, the hourly fuel consumption in idle mode increases from the usual 0.5-0.6 l / h to 2.0 l / h, a pungent burning smell appears and the cooling fan is activated. The process takes about 5 minutes on average. When driving on the highway, the regeneration process is almost imperceptible. On cars in 2008, problems with the particulate filter sensor often appear. The new sensor will require about 6 thousand rubles.

On diesels with a capacity of 163 hp sometimes there are problems with the turbocharger when the mileage is more than 30-40 thousand km. The turbine blades are mechanically damaged and bent. Part of the Kuga with such a motor fell under a revocable company due to possible problems with a turbocharger.

Some examples required replacement of the flywheel due to the resulting backlash, accompanied by a knock. The problem arose when the mileage was more than 30-50 thousand km. The new flywheel cost 10-12 thousand rubles.

There are frequent cases of failure of the fuel level sensor in fuel tank, which shows underfilling when the tank is fully filled.

Transmission

All Kuga engines are mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. The gasoline unit, in addition, is equipped with a 5-speed "automatic" by "Aisin", and the diesel engine - a robotic 6-speed Power Shift by Getrag. Ford Kuga owners do not have problems with gearboxes.

The Haldex clutch is responsible for connecting the rear axle. The Ford Kuga was originally fitted with a third-generation clutch that poses a lot of problems. Later, the clutch replaced fourth generationhaving more robust design... Couplings of the third generation gave up when the mileage was more than 40-60 thousand km due to pump failure. About 20-25 thousand rubles had to be paid for a new pump. The 4th generation clutch pump is more durable. Failure of the pump can lead to failure of the DEM clutch control unit. The new module is not cheap - from 80 to 100 thousand rubles. Block failure is caused by burnout of tracks in the block. Some electricians are able to repair a faulty module, which is much cheaper than buying a new one.

Most often, problems with the pump appear in severe frosts. The pump cannot cope with the thickened oil and the brushes of the electric pump begin to burn. A short circuit occurs. The standard 7.5A fuse does not have time to blow and the unit burns out. This can be avoided by replacing the standard fuse with an analogue with a lower operating limit - 5A.

Old oil in a clutch with a clogged oil filter can also contribute to the failure of the Haldex pump. To save yourself from possible problems, you need to change the oil in the clutch together with the filter at least every 30 thousand km.

If the “AWD Fault” display appears, it does not mean that the clutch is really out of order. Often the reason is a weak charge battery... After charging the battery or replacing it, the problem goes away.

Chassis

The crossover suspension firmly transfers movement on russian roads... Frankly weak points in the chassis no. The stabilizer struts travel over 70-90 thousand km. New inexpensive - about 600 rubles. By the same time bushings are coming up front stabilizer... Hub bearings run more than 100-150 thousand km. The original ones will cost 2.5-3 thousand rubles, and the replacement work will cost about 1000 rubles. Dealers for new hubs together with work ask about 6 thousand rubles. Shock absorbers serve more than 130-150 thousand km. Silent blocks of levers surrender when the mileage is more than 150-200 thousand km.

Other problems and malfunctions

There are no complaints about the Kuga body iron. Some owners were faced with "sticking" the seam with inside hood.

There are frequent cases of the appearance of water in the cabin through the seals of the air conditioner pipes. Sometimes the blame for the leak lies with the dry sealant of the welds under the outer plastic trim at the bottom of the windshield. The danger of this phenomenon is the ingress of water into electrical units, their failure, the appearance of problems with the electrical and, as a result, the expensive replacement of faulty units.

Over time, the leather steering wheel and the decorative cover of the manual transmission lever are wiped off. As a rule, dealers recognize the case as a warranty and replace the worn-out element.

The creaking of the front seats is recognized by the manufacturer as a design flaw. Some dealers replace seat mountings. Others eliminate the squeak by lubricating the seat sleds.

Sometimes crickets appear at the junction of the door trim with the dashboard or in the area of \u200b\u200bthe seat belt tensioner. The “signature” creak of the rear seat backs is eliminated by wrapping the latches with electrical tape.

The electrician does not present surprises. Sometimes there are problems with the GEM module (external lighting and light signaling) or the overrunning clutch of the generator fails (3-4 thousand rubles).

Conclusion

Ford Kuga, as strange as it may seem to many, turned out to be a fairly reliable car. This fact is confirmed by high reliability ratings in German statistics. The only weak point of the crossover is the Haldex clutch.

A couple of weeks ago, Ford officially announced that it wanted to leave russian market passenger cars... Ford sales are small and the Russian dealership generates losses. You can talk for a long time about how Ford came to such a life - there were marketing miscalculations, and an unreasonable pricing policy, and the absence of really cool models that could fully compete in their segments. Of the six officially sold passenger cars perhaps only the crossover Ford Kuga can be called not a failure. The car, although it seems a little expensive (at the time of this writing, the prices, according to the official website, started from 1.6 million rubles for the basic equipment), but it does not suffer from gross marketing and technical miscalculations.

Ford Kuga II - photo drive2

Second ford generation Kuga appeared in Russia in 2013, cars were assembled and assembled at a plant in Elabuga. No problems with the Russian assembly have been identified for the entire time. The second generation, as it were, corrected the mistakes of the first generation car - the appearance became more brutal, new electronic systems appeared to facilitate driving, the set of engines and gearboxes became more reasonable. In 2014, even before the collapse of the ruble, basic configurations cost less than a million - and this was a good offer. But the crisis hit Ford hard even with assembly plants. In 2016, the car underwent restyling and a lot has changed. Let's see what positive and negative features the Ford Kuga has filled us with.

pros

1. Controllability... Ford has always made cars with interesting chassis and delicious handling. The second generation Kuga is no exception. It is pleasant to drive the car: good steering feeling, high energy intensity of the suspension, confident and predictable cornering behavior. Increased is expressed by slightly increased rolls, but this is imperceptible against the general background. In general, the Kuga is well suited for active drivers, but it does not annoy the passengers with jolts and bumps of the suspension on bumps.

2. Heating... Almost all Kuga owners note a powerful heater. Taking into account the 2.5-liter engine, which warms up very quickly, the crossover turns out to be comfortable for winter operation... Outerwear can be removed within five minutes after starting the engine. Glasses do not sweat and do not freeze, especially in trim levels, in which the windshield is heated. But even without it, Kuga owners do not have to complain about the cold or poor ventilation.

3. After short experiments with the robot, Ford returned to Kuga with good old fashioned hydromechanical automatic with index 6F35... The reliable six-stage unit is rarely a problem. It has sufficient gearshift speed, adequate operating logic and manual mode with paddle shifters. During normal operation and timely oil change, there are no complaints about.

4. Good noise isolation... Ford has not been seen in love with noise isolation before, but with the Kuga, this parameter was pumped. The car is quiet, as most owners say. The engineers managed to work with almost all types of noise. The motor is audible only during active acceleration at a very high revs, sand and pebbles do not knock on the arches, howling and whistling from the oncoming wind flow is also not heard. Even at a speed of 140 km / h, you can talk in the cabin without raising your voice. This is an excellent indicator, even considering the price of the car.

5. Rich equipment... When the second generation Kuga first went on sale, Ford positioned the car as a "smart crossover". By that time the number electronic systems, helpers and prompts were really impressive. Today, competitors have pulled themselves up and even in some ways have come out ahead, but the owner of the Kuga, especially the top version, will not have to complain about poverty. In the list of complete sets, we note seven airbags, an assistant for keeping the car in the lane, an assistant for automatic braking, a self-parking operator, a monitoring system for blind spots, an adaptive bi-xenon with automatic switching and many other features.

And this, of course, in addition to the banal heating of everything and everyone, climate, cruise, light and rain sensors. Yes, most of the "yummy" is sold only in rich trim levels at a high price, but the general functionality by the standards of the class still looks interesting. Even considering the age of the model.

Plus or minus

We thought for a long time in which section to classify Kuga motors - to advantages or disadvantages. In the end, they did not decide, they took them to a separate point, because the question is ambiguous. After Ford decided to stop selling diesel Kuga in 2015, only gasoline units remained in our country: an atmospheric 2.5-liter engine (150 hp) and a turbocharged EcoBoost 1.5 (it changed the 1.6 engine) to 150 or 182 hp (differ only in firmware). With an aspirated engine, only front-wheel drive is available, with turbocharged units, you can get full.

It's good that Ford provides a choice. More conservative drivers will probably prefer a voluminous one, but the engine, which is driven from idle, is structurally simpler and has a higher resource. For progressive drivers, there is a turbocharged unit, you need to turn it for a dynamic ride, but it is perfectly chipable and in this case can surprise you with dynamics.

Both motors are relatively reliable and not a hassle, but both have rather severe fuel consumption. 2.5 in the urban cycle consumes about 12-14 liters, this is a lot, but somehow it can be explained. But the fact that the more modest 1.5 "eats" the same amount with active driving is surprising. And it is discouraging, there is no efficiency from a more technologically advanced motor. It's good that Ford allows both engines to be used on AI-92, otherwise gasoline costs would be frankly scary. They are already so high that, coupled with an expensive service, it hits the pocket of car owners.

With all this in mind, we were never able to form an attitude towards Kuga motors. As they say, think for yourself, decide for yourself.

It should be remembered that the reputation of EcoBoost motors was somewhat spoiled by the previous 1.6-liter unit.

It is difficult to say what is the cause and what is the consequence of the problems of this motor, but even being new it could suddenly overheat. The point was either in unreliable plastic pipes of the cooling system, which often burst, or in a weak cylinder head, which, even at low mileage, had cracks between the second and third cylinders. In any case, engine oil soon began to leak from the crack, which led to at least 13 recorded cases of fires. There were no casualties in them, but Ford arranged a revocable company, during which he changed parts of the cooling system and checked the head for cracks. Fortunately, the 1.6 engine did not take very long to be installed on the Kuga, and the 1.5 that came to replace it no longer has such a problem.

Engine 1.5 - an improved analogue of the 1.6 EcoBoost engine

Minuses

1. Cramped salon... At Ford, it's just some kind of illness that no car is so smaller in the cabin than its classmates. Kuga did not escape this fate, especially since its platform is an upgraded chassis of the third Focus, which is very cramped. In the Kuga, of course, there is more space than in the Focus, but all the same, the car hardly justifies its class belonging to the mid-size crossovers. The third passenger on back seat frankly uncomfortable, honest 2 + 2 landing formula. Moreover, the trunk is not that big compared to competitors.

2. With a fairly rich picking Ford sometimes he manages to save on matches. Let's say in basic configuration Trend went very long time simple radio tape recorder... No doubt, no one expects top-end multimedia in the basic version, so we have no complaints about the small number of speakers or the modest size of the display (which is called a calculator by the people). But, tree-sticks, where is the USB port ?! The radio has only a CD changer, you can listen to your music only from discs. Yes, you can get out and come up with something to be able to play music from USB, but why didn't the manufacturer immediately think about it? The connector is a penny thing.

3. The owners have accumulated a lot of complaints about organization of work of electrical equipment... For some reason, when the ignition is turned off, the power supply of consumers is not turned off. This means that the radio tape recorder, recorder, navigator, detector and all other equipment must be turned off with the handles. If you forgot, then in the morning you will probably have to go by public transport, because the battery is surprisingly weak. Just 60 A / h for an electronically packed crossover. Not surprisingly, there are many complaints on the internet about fast battery life. As a combo, the location of the battery itself for those looking to charge or replace it. It is hidden in the bowels of the hood: to get to it, you need to work with wrenches and screwdrivers. In general, the car does not forgive mistakes with electrical equipment.

4. Despite the fact that the car body is well galvanized and painted, there are a couple of jambs. Moreover, it is not very clear whether this is a miscalculation in the design, or flaws during assembly. Trunk door problems. The opening is finished with plastic, which on the one hand protects from dirt and improves the appearance, and on the other hand creates a problem. When opening the door, its upper edge rubs against the plastic... Six months or a year - and at the point of contact, the paint is erased to metal. We continue to operate further - and here it is the place of corrosion. Yes, trained owners, after reading the forums, seal the contact points with a film that takes a hit on itself and retains the paint, but in general, of course, it is strange that the plant has not fixed this obvious jamb.

5. From a technical point of view, the car has no obvious problems and weaknesses, but at the same time it cannot be called very reliable either. Read the reports of the real owners - almost everyone with one or another question turned to the dealer for warranty repair... Here is a trifle, there is a trifle, but the overall impression of a reliable and problem-free car dispels it. Among the specific breakdowns, only one can be distinguished. On cars with mileage of 150-200 thousand kilometers, a flywheel may require replacement. Yes, the mileage seems to be considerable, but the wear of the flywheel is a very unusual thing, it attracts attention. And the cost of repairs in this case is such that the owner will definitely remember it.

All in all, it will be a shame that the Kuga leaves the market soon. The car is far from being the leader in its segment, but it is very balanced, it costs more or less reasonable. But you can't build an entire business on a mid-size crossover, especially since Ford has a blatant failure in other segments. Fiesta, Focus and EcoSport ruined themselves, and Kuga was pulled from the Russian market with them. It's a pity.