Car: Ford Kuga 2.0 TDCI 2WD
Prices: £20,495-£22,495 - on the road
Insurance Group: 10
Emissions: 156g/km
Performance: Max Speed 116mph / 0-60mph 10.2s
Fuel Consumption: (urban) 37.7mpg / (extra urban) 56.5mpg / (combined) 47.9mpg
Safety: twin front and side airbags, ESP, ABS with EBD
Dimensions: (length/width/height) 4443/1842/1710 mm
Power and Style
Our Rating: No Rating Available
If you were given an option to choose between a 4WD and a 2WD car of the same model from the same company, I think you would naturally go for the 4WD because logically, it should have more drive force. What would make Ford motors introduce the 2WD Kuga car when there is a 4WD of it? What on earth is the catch?
What is the point of fitting a 4 wheel drive car with 2 wheels and expect to attract customers to your car stand? The Ford Kuga 2.0 TDCI 2WD Car is a 4x4 compact car that runs on 2 wheels. Just before we ponder on what informed their action, let's examine the engineering of the 2WD of the car.
The 4WD Ford Kuga runs on all four wheels but most of the time, about 95% of its drive force is sent to the front wheel. The back wheels only get to display some of its potential when there is a slippery surface and the front wheels seem not to be holding up. Meaning, you rarely get punished if you opt for the 2WD of the Kuga in terms of acceleration. The truth is, haven driven both cars, the difference between them is not much as per efficiency and delivery power, it is rather too faint to be noticed.
The Ford 2WD car runs on a 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine. It has a six-speed manual transmission that delivers 138bhp with a torque force of 320Nm at 2,000rpm. The beauty is that, the Kuga 4WD is 40kg heavier than the 2WD, so by implication, the 2WD gains in acceleration power when compare to the 4WD. Its 159g/km CO2 emission rate is in compliance with the EU regulation.
The 2WD requires only 10.2s to hit 60mph starting from a standstill, gaining a meagre .0.2s over its weightier 4WD sibling with the same engine. By implication, the 2WD can hit the wall at 116mph instead of 114 of the 4WD.
If you stand beside the Kuga and take a conscious look at its design, you will notice that it is cutely designed to embody sportiness and style. It certainly looks like a bug on a mission when in motion.
The 2WD models are available in both Zetec and Titanium trim levels. Some standard features include the 17 -inch alloy wheel that give the Zetec a class on the road. It is programmed with anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution. Other standard security features would be twin front and side airbags, ESP stability control system and EDB. It offers an MP3 connector to plug into your iPod and get the groove going on the wheel.
The Titanium is branded with leather interior trim, cruise control, weather regulators such as dual climate control, a pleasantly blue tinted glass, automatic headlights and rain sensing wipers. Its wheel is 19 -inches as against that of the Zetec.
The only slight draw back with the Ford Kuga 2WD is the space. Space at the rear is small for adults and a tall driver might have issues with how to position his head when mounting the wheel. It however has a luggage capacity of 1,355 litres when in two-seat mode.
Other than the draw-back with the interior, the fact the 2WD Kuga have a fuel economy advantage over the 4WD, while maintaining the same cuteness coupled with all the other functionality it has to offer it owners answers our questions.
With its fantastic look and the values it offers, I'd recommend the Kuga 2.0 2WD to anyone who needs a crossover vehicle.
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