Currently reading: Ford Kuga ST-Line priced from £25,845 with revised suspension and steering
The sporty trim level will go on sale in the UK on 1 September with some cosmetic tweaks and mild driving dynamic alterations

The Ford Kuga ST-Line will go on sale in September priced from £25,845 with Ford Performance-inspired styling and mildly altered driving dynamics as part of the new facelifted range.

The 2016 Ford Kuga range, including the ST-Line model, is now on sale in Britain. Click here for more.

Changes over the standard Kuga, which starts at £20,845, include new 18in or 19in alloys and sports seats, as well as chassis tweaks with tuned suspension and steering, thicker anti-roll bars and a 10mm lower ride height.

The chassis has stiffer suspension bushes from the Ford Focus, and the spring and damper rates have been altered to allow for "comfort and performance" according to Ford. Cosmetic changes include a new finish for the grille, black roof rails and privacy glass, as well as tinted front and rear lights.

New kuga st line 1

Ford’s all-wheel-drive system is available, and all engines from its standard line-up will be carried over.

ST-Line versions of the Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo are already available, and a range-topping Ford Kuga Vignale model will also be offered later in the year. The new spec-level sits in the mid to top-end of the Kuga range below Titanium and Vignale.

Ford expects its SUV sales in Europe to grow by 2020. Currently, SUV sales account for 23% of total passenger car sales, but it’s aiming for 27% by the end of the decade.

It also predicts 200,000 sales of Ford Kuga, Ecosport and Edge in Europe in 2016; an increase of 200% from 2013.

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The second-generation Ford Kuga sports an American facelift, new trims and added equipment, doesn't detract it from still being one of the more athletic SUVs on sale

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smokescreen38 28 July 2016

Kuga st line

Sorry my bad. The 2.5t was available with manual box. But is Still £500 road tax & 20mpg.
289 28 July 2016

@ smokescreen38

Well there is no 2.5 showing now on Fords website.
TBH, its just lazy engineering, if a 2.5 tonne ML 63 with a 5.5 litre V8 can achieve 24 mpg, then a 2.5 say V6 in a little Kuga should be good for 30-35 mpg with today's technology.
30+ mpg is perfectly acceptable for a SUV with a petrol engine.
smokescreen38 28 July 2016

Kuga st line

289 wrote:

Well there is no 2.5 showing now on Fords website.
TBH, its just lazy engineering, if a 2.5 tonne ML 63 with a 5.5 litre V8 can achieve 24 mpg, then a 2.5 say V6 in a little Kuga should be good for 30-35 mpg with today's technology.
30+ mpg is perfectly acceptable for a SUV with a petrol engine.

Have a look on autotrader. It was the same lump that was in the focus st, the 2.5, 5 pot turbo. Volvo t5 engine basically. It was canned after a couple of years due to poor sales.

289 28 July 2016

@ smokescreen38

Yes, I know the engine, and given the market at that time I am not surprised it sold in small numbers.
However that was then, and this is now....and the writing is on the wall for Diesel now, so this should be a good time for forward thinking manufacturers to get their ducks in line and offer good petrol alternatives.
smokescreen38 28 July 2016

@ 289

We can only hope. It'd be nice if manufacturers offered a V6. Missed the likes of the Mondeo & Cavalier/Vecrtra v6. With modern tech, cylinder shut down etc. They could work. Getting a bit pee'd off of when looking at the spec sheets & seeing a crap petrol or top of the line excocet missile. With just diesel making up the middle. Just don't fancy the usual German stuff. Yes I know the Insignia is German made. You know what I mean.
Jimbbobw1977 27 July 2016

The Point..

This is what the public want.. A sporty lucking 'sports' utility vehicle. They have no interest in going off road but like the bulkiness and high driving position. I quite like the look of it. Their won't be a sporty petrol engine as no one will buy it - how many Kuga 2.5 5cyl with the Focus ST engine were sold? I don't know but most of them were diesel
smokescreen38 28 July 2016

Jimbbobw1977 wrote:

Jimbbobw1977 wrote:

This is what the public want.. A sporty lucking 'sports' utility vehicle. They have no interest in going off road but like the bulkiness and high driving position. I quite like the look of it. Their won't be a sporty petrol engine as no one will buy it - how many Kuga 2.5 5cyl with the Focus ST engine were sold? I don't know but most of them were diesel

As far as I remember the Kuga 2.5 was automatic only & £500 a year road tax, & 20mpg. Hence not a big seller. A more efficient petrol might work.

smokescreen38 27 July 2016

Kuga st line

Yes it does look smart, but a powerful petrol would've been nice. Noticed alot of these suv's are getting lower. What happened to a proper 4x4 with a ride height to see over the top of a normal hatchback & decent ground clearance. Noticed one of the new small Infinity suv (forgot the model, looked daft anyway) it sat lower than the Golf it was parked next to. Pointless.
289 27 July 2016

@ smokescreen38

....totally agree, nonsense!