There is a trend amongst car reviewers to disrespect the hard scratchy surfaces in a driving console. Soft-touch surfaces only matter on surfaces that are often touched. No one is spending lots of time touching the dashboard or around the cup holders, even the edge under the driver's side window isn't an often touched surface unless you drive with the window down and rest your elbow on the ledge. The important spots are; armrest, steering wheel, gear shifter and where ones leg might lean against while driving.
I’ve just bought a Kuga PHEV, 2021 plate, 7,000 miles. It’s fabulous. Previously had a Grand Cmax for 11 years. Many similarities it controls, and both did/do everything I need. The Kuga is an altogether better vehicle than anything else I’ve test driven. Thank you Henry!
I bought a Kuga PHEV in June, absolutely delighted. Battery range in summer is well over the 35 miles stated by Ford, but it depends how heavy your foot is on both pedals. It's a delight to drive and, on the basis of two previous Kugas, should not be a problem to own. Well satisfied.
What’s the highest amount miles it has given, I’ve got 55 on a few occasions yes I think it’s weather permitting. I thought mine was faulty but if it is giving more then I wouldn’t bring that up 🤫
@@DefGef772 If ambient temperature is above 18°C I have seen 56 and 57 miles indicated but the rate at which that falls once moving suggests it'll be the customary 35-ish. Over the past 1900 miles, over 93% has been electric! Most important factor is learning how best to combine and use the various "modes" to best effect.
How many miles do you normally do with your cars before you change to a new one? I'm a bit hesitant about the powershift (DCT) auto and the CVT , especially if one is about to buy a used one with say 40 000-50 000 miles om the meter. Those autos, however frugal, don't seem to last long. Do you have your cars on a 3 year lease and then bye, bye?
Kuga is out of the world, I use mine as a full time electric. Does the station run in the morning, then the school run and then takes me to work, a little drive abut lunch time and home again and still have time for some electric miles for the next day, this is driving in eco mode though. The technology is generous but as it was the first edition it came with almost everything. When in petrol mode it is still quite economical but you really do want to drive it harsh to hear that enjoy roar, does sound good with its real twin exhausts too, nothing fake like the Audis and mercs. The electric range is from 35 miles but not sure if it’s weather permitting I can get upto 55 miles. Kuga has the character over the Vauxhall any day. The only negatives I could find is that the horn is very anti aggressive and there is no CD player. If you like your sound then the B&o play sound system is perfect with a built in subwoofer in the boot panels.
Just bought a new kuga st line x today so dont really know much about it yet but from reading alot of these comments I don't think I'll be disappointed.
Latest model ford vs older model grandlandx, but vauxhall for me even though the ford is brilliant in many aspects. (I own the older model Kuga, diesel - the model just below the ST line)
I actually prefer the look of the vauxhall on the outside, I don't like wat ford have done to the Kuga. The previous model was a really good looking SUV, now it just looks all out of shape and that nose ? However I do know the Kuga is a superior drive, vauxhall still playing catch up on that regards.
Rebecca is the best! Such a nice voice to listen to. 😎 But ontopic: both cars look great indeed. Difficult choice when it comes to looks etc. As a Ford driver for many years I am tempted to say I would go for the Kuga, but that wouldn't be fair of course. I can honestly say that the Grandland X caught my attention a while ago and I would definitely give it a try when you're searching for a new car. Opel/Vauxhall is a very decent brand.
I own a Mitsubishi Outlander so looking for the next PHEV. Been interested in the Grandland X since it's also a 4x4 that Kuga doesn't have and also reduced price. Ideally I would get a Toyota Rav4 but too pricey for me. Thanks for the review
I signed a contract to purchase the Ford KUGA STX LIne model in december. The car has been stuck at a distrributoion depot ever since and three months later still waiting delivery. Dealer will let me walk away witzhout penalty and am now considering a Skoda Karoq which matches almost all the KUGA's features and is available NOW. Should I wait, undecide but my patience is wearing thin with the Ford dealer.
I would disagree on the build quality. I have sold my Grandland X and bought the Kuga because of the poor build quality from Opel/Vauxhall. Even if the materials are slightly better, the gaps, finishing and design is very bad on Grandland X. Also the bad materials from Ford are better that the bad materials from Vauxhall.
Normally better to compare 2 brand new spec cars but the Ford is on a 69 plate. Any reason for this ? Always enjoy this lady's reviews and this one is no exception.
I have Kuga on order for a company car and I had the Grandland X for over 1k miles last year. I hated the Grandland X. Boot was very small (service engineer and my tool kit pretty much filled it), the interior felt much cheaper then the Kuga’s, I struggled with the ICE, and it drove horribly! If you only had a little bit of charge in the battery it became totally unpredictable, some times it would take off like a scolded cat, others it would lumber away. The only decent thing was the seat cooler. 🤞 the Kuga is better
With all due respect and admiration, available head and legroom is different for 5'4.5" than for 6' or more. still, another great review. always nice to see and hear your reviews.👍🤗 p.s. except for the US post office, your steering wheel is still on the wrong side....🤔🤣😂😉
Hi! Nice video, very useful! I have a question about these two cars, maybe someone can answer... I've seen that their petrol engines are quite different: 2.5 litres "Atkinson cycle" for the Kuga, which I read tends to yield low torque vs more standard 1.6L for the Crossland. Also, Continous Variable Transmission in the Kuga vs EAT 8 gears in the Grandland. Does this mean a notable difference in torque? Which car would be best suited to go up mountain roads? (assuming one of these two is the only option to go up a mountain road :) ) Thanks!
@@davidchambers707 Thank you! In the meantime I tried both cars and I found the Ford notably more spacious... it can even have a spare wheel in the PHEV version!!
The Vauxhall is as dull as ditch water and from your comments slops around like it as well. The sooner Vauxhall rebadge a 100% Peugeot as their own car with just cosmetic changes to it the better for them. Well done Ford, easy win.
Rebecca, I have been watching you in and out for quite some time. I really like your approach and style. There is one thing that I think would improve your videos and that is the sound. The difference between the sound recorded on the spot and in the room is still quite significant. It would be great if you find a way to overcome this. Good luck for your future work!
Why do you never give residual value on these cars, as this test you used a 69 plate Kuga against a 21 plate Grandland X surely you would know what sort of depreciation these cars would be.
No mention of the Kuga recall last year?! I ordered mine in May.. told recall didn’t affect me.. car delivered to Dealer in August but he told me that I couldn’t have it as IT needed to be recalled too.. cancelled order and went for Kia e-Niro.. good call.. Ford really screwed up on this.
That sucks. The supplier of the battery contaminated some units, that's why this recall was necessary. So it's not Ford's problem, it can happen to literally any EV.
@@Derively well.. Ford never formally stated what the problem was. I heard that it was a problem with a baffle through which high voltage cable passed and wasn’t fire-proof; requiring fairly substantial changes. Ford appear to have pulled back from the PHEV, focusing instead on the Mach E.
@@fennie56 This is from the Ford UK website about the recall: "We have identified that cell contamination in the drive battery system was the cause of the issue that a small number of Kuga PHEV vehicles experienced. Given the potential serious consequences that could arise from this we have decided to install a new drive battery pack to your vehicle." Here is the link: www.ford.co.uk/owner/my-vehicle/safety-recalls/kuga-phev-safety-action
Battery supplier chiefly at fault and it affected BMW and Mercedes too. Ford were very generous to me and have way more than compensated me for the difficulty.
My dads friend just bought a kuga identical to the one in the video and I’ll tell you it’s horrible first thing it has a CVT transmission it feels very tinny and cheap and the seat fabric is like something you would use to line the inside of a pencil cases
Ford need to compete with the AWD options on offer from rivals, only option on the Kuga is with the top end DIESEL offering, all the petrol models are FWD only (the Edge got killed off as it was diesel only, all it needed was a decent petrol option, with some emission controls). No idea why there have also gone down the CVT gearbox route either, nothing wrong with the new 7/8 speed autobox they introduced in other models like Focus and Puma....i guess they will realise when the sales tank! 🤦♂️
The whole hybrid thing is totally lost on me, both cars still have quite sizeable petrol engines and a pathetically limited range on electric power alone.
True. But if you have solar panels to charge it with and all your normal journeys fall within the battery range it costs you virtually nothing to run. I haven't bought any petrol for months.
When we reach saturation point with these type of cars, watch the motor manufacturers ‘invent’ new, sexy, low riding saloons and estates, that weigh less, go better, handle nice, and don’t flip when you clip the kerb…personally, I can’t wait.
@@louisbeerreviews8964 I've owned an 2017 XC90 and it was nothing but trouble, electrical and mechanical pig of a car, somehow it actually had more problems then the Land rover Discovery 4 we had before it and that had its fair share of issues.
If you cover motorway miles these things are almost as useless as EVs. Once the battery is exhausted the petrol engine is quite fuel inefficient because it's fairly small and is hauling a lot of weight. So as a solution, plug in hybrids aren't. And that's without considering the mechanical complexity. EVs will be the future. But until batteries can store enough energy to compete with a diesel then a diesel is the best bet for distance vehicles.
@Matt Toyne That sounds great, BUT - if you have covered say 35 miles on the battery then hit the motorway, isn't the car struck by a double whammy of sucking up energy to charge the battery and powering the vehicle to actually move along the road? Do correct me if I have misunderstood - but if I haven't that engine is going to be working very hard and burning a lot of fuel.
@Matt Toyne True. I'm not trying to be antagonistic. I am genuinely interested. So, okay, you have 35 mile's worth of energy in the battery and you hit the M1 at 70 mph travelling to say, Leeds. What sort of real life mileage can you expect out of one of these vehicles?
Just realised that was a really London centric example - but yes, bottom of the M1 to Leeds. What kind of mileage can I expect? In my diesel powered Volvo I could probably attain 65 MPG as long as I am being gentle with the throttle.
@Matt Toyne ...and then it would be a small engine hauling around a heavy battery with poor fuel consumption. Also as the battery capacity is so small on the phevs they will likely be charged daily and have very little spare capacity for battery management, in short these batteries will have a hard life like your phone.. and we know that their batteries don't last long at all.
Maybe buy some strepsils for your throat? You seem to be dropping in and out of the annoying American way of speaking. Generally I really like your reviews and always choose to look at yours first over all the others but the throat thing….😢
Not so sure about that. We have solar panels, reducing our charging costs by about 50%. My various, daily return journeys are all within the range of the battery so haven't bought any petrol for months - only need to when I am going on a long journey. For us it is perfect.
@@martinwhitney4351 Well actually, no, I don't. The very low use of the combustion engine means I don't need to service the engine very often and there is little wear and tear on it. (In fact, the onboard "Low-Use" system starts it once a week to keep everything loose and oiled. It constantly estimates the oil-life left: I have had the car since August last year and it is estimating August next year before I need to change it - two years.) The issue I actually need to watch out for is petrol life - I prefer not to fill the tank more than a quarter full because a full tank could take me 4/5 months to use if I don't do a long journey and by then it could be going off. Having the engine backup means there's never range anxiety but I still get excellent economy - 190mpg on the current tank and could easily get to 250 or more.
