New Ford Kuga prices and specs revealed

• The latest Kuga is available to order now• Prices start from £23,995• Five trim levels offered

Ford has released full prices and specs for the new Ford Kuga. Starting from £23,995, the Kuga is available in five trim levels: Zetec, Titanium, ST-Line, ST-Line X and range-topping Vignale. Two petrols, three diesels and a plug-in hybrid version are available, although the hybrid and most powerful diesel aren’t available in the entry-level model.

Still, Zetec is very well-equipped, coming with alloy wheels, auto headlights, keyless start, sat nav, wireless phone charging and all-round parking sensors. Titanium, from £27,245, brings larger wheels, LED headlights, two-zone climate control, auto wipers, an upgraded stereo and keyless entry.

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ST-Line (£29,345) and ST-Line X (£30,645) add a sporty body kit and black roof rails, and both get a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a sports steering wheel and alloy pedals; ST-Line X adds a panoramic sunroof, a powered tailgate and heated, electrically adjustable front seats.

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Vignale is the most luxurious model in the range and starts at £31,945. It features model-specific finishes and trim pieces. Matrix LED headlights (preventing glare for oncoming drivers) are included as standard, alongside a hands-free tailgate, metallic paint, a heated steering wheel, active noise cancellation and leather upholstery. Across the range, twelve colour choices are available, including a new ‘Blue Panther’ paint exclusive to Vignale cars.

The new Kuga looks noticeably different from the outgoing model, thanks to a longer bonnet, shallower windscreen and a lower roofline. At the front, the new car borrows its grille from the Ford Focus, although the redesigned headlights are placed higher up, emphasising its SUV looks. Around the back, the Kuga gets a larger boot opening, reshaped LED lights and Kuga lettering across the boot. The car’s side profile and windowline is similar to the larger Ford Edge.

The new Kuga will be on Ford’s C2 platform, which underpins the current Focus. This platform can be reworked to accommodate a longer wheelbase, giving the new Kuga more cabin space for passengers and increased boot space compared with the outgoing model. This third-generation model will arrive in showrooms at the end of 2019, rivalling the Renault Kadjar, Volkswagen Tiguan and Nissan Qashqai.

The new Kuga can be powered by Ford’s turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, offered in two power outputs: a 118bhp entry-level model and a 148bhp variant. Just like in the Ford Fiesta ST, the engine uses cylinder deactivation under light throttle to save fuel. Ford says this, and other technology, means the Kuga should manage 43mpg in WLTP testing.

Diesel models of the Kuga will continue to be offered as well, with both 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engines available. A majority of the new Kuga range will be front-wheel drive, but four-wheel drive could be offered in higher spec versions with the option of a six-speed manual or Ford’s new eight-speed automatic gearbox. Mild-hybridisation is fitted on the 148bhp 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine to further reduce fuel consumption. It’ll run functions like the radio, allowing the engine to shut down at low speed. Ford claims CO2 emissions of 132g/km and 56mpg.

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Alongside the mild-hybrid technology, Ford is also offering the Kuga as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The company anticipates a purely electric driving range of 34 miles - enough for many people not to need the engine while commuting - and a CO2 output of just 29g/km. The PHEV will combine a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and a 10.3kWh li-ion battery, which together produce 222bhp and is said to manage 235mpg.

The car recaptures some of the energy lost in braking to increase the electric-only range but, when you’re getting low, you can recharge from a 230V socket in about four hours. Fast-charging doesn’t appear to be available, although this may come later. However, you can choose when to use the battery, thanks to EV Auto, EV Now, EV Later and EV Charge modes.

Sitting on a new platform, the Kuga now offers much more space than the current car. It’s slightly longer and wider, and the distance between the wheels has grown as well, so it’s said to offer class-leading space for those in the back seats. There’s also more space in the front, while the rear seats can slide forwards and backwards, increasing boot space by up to 67 litres.

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The interior of the Kuga is very similar to that of the Focus, with horizontal lines and an uncluttered look thanks to a large touchscreen. This is perched above the centre console, ranges in size from 6.5-inches and includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. FordPass Connect is also available, which includes a range of online features, and you can choose to have heated outer rear seats for the first time. The Kuga can also feature Ford’s SYNC 3 software, wireless phone charging, a hands-free tailgate, active noise reduction and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

Ford has given the Kuga a much wider range of safety technology for this new model. You can tick boxes for Co-Pilot360 (the car can drive, turn, stop and park for you), adaptive cruise control, speed limit recognition, lane-centring technology, wrong-way alert, evasive steering assistance, a head-up display, active parking assist, blind-spot monitoring and, as a result, the Kuga is expected to score a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

Want to know more? Read our review of the current Ford Kuga SUV, or see how it compares to its rivals in our picks for the best medium SUVs on sale now.