Ford is working on a high pace, and the company launches new models quickly, with the new Kuga being the latest addition. It has been massively overhauled compared to its predecessor, but can it beat the likes of the Volkswagen Tiguan and Mazda CX-5? The Tiguan sports the state-of-the-art equipment and it is one of the most practical cars in the market, while Mazda CX-5 may be the oldest model out of three, but it is still handsome with beautiful interior.
The Mazda CX-5 is definitely a crossover with the best handling, and it has been redesigned recently, which helped keep the car competitive. The range-topping version 2.2 D Sport Nav Auto costs £31,195, and it is equipped with a 2.2-liter diesel that produces 420Nm of torque. The curb weight of the car is 1,628kg, which is 100kg lighter compared to the other two.
During the drive, the automatic transmission struggled to lock up quickly enough, and thus the muscle advantage of the CX-5 has not been fully used. However, it proved faster than Ford and better than the Tiguan by a hair’s breadth. Overall, the CX-5 is the most responsive of the trio, and the engine is a powerful one, so the ride is not a sluggish one. Although the transmission is not as quick as its rival’s ones, it is still smooth, and it responds well to the throttle.
The steering and suspension are top-notch, and Mazda’s controls deliver great feedback, but its grip is not as good. It is less comfortable than the VW, because it comes with stiff springs, whereas the road noise is always present because of the low-profile tires and the lack of soundproof materials.
The second-generation Ford Kuga arrived back in 2012, and the new model has been recently updated. It now comes with a modified interior, new engines and different trim lineup as the models seeks a bigger slice of the pie in the market. You can opt for either two- or four-wheel drive and 1.5-liter petrol and diesel units. Blue Oval also offers a 2.0-liter TDCi with the complete output of 178 bhp. The price of the ST-Line trim that has been tested is £31,795.
Even though it has 10 bhp less than the VW, their 0-60 mph times were the same – 8.4 seconds. However, the Kuga struggled during in-gear tests because of its 1,716 kg, and it is placed behind the other two cars. On the public roads, the Kuga’s unit is refined, and it produces 400Nm of torque at only 2,000 rpm.
Its PowerShift transmission is not the best one. The six-speed unit may shift smoothly and quickly at higher speeds, but it struggles to find the right gear at low speed. But the good thing is that Ford replaced its small lever mounted rocker switch with gearshift paddles. The handling is not perfect either, there is enough grip, and the car is locked on your chosen line because of the torque vectoring system, while the body control is decent due to stiffened sports suspension.
If the road is rough, Ford Kuga is the least able out of the three, since there are no off-road features such as a center differential lock or hill descent control.
Volkswagen unveiled the second-generation Tiguan in 2016, and it is a significant step upmarket for this model. The crossover with a 2.0-liter diesel unit that produces 187 bhp and 400Nm of torque has been tested, and it is important to say that this engine is the most powerful one in the lineup. The car has a 4WD configuration that receives power from the seven-speed DSG gearbox. It goes from 0-60mph in 8.4 seconds, the same as the Edge, which means that Tiguan is second, behind the Mazda CX-5.
The transmission is the fastest out of the three, but the Tiguan feels sluggish in all gears except in the seventh one. The Tiguan is based on the same architecture as Golf, and because of that, it is not as engaging as Mazda but it does boast more grip, and the body control is tenser due to Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive dampers.
The ride quality is far better compared to the ride quality of the base trim, and it goes over bumps with a soft-edged plushness. There is even an Off-Road setting which will improve your grip, but it is not advisable to go off-road with this car because of its ground clearance. The suspension is admirable, and the Tiguan is the best out of three in deadening the wind and engine sounds.
Verdict
The Volkswagen Tiguan comes first with its combination of practicality, excellent driving dynamics, and reasonable running costs. It also has the best gearbox and Premium 4WD system. The second one is the Mazda CX-5. It may have reached the end of the line, and the replacement will come soon, but it is the most fun to drive, and its engine is efficient and robust. The last one is the Ford Kuga, which looks fresh and it has a sharp driving dynamics, but it cannot compete against the other two models because of its lack of equipment and practicality.
