Test drive Ford Kuga since 2008 SUV

Gasoline VW Tiguan 1.4 and diesel Ford Kuga 2.0

What does a suburban resident who go to work in a metropolis need? Strong suspension, 4x4, saving plus pleasure. And this means that something like VW Tiguan 1.4 TSI or Ford Kuga TDI with manual transmission will suit him.
Is it possible to compare the diesel Ford Kuga with the VW Tiguan 1.4 TSI gasoline? Not only it is possible, but also necessary: \u200b\u200bwhen the diesel is not inferior to gasoline in dynamics, and he will involuntarily think about it in economy. Moreover, both of our crossovers, in addition to names worthy of Kipling's fairy tales, have another common feature they are equipped with MKPP6.
Village Gorod-Derevnya
If I lived outside the city, I would definitely go on mechanics of emotions from management more. Although I know that modern machines are not inferior to the driver’s rate of fire but still. But fuel saving with a pen is available for a hundred liter, or even two can be won.
For a casting for the role of a daily missile of a village of village of village -Goroderevnya, we developed a route from the editorial office to one pretty village. First, from Krylatsky 33 km on the Novorizhsky highway, then to Zvenigorod (12 kilometers), and from there to a place of about 32 km. In total, the run back and forth amounted to 155 km, the time is 2 hours 30 minutes (before entering Moscow, we drove 3 kilometers for half an hour). On the highway, according to the persuasion, they moved no faster than 130 km/h. This is precisely the speed with which I would go to the New Riga with daily driving. On narrow paths, respectively, not faster than 100 km/h.
In other words, we simply imitated the life situation in which crossovers with a 6-speed manual transmission would be able to prove themselves in all its glory. Despite the fact that a lot has already been written about both models as a whole, we note several important nuances. Firstly, from the point of view of ergonomics, VW Tiguan is practically impeccable. But in Ford Kuga, a pair of centimeters of longitudinal adjustment can not be enough for happiness for happiness. At the same time, even a ten -year -old child who had traveled to the end, even with a driver’s seat, will be crowded, even though you are with your feet on the sofa. And in Tiguan in the second row it is spacious, and in addition there, seats there have longitudinal adjustment. In a word, if you have a family of four and growth above average, you can not read Kuga no further.
There are other nuances, not so critical. For example, Ford is started by the engine start button: fashionable, youth. The key is stored in a collected form and looks like a neat keychain. However, Kuga's hood opens with a key. And every time you need to fill the non -freezing liquid into the washer tank, the key will have to be assembled from the designer.
As for the interior decoration, here Tiguan and Kuga appear on equal terms: Ford successfully demonstrates traditional German quality. No, it seems serious that even the texture of the soft plastic of the front panel is the same as that of VW. Great! However, VW wins in the number of pockets and messes. When you live in a car for several hours a day, it is important, although it cannot be a decisive factor when buying.
That's why the sixth
Both of our beasts go very well. My partner, who had not previously dealt with a 6-speed manual transmission, was perplexed before the test, why so many programs. And he even tried to keep Tiguan at the fifth speed, and the engine for 3000 rpm, which represented it with a working volume of 1.4 at 130 km/h normal for the engine. And then he still overpowered himself and stuck the sixth, immediately finding out that you can just as successfully go to 2000 rpm, without losing stock in dynamics. With Ford Kuga, approximately the same story in the highest gear at 130 km/h 16001800 rpm and the ability to accelerate at any time.
After leaving the concrete, when for a comfortable driving it was sometimes required to overtake the truck, both dynamics had enough crossovers with their heads. And both were controlled with dignity. But differently. The fact is that Tiguan has all the reactions slightly softened, a bit is smoothed. Its creators at heart definitely share the ideology of Mercedes-Benz. The steering wheel and pedals of Tiguan obey very clearly, not on the yota without straining the driver. It allows you to feel the slippage of the wheels, and the angle of rotation, and the rolls are practically absent. But you carry out any severity, no stress behind the wheel, you play playfully and you arrive at the destination to rest. And over a bad road VW, the smoothness of the course is excellent.
Ford Kuga has slightly different rules. Everything is slightly tougher, a little sharper and the steering wheel, and the suspension, and the reaction to the pressing of the gas pedal. In fact, the balance between comfort and controllability is also excellent, but significantly shifted towards the drive. Kuga rides delicious, there is a fraction of pepper in this crossover. But he is in asks and asking to serve the gas, try to pass the turn quickly, make up the maneuver. So the pleasure on the way is guaranteed. However, it can slightly grind it, if you need to be pretty ironed every day, the purebate asphalt.
By the way, as for the opposite of the drive in the cork at the entrance to the city, then we also liked Kuga a little more: there is always good traction in it, you can move almost without gas still diesel. The rival from the very bottoms without additional twist will not go. What is there at the start of an unusual driver and on the hill the first two to three times Tiguan can even stall. At the same time, outside the road, the German crossover as a whole behaves more correctly: it has an extremely adequate anti -wings system. But Kuga in a difficult situation quickly gets tired of it overheats a coupling that plays the role of an intensification differential. Until, you know, smoke from under the bottom.
Nevertheless, the most interesting thing was waiting for us at the gas station, with which we started and to which we returned. The consumption was measured according to the standard scheme: the tank is completely, upon arrival, the tank is again to the full. It turned out, that in suburban mode, the fuel consumption of our subjects was the same in 8.5 liters per hundred kilometers. However, diesel fuel is about a ruble cheaper than the AI-95, and with a daily run of 150 km, the savings for 20 working days will be approximately 260 rubles. On the other hand, the opposite situation arose at our refueling: for the European Superior they asked for a ruble more than for the 95th
Forget about money
So what to choose a villager? Before us is a case in which you can not think about money. If the roads are good, enthusiasm not faded in the blood, and the family is small Ford Kuga. If comfort is important on the way, the asphalt is broken, the growth is large and the spaciousness on the back sofa is necessary for VW Tiguan. If you have to fidget in traffic jams, then again Kuga. But if it is planned to sometimes go outside the asphalt and even get stuck again Tiguan.
 
Author: Peter Musienko, photo of Alexander Ortnova-Baranova
 

 

Source: Magazine 4x4 [June /2009]