Test drive Ford Kuga since 2012 crossover

The mind is the ward

For the Ford Kuga of a new generation in Ford, they even came up with a new decoding of the abbreviation SUV not Sport Utility Vehicle, but Smart Utility Vehicle, that is, a smart crossover. Of course, this does not mean that Einstein’s brain was implanted by the car, but with artificial intelligence and various electronic Ford pieces they stuffed from the heart. They also seasoned with a Russian assembly and a rich choice of configurations. The motor found out if the new Kuga will have enough mind not to fail in our market again? Ford involved its most compact crossover, which appeared in 2008 from different components. The raised platform from the C-Max, the full-wheel drive Haldex from the then fraternal company Volvo, the interior from Focus, but with the Si-Maks bus landing. Even the name was invented by the unnatural Kuga. Nothing meaning, but allegedly consonant with the Ford Cougar compartment. The Fords began the game with complex intricacies of lines and faces on the fiesta and still continue. Kuga looks quite harmonious. Ford Kuga to (left) and after (right) Generation shifts, but for some reason, Russian citizens were not in a hurry to build a car in line for crossovers: only about 11 thousand cars were sold in four years. For comparison, VW Tiguan only in 2012 chose 31,272 buyers. In Russia, Kugu was destroyed by a suicidal marketing policy with a gradual output of individual modifications to the market: at first, either a turbodiesel on an unusual handle in this class, or powerful gasoline on the machine other alternatives appeared much later. And, of course, a relatively high price. They learned from their mistakes: a new generation Kuga will enter our market immediately in all conceivable modifications. New body, three engines, three types of transmission, two types of drives and four configurations. And also a complete set of options and electronic systems that you will find far from every crossover. From a huge number of their names and abbreviations, he is rushing in the eyes. There are so many of them that one list is enough for an entire book. At the forefront, Fordovtsy put the Sync multimedia system, which is friends with all smartphones, and also speaks and understands Russian. This is really a smart thing: it itself synchronizes the phone book from a mobile device, knows how to move as a phone into a call to call or conferences, reads aloud SMS. By USB or Bluetooth you can connect a media player. But the most important thing: all this can, without straining, control the voice and for the correct recognition does not have to have a diction, like the leading news. An automatic parking worker will help to park. The Active City Stop system will stop Kugu at a speed of up to 10 kilometers per hour in the event of a dangerous convergence of an obstacle. Dead zones are controlled by special sensors, there is a rear view camera. The trunk door with an electric drive not only opens with a kick, like Volkswagen cars, but also closes in exactly the same way. A system that holds the car in its lane is also provided. Ford Kuga Smart Systems Smart AWD intellectual system of all -wheel drive. In fact, the usual Torque-on-Demand with a multi-disable coupling between the axes. It interviews 40 sensors every 16 milliseconds. Able to work preventively Torque vectoring Control) control system. Imitation of the blocking of the anterior inter -normal differential, known for the sports Ford Focus ST Automatic braking system before the obstacle. Prevents a collision with ahead of the car at speeds up to 10 kilometers per hour The system control system. When crossing the marking with the turning point turned off, depending on the speed, he either gives a signal, or signals with vibration on the steering wheel, or independently turns the steering wheel to a small angle to correct the trajectory Automatic parking worker (Park Assist). Performs parallel parking Ford Sync multimedia system with music, phone and navigation in Russian. Designed by Microsoft smart? Without a doubt. But not so new Sync functions use many automakers in one form or another, and we met all this rich scattering of electronic systems on Focus, from which they are borrowed. However, all the assistants somehow completely remained in the shadow of design and layout. But this is a new car. Ford Kuga increased in length by 81 millimeters, became four millimeters already and eight millimeters lower. However, the wheelbase here is completely 2690 millimeters. A little (46 liters) the trunk grew up. The internal dimensions increased a little by some millimeters: the location of all controls was optimized and it became more spacious in the cabin. But landing was still bus, as in the Kuga of the previous generation. It seems that the chairs are comfortable, with wide range of adjustments, but you have to sit too vertically, with very bent legs. Interior The interior of Ford Kuga has become more solid, the build quality and materials improved. With ergonomics, the order, despite the standing landing and not a very convenient pedal node. New seats are good. The central display is only a five -inch, besides not reacting to presses. The latter is especially depressing against the background of a huge number of buttons. Managing Sync multimedia system with their help is inconvenient. On the rear seats it is quite spacious, the third passenger will not be superfluous. The central tunnel is completely absent, and the back inclination (40:60) can be changed in three fixed positions. If earlier the interior of the KUGI borrowed the majority of solutions from Focus and C-Max, now it is almost a completely original salon, only with a small taste of other Ford models. He is friendly, modern, fresh, pleasant to the touch and well assembled. There are few complaints: it is inconvenient to press the keys located on the knitting needles of the steering wheel, and from the lower part of the side ducts divided into two sections of the side ducts is constantly blown. Well, of course, the abundance of different -caliber buttons on Sony music is fighting on the spot: since the car is positioned as smart, was it really impossible to teach him to do without this pile of keys? And the sound of the audio system itself is far from ideal. 1. Salon is original and almost does not cause complaints. 2. The red -circuit of the machine is convenient in the grip. But switching gears in manual mode with the help of a trigger on the side is completely inconvenient. The sports regime does not solve the problem of sloppiness of the machine gun. 3. To put on the buttons located on the steering wheel, it has to be downward, turning through the hand in a strange way. 4. For well -equipped versions, a rear view camera is offered. 5. City ducts have two multidirectional sections. From the Nizhny is constantly blowing. And you can only close all together. 6. The panoramic roof is huge. But only its front part is shifted, and at high speeds it is an increased source of noise in a very quiet salon. 7. Ford still offers the neck of the EasyFuel gas tank without a twisting traffic jam. Very comfortably. But noise insulation is magnificent on it, Ford experts worked for glory. Aerodynamics have been improved in KUGI, the shape of external mirrors has been changed, the noise insulation of the wheeled arches has been worked out, and the thickness of the side glasses was increased. The result is a noticeably reduced noise level. At the moment, Kuga is the quietest of the crossovers of the indispensable segment. At least in numbers. The car with a panoramic roof is only a little noisier. But still, you can talk with a fellow traveler, even at a speed of 150 kilometers per hour or on a broken road. And what newly prepared for us Ford engineers? The main premiere is a new all -wheel drive system, which is called smart AWD in the Russian office. Haldex abandoned the all-wheel drive, talking about some problems with the old knot, but the true reason, most likely, in the desire to achieve maximum unification with American Ford models. On the sharp stones and bumps of the modest off -road, the kuga grazes: knocks and blows appear in the suspension, as if the unsubstantiated masses are very large. In fact, however, the new system of the full-wheel drive of the North American Ford branch has almost the same device as before: a multi-disc couple plays the role of a blocking center differential and, upon demand, transfers up to 50 percent of the torque to the rear axle. At the same time, she knows how to work preventively, as if predicting the development of the road situation. This is realized like this: electronics interviews about 40 sensors with a frequency of 16 milliseconds and quickly distributes the torque between the axes (using a coupling) and between the wheels separately. The Torque Vectoring Control system is responsible for the latter, which distributes the thrust by inhibiting one of the wheels. The scheme, again, is not new, and its main advantage in conditions of light off -road performance. If the previous Kuga allowed a rather long slip in the event of a clutch loss, now the system throws the moment or brakes the wheel almost instantly, not allowing the car to smoke. The body of the new KUGI became 20 percent tougher for bending, and to twist 40 percent due to the use of high -strength steels. For how all -wheel drive works, you can observe on the display of the dashboard, where in real time the number of the torque transmitted to each wheel is schematically displayed. Judging by the image on the screen, Kuga most often remains the front -wheel drive when moving in a straight speed with constant speed, at the start from the place the rear axle is actively connected, and in the turns the moment is transferred to the outer wheels. The presence in the arsenal of such a quick system would make it possible to make quite serious sorties on the off-road, but rather long overhangs, small corners of the exit-EVERYON (27-28 degrees), ramp (17 degrees) and not the highest road clearance are limiters on Kuga: from 192 to 198 millimeters depending on the modification. In addition, Kuga is still harsh in the crossed area. A short -flowing pendant of sharp pits and stones does not like stones and taps very unpleasant. On the asphalt it is better: the small joints and irregularities of Kuga practices the rounded and almost imperceptibly. The chassis, despite the tangible cross -tavern rolls, is quite exciting. You can also shift from a turn into a turn on a serpentine, and cheerfully prescribe a high -speed turn on the highway, and exchange rate stability on a straight line is good. An excellent assistant could be accurate steering, as on a focus, but with the settings of the electrical power, they obviously overdo it: the force on the steering wheel is absolute synthetics. There are almost no complaints about the Ford Kuga suspension on asphalt roads, with the exception of the rolls that could be less. Everything is in order and with the smoothness of the course: very soft and quiet. Kuga performs the driver’s commands without delay and turns exactly to the corner that you expect, but the effort on the steering wheel is completely unnatural. As if playing Gran Turismo, and not go to a real serpentine. It's a shame that the chassis was spoiled by such a soulless steering wheel very well -minded and pleasant to ride. Maybe the engines will be smarter? But the motors also devalued. Instead of 200 forces removed from a 2.5 -liter gasoline five (from Volvo), only 150 or 182 forces are available for KUGI, which, depending on the degree of forcing, is developed by the ECOBOOST turbo engine only 1.6 liters. The logic is clear this engine is more economical, environmentally friendly, lighter and cheaper with almost the same characteristics. Everyone who saw the new Ford Kuga is only in the pictures, they definitely talk about the increased dimensions of the car. Although in fact, the kuga only increased slightly in length. Almost, not the same. There is no former pressure in overclocking and you can’t say that under the hood is almost two hundred horsepower. Automatic transmission is partially to blame: it switches the programs even smoothly, but completely leisurely. With a kik downs, it does not fall immediately by two or three steps down, but sorting them all over in turn. The sports mode allows you to twist the engine slightly higher, the speed of switching increases slightly, but there is little actual benefit from it. But there is a turbodiesel on the handle and it is much more fun! True, only powerful 163-horsepower versions were offered for the test, which will not be in Russia. Having analyzed demand, the Fords decided to offer in our market only a 140 -horsepower diesel modification. There is hope that it will not be very different from the tested powerful modification. Kuga of the past (right) and the current (left) generations: Find ten differences. From the inside there is no hint of diesel: no characteristic sounds, no shaking or vibrations. You can guess that under the hood of a heavy fuel, you can only on a tachometer scale marked up to 6000 revolutions. Great modern motor. The draft is not enough only at the very bottom, in the rest of the range there is almost always a good stock. The selection of transmission is not very important, although the mechanical six -a -way from Mondeo is very good in terms of clarity of switching except that the lever moves are a little big. Kuga with a turbodiesel is slightly different from its gasoline counterparts and the chassis settings. On diesel engines, the springs and shock absorbers are tougher, as well as a little larger in diameter, brake discs. But if the latter is not so important inhibit all the kugi quite worthy, then the diesel machines are slightly more pleasant in handling: they have less rolls, there is no swing on the waves of asphalt, and there are no clicks during braking. The luggage compartment door can be opened and, importantly, closed by Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz cars already familiar to the Volkswagen and Mink Log Ford Kuga luggage compartment volume ranges from 456 liters with raised back seats up to 1653 liters with lowered It is possible that the floor is possible, very soon, it is the Russian modifications of Ford Kuga, and even collected at the Ford-Sollers factory in Elabuga, where all Kuga for Russia will fall into our hands. First, they will be commissioned by large -sized assembly, later production in a full cycle and even their production of engines. But this is all in the plans. In the meantime, in March, the first commodity cars assembled from the designer will appear on the shelves. The Russian assembly is also a part of the KUGI SMART strategy, which, along with the rejection of the 2.5T and 163-horsepower turbodiesel engines, has already allowed a little reducing the base price to 899 thousand rubles. On the other hand, the kuga has overgrown with all these smart electronic systems so much that it is not easy to see the crossover itself under this layer. In addition, they made a well -equipped car even more expensive than before without 1 million 400 thousand rubles to the stuffed kuga you will not approach. But no one interferes with abandoning the sophisticated and often useless electronics in Russia. Even a smart full drive can be preferred a cheaper front -wheel drive version with mechanics. There are options. And this is a huge plus compared to the Kuga of the previous generation. An alternative to the basic front-wheel drive Volkswagen Tiguan Trend & Fun with a 122-horsepower 1.4 TSI engine costs 899,000 rubles. Full -wheel drive is possible only with an engine forced up to 150 forces (from 1,036,000 rubles), and the machine is only starting from 170 -horsepower 2.0 TSI Track & Field (from 1,164,000 rubles). Sport & Style equipment with a 200 -horsepower engine is estimated at 1,323,000 rubles. But even more expensive a car with a 2.0 TDI turbodiesel (140 forces) in the version of Track & Style 1,331,000 rubles. At the moment, in the Russian market, the front -wheel drive Hyundai IX35 can only be bought with a gasoline engine (2.0 liters, 149 horsepower). Prices from 839,000 rubles (Start base on the handle) to 1,019,000 rubles for the top version of Comfort+Navi on the machine. Califier IX35 with the same engine cost from 945,000 to 1,215,000 rubles. Turbodieseli (136 forces, only a pen; 184 forces only a machine gun) are only 4WD, in the rich configuration of Comfort+Navi and are estimated in the amount of 1,099,000 to 1,229,000 rubles. The relative novelty of our Honda CR-V market can be bought for at least 1,149,000 rubles in the initial Elegance configuration with six-speed mechanics on board. The presence of automatic transmission in the same configuration increases the price by 70,000. Lifestyle equipment is available starting from 1,299,00 rubles on the handle or from 1,349,000 rubles on the machine. The engine for Honda CR-V is offered only one 2-liter gasoline, with a capacity of 150 horsepower.

Source: Motor magazine [March 2013]