• Lots of clever storage bins
• Flexible rear bench seat
• Poor load cover in the boot

How much space is there?

Enough for most families. Two average-size adults should be able to get comfortable in the rear, as the Kuga offers lots of head and leg room. Three will be more of a squeeze. It also features a 60:40 split-folding backrest – and you can slide the seat forwards and backwards to increase either passenger space or boot space.

Space in the front is equally plentiful. The centre console is quite thin, which leaves front occupants with plenty of elbow room. However, we found that the driver’s seat is set uncomfortably high. Even in its lowest setting, taller drivers might feel like they’re a little too close to the ceiling.

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Boot space and storage

Boot space isn’t class-leading, with not a great deal more capacity than hatchbacks like the Focus – at least with the rear bench slid all the way back. With the rear seats in place, there’s 412 litres on offer, plus another 150 litres when you slide the bench all the way forward. Fold the rear seats flat and there’s 1,534 litres of space. If you don’t option a spare wheel, you also get a handy storage area under the boot floor.

The Kuga isn’t without its problems, though. The seats don’t lie completely flat when you fold them down, which can make loading larger items a bit of a chore. The fabric load cover also looks and feels cheap, and there’s no load-through facility in the rear backrest.

Ford did a good job with the Kuga’s storage bins, though. There are plenty of cubbies dotted around the cabin, including a lidded locker in the centre console, deep door pockets and a smartphone-sized space ahead of the gear selector with wireless charging on more expensive models.

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Is it easy to park?

It isn’t bad – but bear in mind that it’s a family-sized SUV. Visibility of the car’s corners isn’t the best, but Ford does fit every model with front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera. ST-Line models and up go further with a useful 360-degree camera system included.

The door mirrors seem a bit small for such a large car, but they’re electrically adjustable as standard which means you can easily angle them down to check you’re not scraping the alloys along a kerb.

Safety

• Scored five stars in Euro NCAP tests
• Loads of standard safety technology
• Few safety-related optional extras

The current Ford Kuga performed very well in its Euro NCAP crash tests, achieving a 92% score for adult occupants and an 86% score for child occupants. The testers were particularly impressed with the Kuga’s performance in the lateral impact tests, where it achieved a perfect score. Children are very well protected in an accident, too.

Most of the Kuga’s safety equipment comes as standard, too. In addition to its brace of standard airbags, every Kuga gets autonomous emergency braking, cruise control, lane-keeping assist and intelligent speed limit assist. Titanium models and up also feature full LED headlamps, a driver attention monitor and adaptive cruise control. This can now slow the car for corners and junctions automatically.

Ford offers an improved matrix adaptive LED headlight system as part of an optional technology pack. You also get a front light bar and, more usefully, a head-up display. It’s a reasonably priced add-on that we’d say is worthwhile.

You can also have a Driver Assistance Pack, which adds handy extras like a front camera, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, a blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross traffic alert. It’s optional on Titanium and standard on every other trim.

Watch the Ford Kuga’s crash test video