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Europe's Escape is getting a mid-cycle update with a much faster hybrid version.
If the new Ford Kuga for Europe looks instantly familiar, there's a very good reason for that. The equivalent American version, the Escape, gets its nip and tuck towards the end of 2022. But now the Blue Oval is updating the compact crossover from the Old Continent, with some significant changes.
For the first time, the Kuga gets the rugged Active trim level, with extra plastic body cladding and silver skid plates to make it look tougher. The adventurous flavor sits 0.4 inches (10 millimeters) higher at the front axle and 0.2 inches (5 mm) higher at the rear for extra ground clearance. Ford also offers a Trail riding mode that adjusts throttle response and traction control to provide extra grip on mud, sand and other soft surfaces.
In the interior of the Kuga Active, there are dark wood veneers on the dashboard and door panels and special upholstery on the 18-way adjustable seats. It's worth noting that the Escape has been available in Active trim for some time in the United States, where it serves as the base model. In Europe, the 2024 Kuga will also be available in Titanium and ST-Line grades, each of which will feature subtle styling tweaks compared to the pre-facelift versions.
As expected, the 2024 Kuga switches to Ford's SYNC4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen accompanied by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The center console has been simplified by eliminating most of the traditional controls, with relevant functions integrated into the enlarged display.
There is no diesel in the engine line-up due to oil burners falling out of favor in Europe following the Volkswagen Group's scandal. The basic version features a turbocharged 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine with 148 hp, sent to the front axle via a six-speed manual transmission. You can upgrade to a self-charging hybrid with a 2.5-litre petrol engine and an e-motor, producing a total of 177 hp in the FWD version and a slightly higher 180 hp in the AWD model.
The highlight is an upgraded plug-in hybrid, also with a 2.5-litre engine. It now produces a total of 240 hp; That's 30 more hp than you get in the Escape PHEV. It also has an extra 18bhp over the pre-facelift Kuga PHEV and uses an "upgraded power split automatic transmission" shared with the Kuga Hybrid AWD.
The Kuga PHEV now reaches 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds, making it almost two seconds faster than before. Towing capacity also increased by more than 30 percent to 4,629 pounds (2,100 kilograms). It offers a maximum electric range of 43 miles (69 kilometers) in the WLTP cycle, thanks to its 14.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
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