2026 Ford Kuga

Compact SUV · 2.5L I4 Full Hybrid · FWD

77/100

AutoVault's overall score, weighted for what a compact suv is actually for — performance, technology, comfort, reliability, safety and value.

Specifications

Engine	2.5L I4 Full Hybrid
Horsepower	180 hp
Torque	173 lb-ft
0–60 mph	8.6 sec
Top speed	122 mph
Drivetrain	FWD
Seats	5
Combined MPG	40 mpg (42 city / 38 hwy)
Range	500 miles
MSRP	$42,330
Body style	Compact SUV

The verdict

What's good

Hybrid slips between petrol and electric almost unnoticed
Genuinely roomy for families without feeling bulky
Plug-in version covers most commutes on battery alone
Handles more tidily than a tall family car should

What's not

Interior plastics lag behind German rivals
Boot shrinks noticeably in plug-in hybrid form
Engine drones when pushed hard uphill
Top trims stray into pricier territory

The engine

2.5 Duratec FHEV

2.5L I4 Full Hybrid

An Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder paired with an electric motor and a continuously variable transmission, prioritising smooth low-speed running and town economy over outright punch.

Ford’s hybrid system for European family cars, developed to meet tightening emissions rules while avoiding the cost and weight of a bigger battery.

The Atkinson cycle sacrifices peak power for a meaningful gain in efficiency.
At low speeds it can run on electricity alone without any plug-in charging.
The plug-in version of the same engine is actually the quickest Kuga.

See the rest in AutoVault

The six sub-scores behind the 77 — performance, tech, comfort, reliability, safety and value
Market value today and year-by-year value history
Studio photography — exterior, rear and interior
Side-by-side comparison with up to four cars

Open in AutoVault