Ford has upgraded the Kuga SUV with improved hybrid powertrains, high-tech features and a better infotainment system. I’ve been driving the Ford Kuga 2.5 FHEV 183PS ST-Line X AWD, a full hybrid with four-wheel drive, a combination that promises to be well-suited to towing.

What am I looking for?

Can Ford’s hybrid achieve economy to match a similar turbodiesel? Have the upgrades improved it as a solo drive and should it be in the discussion for the best car for towing a caravan?

Towing ability of the Ford Kuga 2.5 FHEV 183PS ST-Line X AWD

It’s very unusual for a car maker’s press release to mention towing, especially in the first sentence. But right at the start of its announcement about the revised Kuga, Ford claims “best-in-class towing ability”.

Those credentials are founded on an unusually high maximum towing figure. The full hybrid 4×4 tow car we’ve been driving has a towing limit of 2100kg. Compare that with 1500kg for the equivalent Kia Sportage.

I’d always recommend towing no more than 85% of the kerbweight for the sake of stability when matching a car to a caravan, but up to 100% is acceptable for an experienced tow car driver. In that case, the Kuga can reasonably tow caravans that would be out of reach of similar rivals.

For my towing test, I matched the Ford to a Coachman 580 Vision with a MiRO of 1361kg. The Kuga pulled the Coachman up to speed quickly and easily. When the 2.5-litre petrol engine and the electric motor work together, the Ford accelerates with determination, soon reaching 60mph.

The Towball on the Kuga
Towball and electrics cost £850

You do hear the engine working hard when you are overtaking or holding speed uphill, but the same is true of the Kuga’s hybrid tow car competitors.

Once cruising at an even pace, engine noise fades into the background. In fact, it disappears completely at times when electric power is enough to hold speed. After 95 miles of towing, the trip computer showed 19 of them had been completed using electricity alone.

Stability at speed is very good indeed. Even when I could see the Coachman twitching from side to side in a crosswind, the back of the Kuga stayed put.

The Ford handles hill starts very well, too. Having four-wheel drive is a definite plus when you are pulling away on a slope, and the Kuga accelerated uphill without displaying any wheelspin, even when we were deliberately heavy-footed with the throttle. That bodes well for the Ford’s performance in wet weather, which could be useful if you like towing a caravan in winter.

Solo driving the Ford Kuga 2.5 FHEV 183PS ST-Line X AWD

The Ford drives well when it’s not towing a caravan. The ride is quite firm – the ST-Line X is one of the Kuga’s sportier specifications and has sport suspension. It keeps the car firmly under control on country roads, but is a little stiffer than ideal around town.

Open roads and faster routes suit the Kuga best. It handles well and corners with little roll for an SUV.

The Kuga from the rear
The Ford drives well without a van in tow, although the ride is quite firm

Surprisingly for a car with such a sporty character, there are no paddles behind the wheel to allow the driver to change gear. While the gearbox is an e-CVT type with no fixed gears, other manufacturers get around this by having set steps in the transmission to allow manual control.

As we’d expect with this type of gearbox, the engine is noisy under hard acceleration. There’s also some road noise when driving over coarse surfaces, but otherwise, the Kuga is acceptably quiet at speed.

Space and practicality

The Kuga has lots of space for passengers, but room for bags is not so generous, something which may be a problem if you like to pack plenty of essentials for caravans when you tour.

In the front of the car, both driver and passenger sit up high, with a good view. There’s plenty of adjustment for the seat and the wheel, so most drivers will be able to find a comfortable, supportive driving position. Adjustable lumbar support is included on all specifications, to the relief of back-pain sufferers.

The Kuga from the side
Plenty of space for passengers, but room for bags is not so generous

What’s not so pleasing in the interior is the standard of finish. Despite the Kuga’s makeover, there’s still too much hard and unappealing plastic on show.

The latest Sync 4 infotainment system is far more impressive. The large 13-inch touchscreen is high-resolution and logically laid out. The air conditioning controls are always displayed along the bottom of the screen, although physical buttons would be easier to use without having to take your eyes from the road.

The touchscreen and steering wheel in the Kuga
The 13-inch touchscreen is high-resolution and logically laid out

Storage is taken care of by large door bins, a usefully sized glovebox, and further space under the armrest.

The back seats offer enough space for adults, even if those in the front are tall, which could be useful if you’re heading to one of the best adults only caravan parks in the UK as a group. There are air vents between the front seats, and two USB-C ports to charge devices.

It’s a shame luggage space is tight for a car of this size – 412 litres with the parcel shelf in place and the rear seats all the way back. Sliding the seats forward eats into the legroom in favour of extra boot space.

The boot
Boot space is tight for a car of this size, at 412 litres

Levers on either side of the tailgate fold the back seats if more room is needed.

Buying and owning a Ford Kuga 2.5 FHEV 183PS ST-Line X AWD

The Kuga is competitively priced, especially when you take into account likely discounts. Research by What Car? suggests a probable transaction price of under £40,000.

Running costs should be low. The official combined figure of 47.1mpg is unexceptional, but we were very impressed with 31.9mpg on our towing economy route – it was one of the factors that saw us shortlist the Ford for the best car for towing a 1500kg caravan category at the Practical Caravan Awards 2025.

ST-Line X models are well equipped, with 19-inch alloys, a panoramic sunroof, heated seats and steering wheel, a 360-degree camera system, and much more.

Alternatives to consider

The Škoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI 150PS SE L tows well and has a spacious cabin which should provide good legroom for all, although the boot floor isn’t flush with the tailgate’s opening. Alternatively, the Nissan X-Trail e-4orce Tekna is thoughtfully designed and well-built, with great towing ability. However, it’s economy could be better.

Technical spec of the Ford Kuga 2.5 FHEV 183PS ST-Line X AWD

  • Price: £42,365
  • What Car? Target Price: £39,949
  • Retained value after three years: 52%
  • Kerbweight: 1765kg
  • 85% of kerbweight: 1500kg
  • Gross vehicle weight: 2315kg
  • Max towing limit: 2100kg
  • Gross train weight: 4415kg
  • Towball limit: 100kg
  • Price of towball and electrics: £850
  • Boot size: 412-1534 litres
  • Payload: 550kg
  • Test conditions: Dry
  • Engine size: 2488cc
  • Power (hp): 183 @ 5500rpm
  • Torque (lb ft): N/A
  • Official combined economy: 47.1mpg
  • Towing economy: 31.9mpg
  • CO2 emissions: 136g/km
  • First year car tax: £270
  • Second year car tax: £590
  • Insurance group: 22
  • Euro NCAP rating (2019): 5/5

If you’re interested in a pre-owned Ford instead, see what our expert has to say about buying a used Ford Puma, a car that could be ideal for lighter vans.

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