• 8.0-inch touchscreen feels small
• Sharp digital gauge cluster
• Button-heavy steering wheel

How is the quality and layout?

The Kuga’s interior feels very much like that of the pre-facelifted Ford Focus, albeit with more headroom. The dashboard looks almost identical, which means you still get physical climate controls in a sensible place on the centre console. However, that could all change when Ford launches the facelifted Kuga in 2023.

We’re not particularly fond of the Kuga’s steering wheel, though. It has no less than 15 buttons on it, which feels like too many. Some of the controls are uncomfortably small to press for fat fingers and would be better replaced by a clickable roller switch, for example.

Quality is disappointing for the class. The Kuga is better built than rivals from budget brands like SsangYong and MG, but most rivals beat it. We’ve already mentioned the shonky load cover and the badly trimmed seat back on our test car. The cabin has a lot of exposed scratchy plastic, too, which means it doesn’t feel particularly plush.

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Infotainment and tech

Ford’s freestanding 8.0-inch infotainment system looks like somewhat of an afterthought in the way it’s been tacked onto the dashboard, but it’s easily accessed if unfortunately not angled towards the driver.. It’s sharp, responsive and has a much deeper colour contrast than the unit you got in the pre-facelifted Focus.

It runs on Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment software. This isn’t the latest version, which means the menus look a little simplistic, but that just means it’s easier to navigate on the move. The icons are big and easy to target, while the limited number of functions on the screen are less distracting. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard, so you can bypass the software entirely.

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We think the Kuga’s optional 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is well-worth having, too. It’s another high-resolution screen which makes the configurable dials look very sharp and classy. Even so, it’s not quite as configurable as rival systems in the Seat Ateca and Skoda Karoq.

Comfort

• Lots of space front and rear
• ST-Line models have a firm ride
• No adaptive suspension available

We could never get ourselves entirely comfortable behind the wheel due to the high driving position we’ve already mentioned. Yes, it’s one of the main reasons many buy an SUV, but the driver’s seat feels perched way above the instruments. Even our shortest tester at less than 5′ 4″ wished the seat went a little lower.

Electric adjustment for the driver is standard on most models, with ST-Line X Edition and Vignale adding a memory function. In our experience the seats do a decent job of fending off back pain on long journeys.

Tyre roar is kept in check with both suspension setups and there isn’t much wind noise, either. However, both are acutely observed when running the plug-in hybrid Kuga in electric mode, as there’s no engine noise to drown out the hum.