Ford Kuga 2.5 trend pros and cons. Weaknesses and main disadvantages of Ford Kuga with mileage. Suspension Ford Kuga

Ford Kuga is a modern crossover that combines beauty, good equipment and a bit of off-road capability. In general, the car is good, for affordable money, it has been produced since 2008, but the generation has already changed, you can buy the second generation of Kuga. But on secondary market now there are many cars of the 1st generation with different mileage and at different prices. In general, the cars are reliable, but there are also disadvantages, we’ll talk about that now.

The 1st generation Ford Kuga was based on the C1 platform, and the 2nd generation Ford Focus and the Volvo S40 were also built on it. In the car comfortable lounge, more expensive than in the Ford Focus, in spirit more reminiscent of the Mondeo, but it looks simpler than the Volvo.

European versions have more diesel engines. There are 2 power options, the volume is 2 liters. And the gasoline engine here is a five-cylinder with a volume of 2.5 liters and a turbine. For Europe, there are 2 gearbox options: 6-speed manual or automatic transmission PowerShift, which goes to diesel engines. For Russian market- automatic Aisin 55-51, they are installed to a 2.5-liter engine. For those who want more options, you should look for more expensive trim levels: Zetec and Titanium ..

In terms of reliability, the motors have proven themselves well, as well as the gearboxes. In general, the car is the same in terms of reliability as the Focus or Mondeo, they have many parts that are the same in the suspension and electrics. The Kug has a different interior design to match its price, it was made more premium. But the car was not particularly popular either in Russia or in Europe, because the price of the Ford Kuga was the same as for Volkswagens in more expensive trim levels. But there was interest in cars brought from America, especially after 2011. In 2012, the 2nd generation Ford Kuga appeared. That is, only 4 years produced the 1st generation, the price of the car is quite good, the cost of maintenance too, spare parts are inexpensive.

Body

The body of the Ford Kuga is painted in the same way as the Mondeo of the same years, because the same painting technology was used, but it cannot be called ideal. But if the car is less than 10 years old, then the body will be in good condition. Corrosion can appear on the seams and on the bottom. Appearance worthy, over time, chrome can climb or the lower grilles of the front bumper can break. But if you drive carefully and wash all the cavities of the bottom once a season, then there will be no corrosion, even anticorrosive should be done.

Salon

The interior is simple but stylish, decent quality materials. Everything is in the style of Ford, it is convenient to use the instruments and all the functions of the car. After some time, knocks may appear at the back door, the trunk shelves also fall off over time, and there may be minor electrical failures. Sometimes it happens that the power windows stop working. With chairs, you also need to be careful if your weight is more than 100 kg., Because they have rather weak fittings.

And the rear-view mirrors begin to vibrate over time, regardless of the configuration. In general, on trifles, there are a lot of things that can break, but it is not difficult to fix it and it is inexpensive. After many years of operation, scratches may appear on the plastic, and in places where contacts often occur, the coating will peel off. The fabric interior easily absorbs dirt, so it is advisable to dry-clean the interior every 5 years. Also, after 5 years of operation, rubber seals on the doors may creep, this will lead to the fact that the doors will close with a not very pleasant sound, and the sound insulation will deteriorate.

Electronics

The electrical parts are made quite well, and there are no complex electronics in the car. Therefore, Kugi will not have problems with electronics in the near future. If there are cases that the outdoor lighting module fails, this means that moisture from the niche got into it windshield. In this niche, leaks sometimes begin.

Here, the cause may be clogged drains or cracked sealant. So, if you see that the mat in the driver's seat has become wet, then this means that you need to check whether everything is in order with the drains from the windshield. The tightness of all control units is quite low, so if water gets into them, they will not work very well.

There are cases that over time, the wiring under the bottom can also fail, for example, parking sensors malfunction. Also, the engine and lambda ignition modules do not live long. And on diesel engines, glow plugs also do not last long. As for the generators, they can also fail if the car has traveled through the mud. There are times when the fuel level sensor can fail even for a very short time. high mileage. But in general, the car is reliable and apart from the above in terms of interior, electronics and bodywork, there is nothing else.

Suspension, handling and brakes

The braking system in the Ford Kuga is without any problems, sometimes it happens that the ABS unit fails. But since the car is heavy and powerful, the brakes in it are seriously loaded, but despite this, the resource of the discs and pads is quite serious, 60,000 km. - the resource of the disks, and the pads - 30,000 km. And there are cases that the disks serve for 150,000 km each. It already depends on driving style.

The suspension is solid, with MacPherson struts up front and a more complex multi-link rear. Even after 100,000 km. mileage all parts of the front suspension (silent blocks, ball joints) in great condition. Unless, the support of the rack can sag, this will already require intervention. By this run, the shock absorbers are also not as good as new ones, but they do not leak yet. So at 100,000 km. mileage the car still decently drives.

rear multi-link suspension more complex. The wear of silent blocks is already noticeable after 80,000 km. run. If the car is not heavily loaded, then 150,000 km. the rear suspension will last. And the shock absorbers in terms of service life are the same as on the front suspension. Also, the disadvantage is that the manufacturer tends to change the assembly parts, which is not always convenient in terms of finances. But for those who want to save money, you can supply spare parts from Mazda or Volvo, in most cases they are the same.

But wheel bearings in Fords are a weak link, in Kug too. They wear out quickly because they are poorly sealed and have little lubrication, this leads to the fact that there is noise, and after a while they jam. Therefore, it is best to put wheel bearings from Volvo after wear, they are made of better quality.

Steering does not cause problems, because a reliable rack with long-playing tips is installed here. But if you put wider tires, then the rail and tips will wear out faster, but they can be easily and quickly changed, these spare parts are not a problem.

Transmission

It's not all that simple here. The most problem-free are cars with front-wheel drive and mechanical box gears. After many years, it will be necessary to change the 2nd mass flywheel and that's it.
But in cars with all-wheel drive, the Haldex clutch is considered a problematic unit, it needs to change the oil every 50,000 km., And it also does not particularly tolerate slippage. It may fail the pump and its other elements. Until 2009, a Haldex 3 coupling was installed, the pump breaks down in it. And after 2009, the 4th generation of Haldex appeared, there were already fewer problems in it, but you still need to follow it.

To determine that the clutch pump has failed, you just need to see that the message “AWD is faulty” lights up on the instrument panel. Repairs will not be very expensive - in the region of 10,000 rubles, if only it's an electrician. It also happens that the wiring in the electronics of the unit fails and its contacts may deteriorate, especially if you often drive off-road and dirt gets into this unit.

If you actively use all-wheel drive, then filters and oil must be changed on time, there is only half a liter of oil in the clutch, so if its level decreases slightly, this will cause noticeable damage to the clutch. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that there is no oil leakage through the seals. If the pump is out of order, then it is better to buy a new one, but it is better to take the filter from Volvo.

In Russia, most of the cars with an automatic transmission Aisin AW55-51, it was also installed on many Volvo models. This box is quite reliable, except that its gas turbine linings do not last very long and the valve body also does not last very long. And all because it does not tolerate pollution, the solenoids are also not very strong. And the design is not so simple to repair such a box in the garage, for repairs you will need to go to the service.

But if you change the oil in the box in time, then it will last 250,000 km, or maybe more. By the way, it does not even overheat, because it is connected to an external radiator. So, you can safely buy cars with an automatic transmission, the main thing is to check its condition at the time of purchase so that the gears turn on smoothly and the car does not twitch.

There are also robotic box- PowerShift, it was installed on diesel configurations. Now things aren't going so well for her. This is a 6 speed preselective. It needs to be serviced and oil changed more often, because it gets dirty quickly. Solenoids and clutch often fail. The design is quite complicated, so it is necessary to repair it in specialized services, and there the repair will cost a lot of money. Parts also cost money.

If oil leaks or vibrations appear, this means that the oil has become contaminated, overheating has begun and, with a long load, the clutch slips. This means that this does not happen while the box is still working, you just need to change the oil every 30,000 km. and she's still driving. And the filter with a pollution sensor also needs to be changed immediately. If you don’t drive through traffic jams and change the oil on time, then your 250,000 km. it will also serve, if you drive through traffic jams, then the resource will decrease to 150,000 km.

Motors

Motors are different, power varies from 140 to 200 hp. With. The petrol engine here is 2.5 turbo, the same as in Volvo. In order for it to work well in the Ford Kuga, it has been slightly modified. But his resource is quite large, without much difficulty he is 500,000 km. will serve, if it is not specifically killed, then it will last longer.

The motor has a timing belt, which has a long service life, it must be changed every 100,000 km. The main thing is that the oil does not get on the belt, because this will quickly disable it. If there is a Pierburg fuel pump in the car, then you need to know that it breaks down every 2-3 years, so it’s better to install some kind of non-original one right after the breakdown. Also, we must not forget to clean the radiator, especially if the car drives around the city most of the time.

26.12.2017

Ford Kuga is enough famous car which needs no further introduction. First, this model was introduced in 2006, by those standards the car had such a futuristic design that few people believed in its serial production, which began 2 years later. Despite the fact that Ford had been preparing for the release of its first crossover for a long time, the car turned out to be quite interesting for motorists - the original design, good equipment and adequate cost allowed the car to compete with the market leaders. But how reliable it turned out to be, now let's try to figure it out.

Specifications

Brand and body type - SUV, crossover;

Body dimensions (L x W x H), mm - 4443 x 1842 x 1677

Wheelbase, mm - 2690;;

Ground clearance, mm - 188;

Tire size - 235/55 R17;

Fuel tank volume, l - 66;

Curb weight, kg - 1584;

Gross weight, kg - 2160;

Trunk capacity, l - 360;

Options - Trend, Trend ECO, Titanium and Titanium S.

Problem areas Ford Kuga with mileage

Body flaws:

Paintwork- there are practically no complaints about the quality of painting, for neat drivers, the paintwork remains in good condition even after 7-8 years of operation. Over time, paint may begin to swell on the edges of the doors.

Chromium- chrome-plated body elements do not resist the effects of reagents, which we generously sprinkle on the roads, as a result, the chrome becomes cloudy and then starts to peel off. On cars that are operated in small towns (villages), this problem is less common.

Corrosion resistance- body parts have good protection against corrosion, thanks to this they confidently resist the onslaught of red disease, but some elements still require increased attention - rust can appear on welds, in hidden cavities of the bottom. Also, you should monitor the condition of the sealant at the seams, under the hood and around the windshield.

Windshield- quite soft, because of this, it quickly becomes covered with scratches and chips. The same problem is inherent in the protective plastic of the headlights.

Door seals– require replacement after 4-5 years of operation.

Common malfunctions of power units

Gas engine reliable and has a good resource - about 500,000 km. The timing wire is belt, the interval for replacing the belt and rollers is 120,000 km, but many owners recommend that this procedure be carried out every 90-100 thousand kilometers. The main weak points are the crankcase ventilation system (it quickly becomes dirty, if there is a problem, the engine starts to howl during operation), ignition modules, seals (oil seals), a generator (to shed its service life, you need to avoid trips through the mud and keep under the hood clean) .

The disadvantages of this motor also include:

A small resource of the original fuel pump- On average, it lasts 2-3 years.

Cooling radiator has rather small honeycombs, because of this it quickly clogs. If the radiator is not monitored (cleaned 1-2 times a year), the risk of overheating the motor increases.

Exhaust system loses its seal over time. The reason is the wear of pipe seals at the joints.

Turbine, this part cannot be called problematic (as a rule, it serves 200,000 km or more), but the cost of replacing it becomes an unpleasant surprise for many (from 400 USD).

Fuel level sensor, as on other related models, is not famous for its reliability, it can fail even after 10-20 thousand km.

Diesel

diesel as well as Gas engine, have mostly positive reviews. Unlike gasoline power unit, this type of engine is equipped not only timing belt, but also by a chain drive - it drives the camshaft. The chain serves for a long time, but subject to timely and high-quality service. If service intervals are not observed, the chain may stretch after 100-150 thousand km. When using a low viscosity oil, such as SAE20 and SAE30, the likelihood of scuffing on the crankshaft and its liners increases. In addition to maintenance, the engine is demanding on fuel quality; when using diesel fuel from a “canister”, the life of injectors, high-pressure fuel pump, EGR valve and particulate filter.

The main disadvantages of diesel engines:

Deterioration of dynamics and failures during sharp acceleration: the problem usually lies in fuel system- due to leaky seals, it begins to suck in air.

Increased engine vibration at idle: this feature most often appears in the cold season - the rubber elements of the engine mounts are tanned, after a long warm-up the problem disappears.

Turbocharger: on a 163-horsepower engine, it can fail quite early (on a run of 100-120 thousand km), the reason is the bending of the blades as a result of mechanical damage (they ask for repairs from 70 USD). The main cause of the problem is starting the engine in severe frosts.

dual mass flywheel, as a rule, fails on a run of 150-200 thousand km. Symptoms - a metallic rattle appears during acceleration.

Glow plugs on Ford Kuga, in comparison with other models, they have a limited resource - 60-80 thousand km. Some owners have experienced premature failure of the glow plug control unit, fortunately, such cases are isolated.

Vacuum brake pump by 100,000 km it starts to leak. There are two solutions to this problem: radical - replacing the pump with a new one (50-100 USD), and budgetary - replacing rivets with bolts (1-2 USD). The description of the procedure can be found on the forums and on YouTube.

Gearboxes

Mechanical and automatic transmission almost no negative reviews. The PowerShift robotic gearbox will not often bother with breakdowns, but only if it is serviced in a timely manner (oil change every 60,000 km). If you do not change the oil in a timely manner, PowerShift can present such an unpleasant surprise as clutch and solenoids failure. Also, untimely maintenance increases the likelihood of overheating of the box, which can result in oil smudges and increased vibration of the unit.

Four-wheel drive- on the Ford Kuga of the first years of production, a Haldex 3 clutch was installed, its weak point is the pump, it very often fails after 60-80 thousand km. The replacement cost is about 400 USD. Vehicles manufactured in 2009 and later have a Haldex 4 clutch, unlike previous version pump problems are much less common. If the pump starts to leak, it is better not to tighten it with its replacement, as this can lead to premature failure of the DEM clutch control unit. Replacing the block costs 1000-1300 USD, for the repair of the block they ask from $ 200. Also, leakage of oil seals can be attributed to the common disadvantages of the coupling. It is worth noting that both nodes do not tolerate prolonged slippage and heavy loads. After 150,000 km, the CV joint needs to be replaced cardan shaft, if it malfunctions, a characteristic clatter appears when the rear wheels are connected.

Suspension Ford Kuga

By design, the Ford Kuga suspension is not much different from the platform Ford Focus: front - MacPherson, rear - "multi-link". This combination allows you to comfortably move not only on the highway, but also far beyond its borders. The bolts of the rear transverse levers become sour over time, which makes it difficult to install the wheel alignment (the bolts have to be cut off with a grinder). To avoid additional costs, it is necessary to lubricate the fasteners of the levers at each maintenance.

Suspension resource:

• Racks and stabilizer bushings - front 40-50 thousand km; rear - 60-70 thousand km.
• Wheel bearings - 80-120 thousand km (the resource depends on the radius of the installed wheels, the larger the radius, the less the resource).
• Silent blocks of levers - 150-200 thousand km.
• Shock absorbers - 120-150 thousand km.
• Levers rear suspension- 100-150 thousand km.

Steering- this node is reliable and rarely surprises. Steering tips serve on average 100-130 thousand km, thrust - up to 150-200 km.

brakes – brake system has one unpleasant feature - when the pads are worn more than 50%, an unpleasant squeak appears on some specimens, as a rule, when moving backward after a long forward movement. For trouble-free operation of calipers (they may start to wedge), it is necessary to periodically lubricate their guides.

Salon and electrics

Most elements of the Ford Kuga interior trim are made of solid materials, and the build quality does not raise questions. Despite this, there are still a couple of shortcomings here - after 3-4 years of operation, abrasions appear on the leather sheath of the steering wheel and gear knob, and extraneous sounds (creaking, knocking) also appear. main sources extraneous sounds- luggage rack, seats and interior lamp.

Moisture in the cabin- may appear for two reasons: the air conditioner pipe or sealant at the seams, usually in the area of ​​​​the windshield, loses its tightness. Moisture that has entered the passenger compartment can damage the equipment control units.

electrical equipment- Most often, power windows and the GEM module responsible for the operation of external lighting and light signaling fail.

Let's summarize:

Ford Kuga is a typical SUV designed for operation within the city, therefore, this car hardly suitable for lovers of frequent off-road rides, hunters and fishermen. Operating experience has shown that the Ford Kuga reliable car, also, this is confirmed by the positive reviews of the owners. The main disadvantages of the model include the unreliability of the Haldex coupling and high cost service.

If you have experience in operating this car model, please tell us what problems and difficulties you had to face. Perhaps it is your review that will help readers of our site when choosing a car.

Non-family drive.

Part 1. About the old car

For more than 4 years I drove a Peugeot 307 2.0 (2003 onwards) with an “automatic” in the maximum configuration (including leather and a sunroof) - this was my first car.

• I traveled a little and around the city, “home-work-shop” - mileage of 33 thousand km in 4 years (I bought it inexpensively with a mileage of 11 thousand from friends). The car is great, only positive impressions about it.
• The AKP-4 was aware of the “subtleties of mental organization”, therefore it warmed up and operated carefully, but drove actively. In winter, the “winter mode” helped a lot, for acceleration - “sports”.
• The car is perfectly controlled, medium rigidity, but my consumption (short trips and in the left lane) ranged from 11 to 16 liters (the latter in winter, with everything turned on (light, music, climate, sometimes heating). But consumption was not a criterion ( more on this below).
• Replacements are all planned and more in time (after all, soon the car will be 10 years old) than in terms of wear. Inexpensive service from unofficial. The car has been successfully transferred to another owner.

Part 2. Criteria for choosing a compact urban SUV and candidates

My criteria: handling, safety, four-wheel drive and ground clearance, automatic (classic, not a robot and not a CVT), gasoline (I don’t want diesel in our conditions), up to $ 40 thousand. Consumption is not fundamental - I drive a little (7-8 thousand km per year), almost entirely in the city. In any case, I won’t go broke on gasoline - therefore, this was not a criterion (the psychological bar is up to 20 liters per 100 km).

What did you choose from. He threw away the Koreans (ix35 and Sportage do not go, the box and engine are poorly coordinated, although I like the design), RAV-4 (variator, tough and uplifted price tag). I like Mitsubishi XL, but only in the first generation, and again - a CVT. Plus somehow too big for me, uncomfortable. ASX and French clones - do not go, CVT. "Tiguan" - in the normal configuration went beyond the budget (it cost over $ 41 thousand), but the main thing is that I do not like the design either externally or internally (I am generally silent about the "Yeti"), and DSG is ambiguous. Suzuki Grand Vitara- I didn’t even consider it, I don’t like it. I also looked at the Citroen DS4 (on an automatic transmission with a 150 hp turbo engine) - I really like it, a good ground clearance of 18 cm, but no all-wheel drive, and yet it is not a "SUV". Therefore, I crossed it out with regret - but in Europe I would definitely take it.

2 candidates reached the final - Nissan Qashqai and Ford Kuga.

Qashqai(2.0 with all-wheel drive) decided to try it anyway - after numerous rave reviews. But he disappointed me - the handling is not bad, acceptable comfort, clearance, but the CVT! This is a hoarse roaring evil that does not go (well, or goes badly). I'm not a racer, but I drive moderately actively, and in general I need power. I didn’t like the front panel yet - it looked very poor against the background of all the others (more on them below).

At the same time rolled on Nissan Murano- everything as described. Luxe type, I liked it inside, soft, comfortable, but wadded and incomprehensible control. Probably good for the track. Not mine. By the way, the vaunted variator from the traffic light also howled, but softer and accelerated faster beyond Qashqai (3.5 engine after all), although it is still worse than Kugi.

Then I accidentally tested again Honda CR-V the previous generation. I don’t like her by design, but they looked for a girl. 2.0 on the “machine” does not go, steering just terrible - worse than in a computer simulator. 2.4 pleasantly surprised me - handling (excellent in turns), drive, automatic (not perfect, but not bad), while very soft and comfortable, behind - a wagon of space. A great car for a girl in the city, if you close your eyes to the dumb plug-in drive and average ground clearance.

Also rode on Jeep Patriot(Liberty) 2012 - 2.4 L with CVT. My brother had previous generation, practical machine. But this one is a real “American”, the steering is cotton-empty, nothing is clear at all, as in the CR-V 2.0, it’s even somehow scary. It accelerates weakly with the CVT. Saves only four-wheel drive and high ground clearance.

Part 3. Ford Kuga 2.5-turbo (200 hp)

This is a European Ford product. Designed and manufactured in Germany. Therefore, the steering settings are European, but American comfort and softness are very well preserved. Feelings of a “thing” due to heavy doors closing with the right sound of an expensive car.

An important thing that contributed to my choice - 2.5 turbo engine, four-wheel drive (Haldex clutch) and APK-5 “Aisin” run-in and tested on Volvo. The motor is over 10 years old. This is even put on a rather big Volvo XC-90. The reliability of the key elements of the car warms the soul :)

The car cost me $36,300 (this is with an official dealer discount of $2,500 - it cost almost $39,000 in full). I like the “kinetic” design, it has its own face. Especially in white - I took it, and besides, I didn’t have to pay extra $ 600 for the color.

Maximum equipmentTitaniumstrange, more precisely - some kind of incomplete Ford maximum equipment. Although this allowed to keep an adequate cost.

There is skin, but no sunroof (although I do not need it). Factory front (switchable) and rear parking sensors, but no touch-screen multimedia system, no rear view camera. Officials have the latter costing over $1300 – but I didn’t bet. No daytime LED lights (will only appear in the new generation).

5-cylinder turbo engine“cunning”, structurally different and different from other “turbos” (for example, on the Mazda CX-7) - you don’t need to cool down, unless after a long active drive for half a minute, there are no turbos. As someone said, "for German burghers" everything should be without problems. Although I doubt that economical German burghers will buy a car with such an expense.

Because the expense is for a “C grade with a minus”. Even according to the passport in the city - 14.6 liters, mixed - 10.3 liters. On the other hand, there is a turbine for active driving and there is no sharpening for economy.

Consumption in the city(with 30% of the mileage on the highway) I didn’t have less than 15.5 liters, usually - 18 l / 100 km. In winter, with warm-ups and traffic jams, the record was 22 liters. I don’t count on the computer (it underestimates), but on checks and mileage. But such an expense specifically has explanations for me: short-distance driving (7 km one way in the morning and evening to work, on weekends - whenever), dynamic driving (I like to press the gas - the car allows), traffic jams, high energy consumption in winter (light, music, climate, heating). According to other reviews - in the city in the summer of 15-18 liters. On the highway on cruise control, my consumption was 8-10 liters.

Yes, uneconomical, but what a drive! For me personally, consumption is not a problem, but for the economical - not an option. See diesel engines (140 and 163 hp) - they are also praised, the maximum torque is also 320 Nm, the consumption in the city is 10-11 liters.

I like the sound of the engine very much - velvety and softly roaring - instead of aggressively growling in "Evolushins", etc. Up to 100 km according to the passport accelerates in 8.8 s. Subjectively - everything is fast, “power is sufficient”. After a test drive, I realized: this is it! Personally, I need power not only for pleasure, but also for safety - in fast maneuvers that require acceleration.

pickupfelt immediately- according to the passport maximum torque 320 Nm at 1500-4800 rpm. me personally for the city, even taking into account accelerations at traffic lights, up to 3000 is enough, usually 1500-2500 rpm. Moreover, there are no failures or turbo jams - evenly, the automatic transmission also works quickly and accurately. But after the toffee, she needs to rebuild on the drive, the box is adaptive.

Four-wheel drive- so-called "intellectual", it means coupling "Haldex". They praise it on the forums, it is not afraid of overheating when slipping. There are no all-wheel drive-mono-automatic connection modes. The “brains” of the machine decide everything themselves. They represent excellent. Default 90% goes to front-wheel drive, and 10% - on the back. Therefore, in the case of torque redistribution, there are no jerks, and the connection is smooth.

It is interesting that in the instructions for the car about all-wheel drive there are only a few mean lines - like “it is there and it works”, without detail and explanation. So it is - I checked it when driving on ice on a hill into the yard - “rushing like a tank”, all cars skid there and back out. On the snow, the connection of the all-wheel drive is not felt - everything is fast and imperceptible. Satisfied.

Clearance-19 cm with metal protection installed. I pass through the city everywhere, there is enough for curbs and snow.

Traditionally for Ford, there are 3 steering modes - normal, comfort and sport. I drive in sport mode the steering wheel is light but informative. On a hard "4"car feels good. The steering column is adjustable in height and depth.

Suspension is excellent - rulitsya well, but soft and comfortable(17th discs). After Peugeot with his medium hardness I drive on the same broken roads as on a highway.

The gas pedal is somewhat damped, not as sensitive as in Peugeot. The brakes are excellent and informative. On the track, it accelerated to 160 km - the sensations are normal, there is no discomfort and buildup.

Noise isolation - I like it, good for the budget class, there is noise at speed, but here it seems to depend a lot on the tires (the stock Continental all-season, but there is also noise on the winter Michelin xi2).

Rolls are minimal. But I don’t advise you to enter turns at high speed (what happened on Peugeot caused discomfort here). Still, the car is tall and it's not a Porsche.

ESP disabled via menu on-board computer. Weird people. Although, perhaps, it is right - so that the playful hands of the driver do not accidentally or out of stupidity. The stabilization system works efficiently and gently - tested in winter.

factory sound(radio "Sony", 8 speakers) was for its class just excellent, everyone praises this sound - I confirm it is very worthy. I listen to music from a flash drive via USB (bitrate 320, if anything J).

• Control of the audio system is not on the steering wheel, but under the steering wheel. I got used to it right away, it was similar to Peugeot - only here on the left, not on the right. I'm comfortable. On the steering wheel - only cruise control.
• Bluetooth easily connected with the iPhone, excellent sound quality during a conversation - I can also hear perfectly. USB is hidden in a large armrest (a huge niche, and stuck a USB flash drive there). 3 12 volt sockets throughout the car.

Mirrors and review. Mirrors are large, with turn signals, visibility is good. Interior mirror with automatic self-dimming (it cannot be turned off with a button, as on Peugeot). Considering the factory tinted rear and side windows, no one is blind.

Design front panel– no pretentiousness, no delight, but pleasant. Soft plastic in the center. From an aesthetic point of view, the white illumination of the instruments and the red illumination of the radio and climate displays do not agree. Moreover, the displays are old, monochrome (inverted), such as I had on Peugeot. No touch screens and a rear view camera - and this is already a shame in top configuration 2012.

seats- with electric adjustments for the driver, but I can’t get a perfect fit (height is 176 cm, weight is 64 kg), although there is lumbar support. In the cheaper version of the Trend, the seats are surprisingly more comfortable. But this is individual, you have to try.

Landing is high, bus. But there is not enough space in the back - even less than in Peugeot. I push the driver's seat all the way back (or almost all the way) - in this case, only a child will sit behind me. Although this is the case with most classmates, but I travel alone, maximum - together. But this car does not pull on a family car.

Trunk- small, but everything from the supermarket will fit. Under the rear seat there is a niche for things, but I do not use it.

The tailgate has two compartments - the upper one (for small things, along the window line) and the usual, full-size one. From the factory key fob, only the trunk can be opened separately (but there is no electric drive. But the new Kuga has a cool option: run your foot under the trunk and it will open).

There are armrests on the door cards for the hand, convenient on the track.

• Leather - average quality, as for such price category. Worse than Peugeot, but does not look leatherette.
• When you open the doors or unlock the locks with the key, the lamps in the mirrors illuminate the area around the car.

The hood is locked with a key. A little confused, but I got used to it.

Heating - not only rear window and mirrors, but also the front + windshield washer nozzles. And windshield covered with a thin grid of heating elements - it catches my eye, but not critical. (And in winter - priceless :)) Most noticeable in the sun. I haven’t used heated seats yet - I drove as much as possible at -18 and normally did without it.

Start-stop button» next to emergency right in the center - it had to be thought out. Structural miscalculation for the sake of design. It is easy to confuse and turn off the engine instead of "thank you". But on the move, the motor, if you press the start-stop button, does not stall - it's checked. Some protection is worth it. For six months, I accidentally pressed only once, in the parking lot (the car was standing and stalled, but there was no one around). On the move, I never made a mistake with the “emergency gang” - I’m already used to it, but at first its location next to the ignition is unusual. The ignition button itself is a very convenient thing.

Light - gorgeous bi-xenon. According to German tests, Kuga's dipped beam is one of the best (or even the best) among compact SUVs (such as RAV-4, Tiguan). I'll tell you my opinion - 5 points.

But no daytime LED lights! Basically, they don't. Now this is already backwardness, the Koreans have budget cars totally worth it. As an option, the dealer costs inadequate money (it seems to be $700). There are alternatives to order from abroad - but so far the hands have not reached.

Dual zone climate control- 5 points. Works very softly, comfortably and quickly. Posted and forgotten. At -13 heat starts to go after 10 minutes. Very convenient and intuitive clear control. All airflow arrows (glass, body, legs) are switched on separately and independently of each other - they can be combined in any way.

Problem areas: studied Russian and Ukrainian forums, there are very few complaints and nothing widespread. Most of the complaints were about the battery.. There are many complaints on the forums about its discharge on new machines for six months or a year. They come half-discharged either from the factory, or through the fault of dealers. And, according to reviews, after a complete discharge, then they serve little.

I also encountered a battery discharge somewhere in the 800 km. True, he sinned on the Pandora 3200 alarm. It was buggy, and the battery was discharged several times over several months (fortunately, within the framework of the guarantee, an “assist” arrived promptly and gave “fire”, for free J). Two dealers in the diagnostics could not give an intelligible answer about the cause of the discharge.

As a result, I demolished the alarm (the officials unofficially nodded at it, although they themselves installed it. Maybe yes, or maybe not - but it’s impossible to exclude the marriage of the “signaling” or the jamb with the installation). But there was still a leak (although the starter, generator, computer for errors - everything was checked, and nothing). And the dealer finally changed the battery under warranty (and it turned out to be expensive - somewhere around $ 200 (!), Although the rest of the spare parts are average). Moreover, the other dealer did not want to do this and convinced that the factory battery was working.

After that I drove 1500 km - everything is fine. I know that it may be that I drive short distances and the battery does not have time to charge - so I try to go to the track.

Flaws:

• High fuel consumption in the petrol turbo version
• Little space in the back, small trunk
• No camera and touch screen, daytime LED lights, sunroof
• Bad location of the start-stop button

Security Comfort Driving performance Reliability Appearance

Systematizing the problems associated with this car turned out to be unexpectedly difficult. We are not inclined to idealize cars, but the second-generation Ford Kuga resisted for a very long time before we managed to dig up any compromising evidence on it. Perhaps the car is still too fresh?

Usually, by the age of five, a whole train is already formed behind almost every car. typical disadvantages and the most common faults. For the "Ford" crossover, we began, as usual, rubbing our hands. And what was our surprise when Internet forums in unison gave out only one typical "jamb" on this model. And that one is not worth a damn. It turned out that a 5-year service life, which is exactly the age of the most elderly cars from our test subjects today, is not indicative of Ford's age.

Many on the forums pay attention to high quality plastic finish. It is durable and looks rich. But you may not like the number of buttons. A lot of them

After reading a fair amount of reviews, you understand that the crossover has outlived the “diseases” of the first generation and is generally made quite well. Good-looking on the outside, modern and solid on the inside. However, among its main advantages, both owners and specialists indicate excellent driving performance, as well as the reliability and reliability of the main units. It’s even difficult to single out anything as a leader here, so let’s go in order, noting the nuances that you should keep in mind when buying this car.

Moving on to the details, let's start with a diesel engine, the thrust of which is enough under any conditions. The manufacturer offered a choice of two versions of the TDCi motor of different power (150 and 180 hp). Both at this stage do not cause problems, with the exception of troubles provoked by frankly unusable fuel. As for the 1.6 EcoBoost petrol engine (150 and 182 hp), it will not disappoint either. The motor boasts a torque of 240 Nm, which is quite enough for tolerable dynamics.

Thin and light

We also cannot recommend any one of the two transmissions offered. Both 6-speed - "mechanics" and automatic work reliably and have not yet reached the age when you should listen and "smell" the process of their activities. Off-road, regardless of the type of drive, both work fine in the context of, of course, the limited capabilities of the crossover in this area. And the Kuga all-wheel drive system, in addition to routine control, does not require attention to itself yet.

Do not say anything reprehensible about the body. Of course, its size does not suit everyone, but even many owners of ten-year-old crossovers still cannot complain about corrosion or even a slight “bloom” of iron. And this despite the fact that the paintwork of the "Kuga" is quite thin and easily injured. And there are no complaints at all about the interior trim. Both fabric and leather behave with dignity. Questions cause only some moments of ergonomics and functionality of the equipment.

But where certainly there will be no complaints, so it is in handling. There are questions about setting up the electric amplifier. Too much "synthetics" in the near-zero zone. But with more severe deflection, there is organic and correct feedback on the steering wheel, and the wheels respond to commands accurately and quickly. Balanced suspension settings help you get the most out of your ride. Here and comfort, and speed of reactions to road conditions.

Where is that weirdo?

Since we are talking about the suspension, it will not be out of place to say a few warm words about it. An important advantage of the chassis is durability. Most frequent replacement- stabilizer struts - after 60-80 thousand km. Other details on occasion go up to 200 thousand km. This is a resource of ball, silent blocks of levers, thrust bearings and the pillows themselves, shock absorbers). However, the silent blocks of the rear “multi-link” last up to three years on average, regardless of the mileage. After that, the fasteners of the rear transverse levers, with the help of which the toe-in is adjusted, can “become boiled”. Needs regular lubrication. By the way, running gear repairs are expensive - many components change along with the levers.

And as for that single "jamb", since we mentioned it, we must lay it out to the end. This is the so-called braid - a plastic overlay above the license plate, which is on the fifth door. With its corners, it rubs against the body and, with a guarantee, wipes two full-fledged “gullies” to the metal. The recipe for prevention is simple - remove the "braid" and chop off the corners with a file.

And finally, now there are no cars without electronic glitches. Kuga is no exception. It’s somehow better with electrics, sometimes the headlight control unit suffers, but inconsistencies in various electronic protocols often come out. This can manifest itself in the incomprehensible behavior of the radio, the alarm lights that come on, the illogical operation of the heating of mirrors and seats. But, as you already understood, for the second generation Ford Kuga, this is already mere trifles. They will not spoil the impression of the car if there is an eccentric who will agree to sell it to you for little money.

Handling, power consumption and suspension comfort, diesel engine, automatic transmission, anti-corrosion

The high price of the car, the dynamics of the version with the 1.6 EcoBoost engine

Suspension

Structurally chassis Kuga is similar to Focus platform but not interchangeable. Stabilizers on both axles roll stability. An important advantage of the chassis is durability. Steering tips can easily last more than 100 thousand km, and steering rods can move twice as much

Transmission

The work of the AKP cannot be called swift, but claims against it are rare. Perhaps this is the best of the budget 6-speed boxes created by the Americans in this century. They also do not complain about breakdowns of the MCP. Is it the selection gear ratios... The first gear in the manual gearbox can be made “longer”, while the second one can be significantly “shortened”

Ford Kuga became the first mid-size crossover of the European division of FORD. Kuga is based on the C1 platform that underpins the Ford Focus and Ford C-Max. Serial production of the crossover began in February 2008.

Engines

The Ford Kuga has a 2.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with a capacity of 200 hp. and turbodiesels with a working volume of 2.0 liters - 136, 140 and 163 hp.

The Kuga petrol unit does not have any major problems, thanks to a reliable, time-tested design. The gas distribution mechanism is driven by a toothed belt.

Diesel engines have a timing chain drive. Unlike their gasoline counterpart, diesel engines sometimes give their owners a little trouble. But as a rule, it does not come to serious interventions and repairs. More often problems are caused by air leaks in the fuel system or at the intake. Some owners note a noticeable vibration when the engine is running in the mode idle move or during intensive acceleration at the moment the arrow passes the speed indicator in the range of 1800 - 2100 rpm. Vibrations at idle winter time engine support pads tanning in the cold contribute.

To reduce harmful emissions, a DPF particulate filter is installed in the exhaust gas system of turbodiesels. Depending on the operating modes of the diesel Ford Kuga, about once every 1000 km when driving on the highway or 500 km, the particulate filter regeneration mode starts in the urban cycle. At the same time, the hourly fuel consumption at idle increases from the usual 0.5-0.6 l / h to 2.0 l / h, a pungent smell of burning appears and the cooling system fan is activated. The duration of the process is on average about 5 minutes. When driving on the highway, the regeneration process is almost not noticeable. On 2008 cars, problems with the particulate filter sensor often appear. A new sensor will require about 6 thousand rubles.

On diesel engines with a capacity of 163 hp. sometimes there are problems with the turbocharger with a run of more than 30-40 thousand km. Turbine blades are mechanically damaged and bent. Part of the Kuga with such an engine fell under the revocable company due to possible problems with turbocharger.

Some copies required the replacement of the flywheel due to the play that appeared, accompanied by a knock. The problem arose with a run of more than 30-50 thousand km. A new flywheel cost 10-12 thousand rubles.

There are frequent cases of failure of the fuel level sensor in fuel tank, which shows underfilling when the tank is full.

Transmission

All Kuga engines are mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. The gasoline unit, in addition, is equipped with a 5-speed "automatic" of the company "Aisin", and diesel engine– robotic 6-speed power shift by Getrag. Ford Kuga owners have no problems with gearboxes.

Per connection rear axle the Haldex coupling answers. The Ford Kuga was originally equipped with a third-generation clutch, which causes a lot of problems. The clutch was later replaced fourth generation with a more robust design. Couplings of the third generation gave up at a run of more than 40-60 thousand km due to the failure of the pump. I had to pay about 20-25 thousand rubles for a new pump. The 4th generation clutch pump is more durable. Pump failure can result in failure of the DEM clutch control unit. The new module is not cheap - from 80 to 100 thousand rubles. Block failure is caused by burnout of tracks in the block. Some electricians are able to repair a failed module, which is much cheaper than buying a new one.

Most often, problems with the pump appear in severe frosts. The pump cannot cope with thickened oil and the brushes of the electric pump begin to burn. A short circuit occurs. The standard 7.5A fuse does not have time to work and the unit burns out. This can be avoided by replacing the standard fuse with an analogue with a lower operating limit - 5A.

The old oil in the clogged coupling can also contribute to the failure of the Haldex pump. oil filter. In order to save yourself from possible problems, it is necessary to change the oil in the clutch along with the filter at least every 30 thousand km.

The display of the "AWD malfunction" display does not mean that the clutch is really out of order. Often the cause is a weak charge battery. After charging the battery or replacing it, the problem goes away.

Chassis

Crossover suspension endures movement on Russian roads. Frankly, there are no weak points in the chassis. Stabilizer struts go more than 70-90 thousand km. New inexpensive - about 600 rubles. By the same time, the front stabilizer bushings are also suitable. Wheel bearings run more than 100-150 thousand km. The original ones will cost 2.5-3 thousand rubles, and the work on replacing them will cost about 1000 rubles. Dealers for new hubs, along with work, ask about 6 thousand rubles. Shock absorbers serve more than 130-150 thousand km. Silent blocks of levers are surrendered with a run of more than 150-200 thousand km.

Other problems and malfunctions

There are no complaints about the Kuga body iron. Some owners have experienced "sticking" the seam on the inside of the hood.

It is not uncommon for water to appear in the cabin through the seals of the air conditioner tubes. Sometimes the fault for a leak lies in the cracked sealant of the welds under the outer plastic lining at the bottom of the windshield. The danger of this phenomenon is the ingress of water into electrical units, their failure, the appearance of problems with the electrician and, as a result, the costly replacement of faulty units.

Over time, the leather sheath of the steering wheel and the decorative cover of the manual transmission lever are wiped. As a rule, dealers recognize the case as a warranty and change the worn element.

The creaking of the front seats is recognized by the manufacturer as a design flaw. Some dealers replace seat mounts. The rest eliminate the creak by lubricating the chair slides.

Sometimes crickets appear at the junction of the door trim with the front panel or in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe seat belt tensioner. "Branded" creaking backs rear seat eliminated by wrapping the latches with electrical tape.

Electricity does not present surprises. Sometimes there are problems with the GEM module (external lighting and light signaling) or the overrunning clutch of the generator fails (3-4 thousand rubles).

Conclusion

Ford Kuga, as strange as it may seem to many, turned out to be a fairly reliable car. This fact is confirmed by high reliability ratings in German statistics. The only weak point of the crossover is the Haldex clutch.