Ford Kuga Gains Sporty ST-Line Version, On Sale This Fall

The Ford Kuga is the latest member to join the ST-Line family, after the Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo.

Following the same recipe with the rest of their models, the new Kuga ST-Line will offer a sportier driving experience paired with a more aggressive styling.

This translates into a high-gloss Ebony Black upper grille with a matching honeycomb design for the lower one, body-coloured side skirts, door cladding, wheel arches and roof spoiler, privacy glass and tinted front and rear lights among other features.

A set of black 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels is on offer while the interior gains unique sport seats dressed partially in leather. Contrasting stitching is applied to the seats, gear lever and steering wheel with the center console getting a deep, two-layer Deep Space paint finish.

The ST-Line version of the Kuga is also getting stiffer suspension bushes, just like the Focus in order to reduce unwanted movement, with springs and dampers finely-tuned to match them. Even the steering gets a revised calibration to offer a tighter and sportier feel.

“Ford ST-Line models are designed to deliver a fun to drive experience, and we placed a strong focus on ensuring that Ford’s first performance-orientated SUV in Europe offered the same driving characteristics as the Fiesta ST-Line, Focus ST-Line and Mondeo ST-Line models”, said Frederick Vrancken, Kuga ST-Line vehicle dynamics engineer.

The Kuga ST-Line version will be offered with the full engine range, including the 118hp (120PS) 1.5-litre TDCi diesel unit which returns a combined 45.6mpg UK (6.2lt/100km) and 115g/km of CO2 emissions.

The 148hp (150PS) 2.0-litre TDCi unit can be combined with either front-wheel drive or AWD, with the more powerful 179hp (182PS) version offered exclusively with the latter. Those looking for a petrol engine, there’s the 1.5-litre EcoBoost engine in 118hp, 148hp and 179hp guises, with the latter again offered only in conjunction with AWD.

The new Ford Kuga ST-Line is expected to hit the European market later this year, alongside the new, more luxurious Vignale edition.