This is how the facelifted Ford Kuga

The SUV that you know in Europe as Ford Kuga is known as Escape in the United States. Ford has now presented the facelifted Escape to the American public and with that we also know in what form Ford will serve the facelifted Kuga. Although the front of the Kuga is completely renewed, the whole is probably not that surprising for the avid visitor to AutoWeek. We were able to show you the renewed Escape/Kuga twice before without stickers.

Ford Kuga pre facelift.

The Ford Escape and therefore also the Kuga gets a completely new face thanks to the arrival of new headlights. The light units are optically less high in the nose and are a lot flatter than the more backwards pulled copies of the original. The headlights are pressed against the edge of the hood and have been given a stubborn nod. The grille is also completely new. It is less high and, like the headlights, from now on it connects to the hood. Ford now places its logo centrally in the grille, so it is no longer between the grille and hood. On the top edge of the grille, Ford places an LED strip that optically connects the headlights. For the touch-up session, Ford had to completely renew the hood, something that is certainly not common with facelifts.

The rear of the Ford Kuga is treated less violently. For example, the rear lights simply retain their familiar shape, although their layout has changed. Here too we see a new bumper. Striking detail: the handle of the tailgate, which used to be in the middle of the bottom of the hatch, has made way for a more attractively concealed copy in the ‘canopy’ above the license plate. In the interior, Ford screws a larger and now 13.2-inch measuring infotainment screen. Behind the steering wheel is a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation.

Facelifted Escape with larger infotainment screen.

Ford also supplies the Escape in the United States as a sporty ST-Line for the first time. The Escape has a 180 hp 1.5 Ecoboost petrol engine with front or four-wheel drive and is also available as a hybrid. In addition, Ford offers a 250 hp version with a blown 2.0 Ecoboost power source. More engine choice? Certainly, Ford also offers the Escape in the United States with a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a system power of 210 hp. Ford only supplies the Kuga in the Netherlands as a PHEV, although that version here is 225 hp powerful.

Ford Kuga

Since the Dutch market introduction of the first generation Kuga in 2008, Ford has sold more than 15,400 units in the Netherlands over three generations. Last year the model had its best sales year, when 2,850 Kugas entered the Dutch dealerships. Ford also sells the Kuga in China as Escape, but there the crossover has a completely own snout.

The renewed Ford Kuga intended for Europe and therefore also the Netherlands – which will therefore resemble this Escape like two drops of water – is expected to be presented later.