Ford Kuga Plug-In Hybrid reliability & safety rating
This generation of Ford Kuga was awarded the full five stars by Euro NCAP, making it one of the safest cars on sale
| Euro NCAP | Adult protection | Child protection | Safety assist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 stars (2019) | 92% | 86% | 73% |
Thanks to its suite of safety systems and an exemplary five-star Euro NCAP rating, the Ford Kuga should be a safe family car. Driver assistance and safety features on all models include cruise control with adjustable speed limiter, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance with lane-departure warning, speed-limit assistance and post-collision braking. That’s in addition to its host of airbags, electronic stability control and (admittedly mandatory) anti-lock brakes.
Ford doesn’t have the strongest reputation for quality or reliability, but the previous-generation Kuga finished mid-table in our sister title Auto Express' 2019 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey. Rivals like the Peugeot 3008 – which will soon be available as a plug-in hybrid – finished far higher.
Ford Kuga Plug-In Hybrid reliability & problems
The third-generation Kuga was too new to have featured in the 2020 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, but as Ford makes some of the most popular cars on sale, it’s possible to get some insight into how reliable this SUV might be. Ford as a brand finished 24th out of 30 manufacturers ranked in the 2020 survey, with 15% of owners reporting a fault with their car. Build quality was an area of concern among owners.
Safety
This Ford Kuga performed well in Euro NCAP crash-testing, earning a full five-star rating thanks to its myriad safety systems and standard autonomous emergency braking. A score of 92% for adult occupant protection is particularly impressive and shouldn't be directly compared to the old car’s theoretically superior 94% rating, as Euro NCAP's test criteria are constantly revised to become more and more stringent.
An 86% rating for child protection is another plus point considering many buyers will be looking at the Kuga as their sole family car. ISOFIX child-seat mounts are standard and the rear doors open wide, which makes fitting child seats nice and easy. A host of extra features earned the car 73% in the safety assist category.
