crossover Showdown FORD KUGA 2.5 AWD VERSUS VW TIGUAN 2.0 TSI
The Ford Kuga and the VW Tiguan. Both are available with gutsy petrol powerplants. Both have all-wheel drive. Both have funky crossover styling. And both have weird, barely-pronounceable names. So which one is left standing when these two CUVs face off?
Text: GG van Rooyen, Danie Botha and Anzet du Plessis
Photography: GG van Rooyen
GG van Rooyen writes:
My dentist has a scratch golf handicap. He is, to put it mildly, a very good player. But his ability to whack a white ball towards a small hole doesn’t really impress me. I know that he is good at it, but it doesn’t influence my decision to have him work on my teeth. All I care about is his ability to rummage around in my mouth without hurting me.
I have a similar feeling regarding the 2.0 TSI Tiguan’s performance. I’m aware of the fact that it sports a two-litre powerplant that generates a hefty 155 kW of power, will race from standstill to 100 km/h in 8,5 seconds and reach a top speed of more than 200 km/h, but this information doesn’t really matter to me. And I don’t think it would matter to most potential owners.
The Tiguan, I feel, is not a vehicle that is intended to be driven vigorously. If you force it to gallop at full speed, it will comply, but its heart will never truly be in it. VW’s crossover is far too refined and civilised for such shenanigans.
In the Tiguan, the engine feels purely like a tool designed to allow you to reach your destination quickly and efficiently. Speed, in other words, is a by-product, and not an end in itself. The two-litre engine allows you to accelerate quickly and overtake with ease, but it won’t raise the adrenaline in your blood while doing it.
NVH levels in the vehicle‘s cabin are superbly low and the ride quality is fantastic, but because the Tiguan ensconces you in a cocoon of luxury, it also divorces you from the visceral act of driving. You never feel as if you’re travelling fast in the Tiguan, even when you push it hard which, depending on how you look at it, is either a blessing or a curse.
Since the Golf GTI’s powerplant lurks under the bonnet of the Tiguan, you might expect it to offer an involving ride. It doesn’t. But what it does do is provide you with an exquisite form of transportation.
The Tiguan is a wonderful vehicle to live with on a daily basis. Its power makes it a great long-distance traveller. Its size and manoeuvrability make it a competent runabout on congested city streets. And the comfort and elegance of its interior make even the most irritating traffic jams bearable.
The Ford Kuga, meanwhile, does offer an involving ride. It is the sort of crossover that could justifiably be described as a driver’s vehicle. Since it is a high-riding crossover, it doesn’t boast the handling or performance of a hot hatch, but it manages to make driving a lot of fun.
Firstly, its steering seems stiff and direct for a crossover, allowing you to feel as if you’re piloting the Kuga with pinpoint accuracy. Secondly, its engine/gearbox combination is terrific. The five-speed auto shifter works well with the five-cylinder, 2,5-litre engine. A slight prod of the right foot results instantly in a smooth and steady stream of power.
Overall, the Ford’s engine and gearbox deliver power in a linear and predictable fashion. I never felt as if the gearbox swapped cogs too early or too late, and the power was always right there when I needed it.
Who would the Kuga appeal to? Driving enthusiasts, I think. Specifically those with families, whose need for practicality (slightly) outweigh their need for speed. If you’ve always dreamed of owning a bright-green Focus RS, but realise that you need something more sensible, the Kuga is for you.
The Kuga offers more fun and evokes more emotion than the Tiguan. It looks funkier, boasts more feel and has a sportier engine/gearbox combination.
The Tiguan’s performance didn’t blow me away when we tested it. I thought that the two-litre engine would work better with the seven-speed DSG transmission. Instead, I found the Kuga’s basic five-speed ’box easier to use and more responsive. There was often a bit of lag between throttle input and acceleration with the VW, especially when accelerating from standstill.
That said, I still liked the Tiguan very much. Its ride is so refined and its interior so plush and classy that it’s impossible to dislike the vehicle. But I wouldn’t buy the two-litre model. I would opt for the 1,4-litre TSI BlueMotion that generates 118 kW of power. It offers an interior that is just about as plush as the two-litre’s, an engine that delivers more than enough oomph, and fuel economy that beggars belief. And you’ll save around R100 000 in the process!
That’s an almost irresistible proposition, unless, of course, you’re a driving enthusiast. If you value driving pleasure over everything else, well, then you’ll be unable to resist the Kuga.
Danie Botha writes:
Picture the scene, Part 1. It’s Volkswagen’s research and development unit, in Wolfsburg, Germany. It’s late at night, and engineer “Klaus” is slumped over the computer’s keyboard. He is quietly sobbing.
There is a message on the screen, from his wife, Alexandra. It reads: “Nein, you may not have the GTI! If you want to be a family man with three children, you must start acting like one! Nein GTI! We need something more practical!”
And that’s when Klaus has a brainwave. If he can’t have his sporty Golf GTI because it is supposedly not practical enough, then he will make a practical GTI! And he will call it the Tiguan 2.0TSi!
Picture the scene, Part 2. It’s Ford’s research and development unit in Saarlouis, Germany. It’s late at night and engineer “Charles” is sitting behind his desk, hands in his hair. There is a message on his laptop, from his wife Elizabeth. It reads: “No way are you getting the Focus ST as a company car! You have to think of your family, my dear man. Just admit that your testosterone-fuelled hot-hatch phase is now a thing of the past!”
And that’s when Charles has a brainwave. If he can’t have the rorty Ford Focus ST because it only has three doors and not many practical attributes, then he will make a practical ST! And he will call it the Kuga!
As far as I know, the above mentioned scenarios are both fictional. Except for the part about Saarlouis, Germany – that’s where the Ford Kuga is actually being built. The reasoning is that this comparison is not between the Kuga and the Tiguan. It really is a battle between the VW Golf GTI and the Ford Focus ST. Sort of, anyway.
The Kuga and the latest Focus share the same common platform, and the five-cylinder turbo engine also used to be an ST hallmark. The next generation ST – and therefore the next Kuga – will be powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder mill. It’s a shame, really.
The feisty five-cylinder engine, sourced from former alliance partner Volvo and boasting a surprising amount of soul, character and tractable power, was in my opinion the main reason why the ST was the first Ford in a long time that could coax Blue Oval fanatics to start new ST clubs and dedicated ST on-line forums. Yep, the fanatics had a reason to be excited again.
The Kuga you see on these pages, even though we are only getting it four years after its European launch, has this engine. And 147 kW of power and 320 Nm of instant torque. The result is a grin-a-minute kind of ride, with the five-speed automatic gearbox playing an Oscar-winning supporting role.
Okay, so on paper the Tiguan 2.0TSI 4Motion mostly has the Ford covered in the performance department. Its two-litre Golf GTI engine delivers 155 kW of power and 280 Nm of torque, and the power is sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed direct shift gearbox (DSG). So the Volksie has 8 kW more power, 40 Newtons less torque, and two more gears.
On the road the Ford feels more responsive, more agile and sporty, and more hatch-like hot. Yes, the Tiguan is super-composed, highly agile and can cover ground very briskly indeed, but ultimately it’s a more remote, more accountant-like driving experience in the VW.
Driving the Volksie is like downing a mix of Red Bull and vodka. For the Ford experience, add Glenfiddich whisky and a dash of Jägermeister to the Red Bull and vodka mix!
In the handling department it’s a very close call. But ultimately the Ford’s more pliant ride on bad surfaces and dirt, combined with razor-sharp steering, surprisingly nimble handling in the tight stuff, loads of composure and grip in fast sweeps, and a ready-to-rumble auto gearbox that makes VW’s normally awesome DSG ’box look rather ordinary, get the thumbs up from me.
The VW has traction control, the Ford doesn’t. But even on a slippery gravel track the Kuga’s four-wheel drive system maintains traction impeccably. You have to do something really drastic to unsettle the Ford. When it happens, though, the electronic safety net will allow only a small degree of skidding before the stability control steps in, and “saves the day.”
Looks wise, I prefer the Kuga’s slightly more daring styling cues over those of the functional but rather bland Tiguan.
On the inside, it’s a different matter. A friend, who is a creative architect type, summed up the Ford’s centre console stack as being “over designed”. I concur. This seems to be a Ford thing, because the new Ranger suffers from the same overcrowded centre dash-syndrome.
The Tiguan’s interior is – as is normally the case with VW vehicles – simple and straight-forward, very well put together and with a classy feel to it. However, after a 200km stint behind the Volksie’s steering wheel, I found the driver’s seat peculiarly uncomfortable.
To sum up: The Kuga has clearly been introduced here because Ford needs to swing some petrol-engined units before the new model arrives internationally, later this year. Sure, as a consumer one could take exception to this rather blatant way-too-late introduction. Or you could rejoice in the fact that, no matter the reason, the Kuga, armed with that 2,5-litre five-cylinder engine, is now actually on sale in SA. This is how I feel.
In the end it boils down to a choice between the more practical and the more family-oriented versions of the Golf GTI and the Focus ST. And seen in this light, the Ford gets the nod from me. There’s just more ST in the Kuga than there is GTI in the Tiguan.
Sorry Klaus.
Anzet du Plessis writes:
Expectation is the root of all disappointment. Well, much of it. It’s great, then, when something meets or surpasses your expectations, regardless of how high they were.
The Tiguan has always been one of the most understated vehicles, in my opinion. While crossovers like the Qashqai managed to create an entirely new segment, all “crossover” status did for this car was allow it to fall between the cracks.
The Touareg, in all its glory, overshadows the Tiguan. And rightly so – it’s bigger, it’s got more gadgetry, better ground clearance and off-road capability. But is it better? The answer can only be found by properly defining it – better for whom?
Markets dictate the judgment that is passed on a particular vehicle. Whether or not the Tiguan has good ground clearance may not matter much to a buyer who wants a spacious, well-powered SUV within a certain budget.
The Tiguan is a great vehicle, in its own right, and is sadly overlooked by many buyers. The range offers a lot by way of versatility. It varies in price from R287 000 for the 1,4 TSI Trend&Fun to R413 800 for the 2,0 TSI that we had on test. In between are brackets for almost every pay cheque – all highly capable, sophisticated, family cars.
The Tiguan offers ride quality to satisfy any urban family and a plush, comfortable interior. Far from being a boring vehicle, the 155 kW generated by the 2,0-litre engine makes for a bit of sport and speed whenever it’s needed, even if the DGS gearbox is uncharacteristically lazy. That may be because the purpose of this particular Volkswagen is not to be Scirocco-R-quick, or Polo-Gti-spunky. It’s intended to be a decent, reliable, comfortable people-mover.
It’s not very pretty, either, or particularly quick. But it has enough and more of what is needed to do what it was made for, and do it well.
Overtaking isn’t a schlep, the cabin is quiet and surprisingly spacious for a VW, and it’s got a luxury feel that’s way above its price tag. It offers choice and variety to people who aren’t looking for something as big and expensive as the Touareg but don’t want a small car. In fact, you’d think it was perfect. Until you drive the Kuga.
The Ford is the lucky-packet, jack-in-the-box surprise of the year. Last year, that is. Well, further back than last year, actually.
The Kuga, to put it mildly, is old. It’s been around, internationally, for years, and somehow only found its way to SA late last year. Officially launched in January, the Kuga has nevertheless been getting great reviews.
The reason is simple – it’s much better than one would expect, despite its age. The 2,5-litre engine, which delivers 147kW, is exceptionally well matched to the five-speed auto gearbox. On paper, it shouldn’t be nearly as good as it is – but there you have it.
The gearbox has a smooth exchange – it’s no DGS, but in comparison to the tuning in the Tiguan, it may be better applied – and power delivery is on point, whenever you need it. Every last kilowatt is extracted from the Ford engine, backed up by handling that is on centre and has just that little bit of stiffness that makes it highly engaging.
It’s not a sports car – don’t misunderstand me. This is a utility, urban people-mover. But it’s the most fun you’ll have in a crossover, by far. You may even forget that you are in an SUV crossover. The design, which is much sharper and edgier than that of the Tiguan, has aged well.
Despite their obvious similarities, the Tiguan and the Kuga are two completely different animals, with two sets of audiences.
Are there overlaps? Of course. They are both marketed at urban families who require something that is reasonably capable on all road surfaces, has the now-familiar safe-SUV high ride feel to it, is spacious, looks good and can function as a comfortable family car. They’ve both borrowed turbocharged power plants from performance vehicles within their stable – the Tiguan from the Golf GTi and the Kuga from the Focus ST. They both have permanent all-wheel-drive systems that surprisingly haven’t made them ridiculously expensive. But where the Kuga is edgy and engaging and begs to be challenged, the Tiguan screams (in design and performance) utility, function, comfort and ease-of-use.
Which one should you buy? Well, there’s something fundamentally wrong with both of them. The problem with the Tiguan is that there would be few people who would buy it over the Kuga, knowing what the differences are. That’s because the Kuga has all the functionality of the Tiguan, but at a lower price and with more to offer by way of driving pleasure.
What about that different market I mentioned? Sure, that market is there – buyers who will be interested in it because it is plush, quiet and comfortable; buyers who want it because it isn’t the Kuga.
The question is, why would they buy the 2,0-litre variant? If performance isn’t the point, then the BlueMotion or the 4×2 Trend&Fun are much cheaper options, with power outputs still higher than that of the Kuga. There are also larger SUVs in the 2,0-litre’s price bracket.
The problem with the Kuga is that a new model will be released soon, and is bound to be a considerable upgrade. With the Kuga’s fuel consumption and looks being what they are, you might do well to wait for the next generation model.
THE CONTENDERS
Ford “The Kid” Kuga
Sticking closely to Old Man Ford’s famous philosophy, the Ford Kuga doesn’t exactly drown buyers in a sea of options. You can at least go for a colour other than black, but that’s just about where it ends. Only one engine is on offer – a 2,5-litre, five-cylinder petrol powerplant that serves up 147 kW of power and 320 Nm of torque – and it is mated to a five-speed auto ’box only. All-wheel drive is also standard.
There are, however, two specification levels to choose from – the Trend and the Titanium.
The Titanium gets a few fancier gadgets and finishes, but overall, the differences aren’t massive.
The interior of the Kuga is trendy, but some might think it’s a little too flashy, especially in the Trend model, which boasts a colourful centre console. The Tiguan’s cabin is certainly classier. However, the Ford’s cabin is comfortable and boasts all the safety and infotainment features one could ask for.
The Kuga’s biggest drawback is that it has arrived in SA very late in its life. Although it has only just entered the local fray, it has been competing overseas for quite a few years, which means that it is starting to show its age. Feistier competitors are on the horizon, including its own replacement. Ford unveiled the next generation Kuga at the Los Angeles Motor Show late last year.
That said, the Kuga has aged well. It remains a fast and agile vehicle that holds its own against any opponent in its class.
VW “Mr Versatile” Tiguan
The Tiguan is one of the most underrated contenders in its segment. It isn’t flashy, but it is very versatile and efficient. It’ll get you where you want go time after time, without any drama.
The latest version of the Tiguan was released towards the end of last year, and although it sticks closely to the formula of the previous model, it does sport an updated exterior that makes it look like a tiny Touareg.
The range of models is extensive. In fact, no less than seven versions are available. And sitting at the top of the Tiguan heap is the two-litre TSI. Like the Kuga, it has all-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox — VW’s vaunted seven-speed DSG version.
Its engine generates 155 kW of power and 280 Nm of torque, which means that the Tiguan accelerates very nicely and has a top speed of 207 km/h. Don’t let these figures fool you, though. This two-litre unit isn’t a hardcore performance model. Despite the fact that it shares its engine with the Golf GTI, the Tiguan is aimed more at transporting occupants safely and comfortably than racing from one traffic light to the next.
For this reason, a frugal and more affordable BlueMotion version is probably a better option. Models such as the 1.4 TSI and 2.0 TDI Trend & Fun offer excellent value for money.
[BOXED]
TALE OF THE TAPE
FORD KUGA AWD AUTO TITANIUM |
|
VW TIGUAN 2.0 TSI 4MOTION |
2,5-litre, five-cylinder, Duratec turbo |
ENGINE |
Two-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharger and compressor |
2521cc |
DISPLACEMENT |
1984cc |
147 kW @ 6000 r/min |
POWER |
155 kW @ 5100 r/min |
320 Nm @ 1600 r/min |
TORQUE |
280 Nm @ 1700 r/min |
Five-speed automatic |
GEARBOX |
Seven-speed DSG |
Permanent 4WD |
AWD SYSTEM |
4Motion permanent 4WD |
14,32 l/100km |
FUEL CONSUMPTION |
10,49 l/100km |
66 litres |
FUEL TANK SIZE |
64 litres |
461km |
ESTIMATED RANGE |
610km |
360 litres |
LUGGAGE CAPACITY |
471 litres |
188mm |
GROUND CLEARANCE |
200mm |
235/50 R18 |
TYRE SIZE |
235/55 R17 * |
Four-year/120 000km |
WARRANTY |
Three-year/120 000km |
Four-year/80 000km |
SERVICE PLAN |
Five-years/60 000km |
20 000km |
SERVICE INTERVAL |
15 000km |
R406 850 |
PRICE |
R413 800 |
*Our test model sported optional 18-inch wheels with 235/50 R18 tyres.