Ford Kuga vs Land Rover Evoque; which SUV is best?

Which SUV is Best: Ford Kuga Vs Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

So you're looking for a new car and thinking about an SUV. Well of course! They're great for fitting in the whole family, kitted out for a safe and comfortable ride, and constantly getting greener. But, is the Ford Kuga or the Land Rover Evoque better for you? Let's take a look...

 

 

A brief overview

Here are some key performance statistics to consider about both the Ford Kuga and Land Rover Evoque, as a quick comparison.

Styling and image

The latest (3^rd generation) Ford Kuga bears a strong resemblance to the Ford Focus, in part due to both cars using Ford's C2 platform, but the Kuga benefits from a robust and heightened frame, common with SUVs, and a smooth finish that delivers a bold and striking aesthetic.

With its sleek, handsome appearance, the original (2011) Range Rover Evoque is credited for pushing Land Rover's SUV offering from merely functional to fashionable and sophisticated. The second generation, released in 2019, doesn't stray too far from the bold and dynamic aesthetic but does adopt a number of features from the Range Rover Velar, with similar headlights, taillights and smooth flanks.

Interior and practicality

In the Kuga, the driver's seat comes with plenty of lumbar support and there's plenty of room for adjustment in the seat and the steering wheel. As well as this, all versions have front and rear parking sensors, cruise control and a heated windscreen, to make the ride just that little smoother. There's a 12.3-inch digital display on Titanium trims and above for important driving information, including the charge level on the battery in the PHEV model.

In the back, passengers will be happy with their headroom and legroom, although sitting 3 abreast may be a bit snug.

Every Kuga comes with parking sensors as standard, front and rear, and all but the Zetec also features a rear-view camera; this is particularly helpful as the pillars are quite thick and can limit visibility in some situations.

The Evoque lives up to Land Rover's reputation of getting driving positions right, with a slightly higher seat than its rivals for better visibility, with ample space for even drivers over 6ft. The heated seats are, as standard, manually adjustable in 8 ways - the S, SE and HSE trim feature power-adjustable seats and the SE and HSE both come with a memory function. Taller passengers in the back may feel the pinch on longer journeys, particularly if there are 3 in the back.

The dashboard comes uncluttered and higher up, to match the seats. In lieu of an excess of physical buttons, a 10.0-inch touchscreen AC control panel sits below the main Pivi Pro infotainment screen. This features DAB radio, Bluetooth and auto smartphone mirroring. All Evoque cars feature front and rear parking sensors as well as a camera for reversing, included as standard.

Performance and economy

The hybrid Kuga has the fastest acceleration in the range with 9.1 seconds, followed by the PHEV at 9.2s and the 1.5l EcoBoost petrol at 9.7s. Unsurprisingly the plug-in hybrid model has the best savings in terms of fuel economy and CO2 emissions, particularly when in full EV mode; it's paired with a 2.5l petrol engine.

The P200 and D200 (petrol and diesel, respectively) Evoque engines are pretty level when it comes to acceleration: 8.6 seconds and 8.5 seconds), although the petrol engine needs a fair bit of revving to achieve that. It's the P300e - the plug-in hybrid - that has the fastest 0-60mph score at just 6.1 seconds, thanks to its combination of a 1.5litre three-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and 15kWh battery.

Ride and handling

The Kuga stays nice and composed thanks to its suspension, although the sports suspension and 19-inch alloy wheels on the ST-Line X version may provide a ride on the firmer end of the scale. It comes with quick and eager steering but you'll experience a fair share of lean when cornering in the Kuga. The PHEV model is pretty nimble for a plug-in!

The Evoque comes with a bit of body lean but there is plenty of grip and it handles with certainty. Being a Land Rover, this car handles off-road terrain comfortably, leaving some rivals in the dust, and has a respectable wading depth of 530mm. The Evoque handles speed bumps gracefully and provides a settled ride along motorways.

Verdict

Both the Ford Kuga and Land Rover Evoque are comfortable, stylish vehicles with plenty of convenient kit and come in a range of options. The Kuga delivers a smoother ride and plenty of in-car customisation while the Evoque may be more suited if you fancy roads off the beaten path or require a bit of extra space, particularly for passengers in the back.

To find out more take a look at our selection of Ford Kuga and Land Rover Evoque today.