The rumors that Ford was going to permanently retire its Kuga compact SUV were unfounded. The car is still in production in Spain, and has just received a facelift for all of Europe. Or perhaps “refresh” is a better word: the exterior stays exactly the same.
For one thing, the 2026 model year brings along a Bang & Olufsen audio system with two extra speakers and 700 watts of power in total, up from 575W. For another, drivers get an updated version of Ford’s BlueCruise autopilot system. It allows you to take your hands off the steering wheel on select highways where it is both legal and supported by the car’s software. Ford claims it covers 95% of all highways in the EU. The obvious catch is that you are going to need an automatic transmission for that.
Which is relevant because in Europe, the cheapest 2026 Ford Kuga still ships with a six-speed manual transmission. It has a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine rated at 150 PS (148 hp / 110 kW) and drives the rear wheels. Prices in Germany start from €39,950, same as before.
Paying extra gets you 186 PS (183 hp / 137 kW) and automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is available in a mild hybrid form with 180 PS (178 hp / 132 kW). There’s also a full-fledged plug-in hybrid with 243 PS (240 hp / 179 kW) listed for €56,150, but it goes FWD only.
