New Ford Kuga Facelift: prices, specs, and release date

• Latest SYNC4 infotainment expected
• Petrol and plug-in hybrid engines available
• Facelift will bring design in line with other recently updated Ford models

Ford has given its Kuga SUV a mid-life refresh to match its similarly updated Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus models. First launched in 2019, the third generation Kuga is expected to borrow styling cues from the recently updated Focus to better compete with upmarket rivals, such as the Volkswagen Tiguan and Toyota RAV4.

As these images of an undisguised car show, the front features redesigned air intakes that flank a completely new bumper and a larger Ford badge on a lightly updated grille that will bring the front of the Kuga inline with other recently updated Ford vehicles. A new headlight cluster and the addition of a light bar above the front grille completes the new look.

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At the rear there are fewer differences, with the main update being a redesign of the rear lights. There is also the addition of a different boot handle on the vehicle in our pictures, but it is suspected this may be a change for the North American market only.

The side of the Kuga appears unchanged from the current model and so expect the same body-coloured sills and door mirrors as well as black trim pieces around the windows.

Inside the latest SYNC4 system from Ford is expected to feature a central display measuring 13.2-inches and operated via a touchscreen. The digital instrument cluster of the current model will likely be carried over.

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We anticipate Ford will retain the engines of the current model leaving a choice of a petrol 1.5-litre producing 148bhp and two hybrids. These will both be connected to a 2.5 litre engine with the hybrid producing 187bhp, and the plug-in hybrid model delivering 222bhp.

An official unveiling of the car is expected later this year once European testing has been completed, with the first models to arrive in showrooms likely to arrive in early 2023. Prices haven’t yet been confirmed, but expect a mild uplift on the £28,755 starting price of the current model.

See our list of top 10 best SUVs, and our top 10 best hybrid SUVs.