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Good for battling the boreens

Thursday, 17 December 2009

If you are a company car driver or maybe a small builder or farmer who can do without rear seats then the Ford Kuga Commercial, recently crowned Continental Irish SUV of the Year, could be the motor for you. The 2.0 diesel Kuga Commercial is so quiet and has none of the trappings of a conventional van. It’s scarcely recognisable as a commercial vehicle, with its high external spec and styling. But, with all wheel- drive the Kuga is a gritty off-road worker when the need arises. Ford was a bit late getting into the SUV market, but the Kuga was worth waiting for. I first drove the SUV version last year over a testing off-road obstacle course at Druid’s Glen golf course in County Wicklow. Car companies go to great efforts to show us what their SUVs can do off-road. In reality the only grass that will touch the wheels of most SUVs in this country will only happen if the driver has to pull in and let another car pass on a country boreen. But that has all changed now with the introduction of the Kuga Commercial. With prices significantly reduced you can expect to meet this attractive motor in boreens all over the country. It really would be ideal if you want to throw a few bales of hay into the back and head off up to high ground to feed sheep. Or, if you are a small builder or conducting any kind of a small business, the back would be able hold an array of equipment. I suppose it’s a shame to dirty such a nice motor, but everything cannot be spotless. The back windows are blacked out, but you don’t get total seclusion as the rear window is clear. It’s a keyless start and when I sat in I must be honest and say that it took me a few minutes to find the on/off switch. Eventually I found it right in the middle of the dash. The front of the cab has a nice touch of blue which brightens up the interior. The driving position is really high and commanding and you get two raised lines on the bonnet to help you navigate. Standard specification includes Electronic Stability Programme, six airbags, air conditioning, 17-inch wheels, six-speaker remote radio CD, electric heated door mirrors, front fogs and trip computer. As usual with Ford the slave controls for the radio were very discreet, just the left of the steering wheel.  I still remember the excitement at home when my father bought a second hand Ford pickup truck in the early sixties. It could handle anything. Sometimes it needed a push, but you definitely won’t need a push with the Kuga -  maybe just a push to buy one.  Ford’s ‘2010 Sale’ ended last month where they made e5 million available through Ford Credit for customers to order new cards for next year. But I’m sure if you talk to your local dealer he/she may still be able to sort you out for a loan.  Prices for the regular Kuga start at e28,545, while the Commercial version is now reduced to e23,618, which is really good value in these recessionary times. Road tax on the commercial model is e288 per annum.