New vehicle Forecast

New vehicle forecast - Strong residual values are predicted for the new Ford Kuga

Owners of the new Ford Kuga should benefit when they eventually come to trade-in the car in a few years time

The Ford Kuga could justifiably be described as being late to the compact SUV party but, like VW with its recently introduced Tiguan, it appears that waiting until the sector has matured can pay dividends.

Ford’s aspirations for Kuga will be modest – at below 7,000 units per year – so initial availability on the used market will be limited, helping residual values. The Kuga also features a very succinct model line-up, with just Zetec and Titanium specifications, and one 2.0TDCi engine. Ford has also not followed the example of some rivals in diluting the proposition with a two-wheel drive version.

The result is one of the most compelling offerings in the compact SUV segment. Thoughtful touches such as the availability of a three-pin plug socket add to the usability, whilst the part-leather trim and Sony audio add a premium feel to the Titanium version.

Arguably one of the best looking cars in its class, the appeal of the Kuga when new should translate well to the used car market. Residual values are predicted to be the strongest of any Ford model at around 56 per cent of the original list price after three years and having covered 36,000 miles.