Value proposition

VALUE. That's something that always pops up when deciding which car to buy.

But the problem is that value - like beauty - is often in the eye of the beholder. In theory, a vehicle could check all the correct boxes but because it doesn't look good, or have the right pedigree, it'll be left on the shelf. Alternatively, it could just look the part and sell like hot cakes. Obviously, a combination of both would be a slam dunk for the manufacturer.

The Ford Kuga seats five comfortably. It has 4WD, and a list of standard equipment longer than Gisele Bunchen's legs. If one desires value, the Kuga should definitely be on your shopping list. Despite being based on the Ford Focus platform, it's a proper full-size SUV although it does look smaller than say, a Toyota Harrier or Mazda CX-5. On paper, the numbers put it as the same size as the competition but styling is the Kuga's Achilles heel. Compared to its peers, its design is rather conservative and the 2015 model looks pretty much unchanged from its predecessor. Our test car though - in Titanium spec with metallic orange paintwork, daytime LED running lights…