2015 Nissan Qashqai vs Ford Kuga Comparison Test Reveals SUV-Crossover Differences

While the Nissan Qashqai and Ford Kuga both look like SUVs, they are somewhat different. The Qashqai is the best-selling car in its segment and the only soft-roader in the Top 10 European sales charts.

Technically speaking, the Nissan model assembled in Britain is a crossover, which means it has several things in common with a normal car, including the way it drives.

The Ford Kuga is based on the same platform as the Focus, but is larger than the Qashqai and sits higher off the ground. It also costs more to buy, while most of its engines are larger and more powerful than the Nissan's.

Looks are purely subjective. But having checked out both vehicles I think the Nissan looks far more modern and despite less actual on the outside in the rear its more practical. Because of the level of equipment offered by these two contenders, they are both quite expensive. The "Japanese" car costs $29,000 while the "American" one is €34,000.

Things really get weird when talking about the engines. This is a review, you see, so there's no point just taking the manufacturers' claims for granted. Both cars are powered by turbocharged petrol engines. The Qashqai uses the 1.6 DIG-T with 163 horsepower while the heavier Ford has the 1.5-liter EcoBoost rated at 150 PS. Despite having less power and a smaller engine, the Kuga consumers a lot more fuel, about 10 liters per 100 kilometers. Not only is that about double the official number, but we think it's unacceptable for a family car.