The Ford Kuga is a fresh addition to the fleet

The SUV segment is currently undergoing something of a boom. Nearly every manufacturer is getting one to market, and even companies that you’d never think of when it comes to large four-wheel-drives – we’re looking at you Lamborghini – are making the most of current consumer enthusiasm for sitting up high and having a commanding view of the road ahead.

So what have we got then? Well, this particular Kuga is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine mated to Ford’s Powershift automatic gearbox. It’s also – as tends to be the case with these beefed-up yet compact SUVs – actually front-wheel-drive, though four-wheel-drive is available on cars fitted with the larger 2.0-litre diesel engine.

So what’s the damage? Well, the base price for the Kuga ST Line is £30,345. However, with options such as white paint (£280), Premium navigation system (£500) and the previously mentioned 19-inch wheels (£500) among others, the price ramps up to £32,750. That said, this isn’t half bad considering the amount of equipment on board.

So far, it’s doing well. On a recent run to the New Forest, it provided more than enough space for the family, and proved to be just as adept at navigating country lanes as it was at cruising down the motorway. In short, just as you’d want an SUV to be.