The new Kuga is safer and roomier than before. Less fun, but a better family car
Pros Safer, more affordable, more spacious and more convenient than before
Cons Not as fun as it used to be. It's grown up and got some proper trousers...
The Ford Kuga has recently been facelifted to keep it competitive, but its dashboard still lags behind some rivals.With attractive styling, decent practicality and an impressive safety record, the Kuga is a convincing family SUV. It can't quite match the extremely high all-round standards of some of its latest rivals – the SEAT Ateca in particular – but for the right deal it's worth considering.
PROS Good value and well equipped Economical diesel engines Spacious interior
CONS Too many buttons inside Outshone by several rivals Inferior automatic gearboxes
The 2018 Toyota Highlander Hybrid ranked #4 in Midsize SUVs. Currently the Toyota Highlander Hybrid has a score of 8.5 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 35 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Good fuel economy Strong acceleration Many standard driver assistance features
Cons Lackluster handling
Pros Handling V-6 gas mileage Consistent cabin quality in first and second rows Handy dashboard device tray Huge storage bin between front seats Power-adjustable cushion length available (driver's seat)
Cons Sluggish acceleration from a stop (V-6) Firm, busy ride Vague steering feel Whistling sound at highway speeds Small third row Apple CarPlay, Android Auto not offered
The 2018 Toyota Highlander Hybrid receives no significant changes.The 2018 Toyota Highlander Hybrid comes with a good amount of standard equipment in the base LE trim. But we recommend upgrading to the midlevel XLE. On top of the standard systems such as forward collision mitigation and lane departure intervention, the XLE gets blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert as well as the upgraded 8.1-inch touchscreen.
PROS Impressive fuel economy for a three-row crossover Just-right size for many families Added peace of mind from standard accident-avoidance tech Quiet and compliant ride
CONS Touchscreen and other controls may require an extra-long reach Third-row seat isn't as roomy as those of many competitors
