Aimed directly at the Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line, the ST-Line replaces the Titanium at the sharp-end of the Kuga line-up, and consists out of high-gloss black 18-inch alloy wheels with Ebony 19-inch rollers optional, an ST-Line bodykit, high-gloss Ebony Black grille with a honeycomb design for the lower air intake, ST-Line badging, Ebony Black finished roof rails, front and rear light clusters, and a colour coded front skidplate, wheel arches, mirror caps, door handles and bootlid spoiler.

Inside, the ST-Line comes with partial leather sport seats with contrasting stitching, a dark head-liner, stitching on the steering wheel and gear lever, a special Deep Space metallic effect on the centre console and ST-Line branded alloy pedals and scuff plates.

While standard equipment across the range as been mostly kept unchanged, the ST-Line can newly be specified with the Driver Assistance Pack that adds Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Keep Assist and Advanced Park Assist, while the Styling Pack sports the aforementioned 19-inch alloys, a retractable panoramic roof, redesigned spoiler and bi-xenon headlights with daytime running LEDs.

Until now offered with a single oil-burner, the Ford has added a second in the form of the same 1.5 TDCI mill used in the Fiesta and EcoSport, but revised to produce 88kW/270Nm. Available only in base Ambiente and mid-range Trend trim levels, the motor is connected to a six-speed manual gearbox with drive going to the front wheels only.

Left as is, is the 1.5 EcoBoost that makes 110kW/240Nm in Ambiente guise and 132kW in Trend form, the 2.0 TDCI producing 132kW/400Nm and the 2.0 EcoBoost outputting 177kW/320Nm. As with the Titanium, the latter pair sends their respective outputs to all four wheels, although the TDCI swaps the EcoBoost’s six-speed torque converter automatic for the six-speed Powershift dual-clutch ‘box.

A four year/120 000km warranty and six year/90 000km service plan is again standard on all models.

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