Ford's made a go-faster Kuga. Sort of

It’s the Ford Kuga ST! Well, kinda. Ford has given its SUV the sporty trim treatment, if not the sporty engine treatment, resulting in this ST-Line.

Starting at £25,845, the ST-Line is five grand more than a basic Kuga. For that you get a modified chassis – thicker anti-roll bars, a 10mm suspension drop and retuned springs and dampers – and the thing most people will care about, a new styling kit.

That comprises a honeycomb grille, much gloss black detailing, tinted lights and your choice of 18- or 19-inch wheels. Inside, there are new sports seats complete with contrast stitching.

When it comes to engines, you’ve a choice of anything from the Kuga range, which means a mix of petrol and diesel units driving two or four wheels. Most befitting of the ST badge is the 180bhp 1.5-litre Ecoboost petrol version, which comes with all-wheel drive. No five-cylinder, 200bhp-plus version like Kugas of old, we’re afraid…

The ST-Line launches as performance-badged SUVs increase in popularity, and it becomes a natural rival to the Peugeot 3008 GT. Fancy either, or would you just stick with a normal hot hatch?