Ford Kuga vs Hyundai Tucson
Figures updated
The Ford Kuga and Hyundai Tucson are two of the UK's most popular family SUVs. We compare the Mk3 (2019–) Kuga and the Mk4 (2020–) Tucson on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 416,717 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Ford Kuga for the better MOT record and lower fuel costs, or the Hyundai Tucson for the lower price and the bigger boot.
- The Hyundai Tucson is the cheapest to buy new: from £30,985, £2,350 less than the Ford Kuga.
- The Hyundai Tucson has the biggest boot: 620 litres, 208 more than the Ford Kuga.
- The Ford Kuga has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Hyundai Tucson fails its MOT about 12% more often.
- The Ford Kuga is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £208 a year less than the Hyundai Tucson at 7,500 miles a year.
- Watch the brakes on a Hyundai Tucson: it fails on them 1.7 times as often as the average car.
| Figure | Ford KugaMk3 (2019–), 5-door SUV | Hyundai TucsonMk4 (2020–), 5-door SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £33,335 to £44,330September 2026 price list | £30,985 to £46,305June 2026 price list (best) |
| Body | 5-door SUV | 5-door SUV |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 412 litres / 1,534 | 620 litres / 1,799 (best) |
| Length | 4,604mm | 4,535mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,882mm | 1,865mm |
| Height | 1,679mm | 1,650mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 150–243 PS | 150–288 PS (best) |
| 0–62mph | 7.3–9.5 sec | 7.5–9.5 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2019) | ★★★★★ (2021) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid | Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 37.2–60.1 mpg | 40.4–49.6 mpg |
| CO2 | 21–198 g/km | 22–158 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.8p a litre, today's UK average | £1,120 (52.3 mpg) (best) | £1,328 (44.1 mpg) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | £1,364 (49.6 mpg) | – |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,120 (petrol) | £1,328 (petrol) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 116Well above average (best) | 104Above average |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 20.8% | 18.2% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | 9.6% (best) | 13.3% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 15.3% | 15.4% |
| Failed at 10 years old | 27.2% | – |
| Most common MOT fault | Brake pads (2.9% of tests) | Brake pads (3.2% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Nothing stands out | Brakes (1.7×) |
| MOT tests analysed | 282,268 | 134,449 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Family SUV | Family SUV |
| Owners' average miles a year | 8,600 | 8,500 |
| On sale | 2019 on | 2020 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Ford Kuga or the Hyundai Tucson more reliable?
The Ford Kuga. Like for like on age and mileage, the Hyundai Tucson fails its MOT about 12% more often (reliability scores 116 and 104, where 100 is average). 20.8% of Ford Kugas and 18.2% of Hyundai Tucsons failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Ford Kuga or the Hyundai Tucson?
The Ford Kuga is 69mm longer (4,604mm against 4,535mm). The Hyundai Tucson has the bigger boot: 620 litres against 412.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Ford Kuga or the Hyundai Tucson?
The Hyundai Tucson: new prices start at £30,985, £2,350 less than the Ford Kuga (from £33,335). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Ford Kuga or the Hyundai Tucson?
Comparing petrol versions, the Ford Kuga costs about £208 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£1,120 against £1,328), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Ford Kuga or the Hyundai Tucson?
Euro NCAP gave the Ford Kuga 5 stars (2019) and the Hyundai Tucson 5 stars (2021). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Ford Kuga or the Hyundai Tucson?
Pick the Ford Kuga for the better MOT record and lower fuel costs, or the Hyundai Tucson for the lower price and the bigger boot. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.