I had a new Kuga in 2011 , kept it for 2 yrs average 37mpg , really enjoyed driving it , its a bit more car like to drive and was well kitted out .
The only reason we changed back to FL was that the wife didn't feel confident in the snow/ice on the hills around here , but I feel that may have been down to the tyres that were on it .
Ford dealer was fine
Seems to good a deal to miss .

You will find OH still won't be happy no matter how much you tell her it was the tyres, it's all to do with the driving position and perceived confidence, she drove one she didn't like, so unless it looks completely different she still won't like, and she will still be iffy about it when they do a re-body. I know been there, had a Disco for 9 years from 1997 then a variety of cars from the Kia/Hyundai stable, she is now happy again  my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

I have 2 4x4s - my wife drives a Freelander 1 auto and loves it prefers the stability of 4 wheel drive, she did sell another Freelander and purchased a front wheel drive car hated it

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LR NUT

My Fiesta got through worse snow than that because it had winter tyres! That bloke seems to be suffering from summer tyres.

My FL2 came with M+S rated tyres (Goodyear Wranglers) from new and worked well in snow. Stick a set of sporty summer tyres on the FL2 and put it in snow and we would be at it LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Here is the Kuga 2WD on winter tyres vs the Kuga 4WD on summer tyres. This is the real reason BMW and other such 4x4's are crap in snow. They are fitted with sporty summer tyres because they are road biased whereas Land Rover fit M+S rated tyres.

I once pulled away on a snowy slope (in 2010) in the FL2 in GGS mode and the back slithered slightly before I ploughed on with ease. Summer tyres would have been utter rubbish in those conditions.

 LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

That Kuga's problem isn't its tyres - if you watch it most of the time it's spinning two wheels while the the other two are doing nothing. That's not what I'd call 4WD!

The back drivers side wheel was spinning at one point so I suspect the traction control was cutting in and trying to distribute the power to the wheels that had some grip (none it seems had any real grip). 2WD with summer tyres is obviously worse still. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Sometimes the fronts are spinning, sometimes the rears, almost never are all 4 doing the same thing! Ford obviously didn't learn enough from LR during their period of ownership.

Not that it matters, of course. The OP is in Essex where snow is pretty much unknown!

If the Kuga was a proper four wheel drive then Ford from new would fit M+S tyres. The FL2 has not won awards globally for the best 4x4 in its class as did the FL1!

Have an 2015 AWD Kuga and a tatty £500 1997 Freelander 1 still running with its VCU and Im confident it would wipes its arse

A Freelander 2 would all over the Kuga  MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
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I prefer the Freelander which is why I bought one so you don't need to convince me The FACT about tyres remains though. A Freelander of any description on sporty summer tyres would not wipe the floor with a Kuga on winter tyres.

For all I know, the Kuga might be fitted with M+S rated tyres on some models (unlikely I admit) but I very much doubt it on the sport model. Until you get to brands known for off roading such as Land Rover, Jeep and Toyota (Land Cruiser), you are unlikely to see M+S tyres fitted as standard. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

That mainly is why the Freely has poorer fuel consumption than its rivals, summer tyres use less fuel due to less friction, a bit of Blue motion and summer tyres transform fuel consumption, grip and safety are compromised. my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

Parents have a Kuga 2.0 TDCi which I drive regularly.

It's an excellent car. The only thing "wrong" with it is that it has VERY short first gear - but once you've figured that out, you drive around it.

Very capable in the snow, sand and mud.

If I were offered the deal you have been, I'd definitely go for it.....no question.

Looking back at previous threads, pretty sure my parents car has the original OEM tyres fitted - pretty sure they're M+S......but not certain without looking......

Not to stray away from the topic, but I ran my Evoque on 20" summers all winter, took it up the lomond hills in the snow, GGS no problem, never spun a wheel.

If you fancy a Ford go for it, to me the only decent Fords are their commercials, that's just my opinion. I do like the Volvo V40 Cross Country but to get 4WD it needs to be the T5 petrol and they ain't cheap neither. 21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

I'd be surprised J77 if the tread pattern wasn't at least somewhat better on the Evoque tyres. LR fitting sporty summer tyres just like a Beemer etc. seems unusual.

Plus, the main benefit of winter tyres is braking. Braking a big car like a Kuga or FL2 on summer tyres in snow would be a bit iffy as I experienced some sliding on M+S tyres. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey