THE second generation Ford Kuga is a smart looking SUV and it is even more striking when finished in some of the metallic paint jobs that are on offer.

The stylish SUV is now crammed with more kit and technology and it still represents sound value for money in a sector that is now bursting at the seams.

I recently drove the flagship of the range, the Titanium X Sport 180ps model at £32,045.

That's certainly not cheap but you have to take into account that this Kuga comes with all the goodies as well as all-wheel-drive and a more powerful engine.

It comes with a full body styling kit, as well as an appearance pack which adds silver roof rails and privacy glass. You also get 19-inch alloys, a panorama roof and a host of other kit.

The SYNC multimedia voice control system with automatic emergency assistance, active city stop, blind spot info and a self parking facility make the Kuga the most user-friendly Ford model yet.

There is also a hands-free tailgate that opens with a gentle kicking motion beneath the rear bumper as an added bonus.

The new all-wheel drive set-up pre-emptively reassesses conditions 20 times faster than it takes to blink an eye and readjusts the power split to give the driver the best blend of traction and handling.

There's also the extra security of Curve Control which acts as a safeguard for drivers who have entered a bend with too much speed - the system capable of slowing the Kuga down by around 10mph per second.

With 180ps on tap the test car was a strong performer. It's official combined fuel figure is 54.3mpg and I go just over 45mpg in real world conditions - still not bad for a vehicle of this size and power.

The Kuga has a classy feel to it. Everything is sensibly arranged, you get a good view of the road, there's ample head and legroom plus the benefit of a centre rear passenger being able to travel in comfort.

The Titanium X Sport trim also includes tyre pressure monitoring system, quickclear heated windscreens, power tailgate, Bi-Xenon headlights and daytime running lights and LED rear lights.

You also get leather and heated front seats, powered adjustment on the driver's seat, cruise control, hill start assist and remote central locking as well as a Sony DAB radio/CD with satnav.

The Kuga comes with all the latest safety features and there's also a large, adjustable, boot for packing in all your gear.

It was easy to find a good driving position in the Kuga and the dual-zone climate control keeps driver and passengers comfortable at all times.

Thanks to its all-wheel-drive system the car always felt well planted in any conditions.

The sprint to 62mph takes 9.2 seconds and the top speed is 126mph.

The Kuga handles well for an SUV and it also performs well off-road, although you have to remember it is not designed to rival LandRovers.

I found it to be equally at home in town, on country roads or on motorways and it was very easy to get along with.