We review the Ford Kuga from price to economy and all its features

WHAT jumps out is its size. Bigger is beautiful as far as Ford is concerned and we just need to turn our heads west to see the reason why.

The previous incarnation of the Kuga was much smaller but because Ford is now selling this in the States, it quickly realised chunky or, in its own terminology, more "muscular shoulders", was the way to go.

Of course, despite the added bulk, it still looks familiarly Ford.

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Bigger is beautiful ... new Ford Kuga

There are some nice aesthetic touches with the chrome finishes and large, front headlights and a lot of thought has gone into the bodywork.

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Chunky ... Kuga is geared for US market

But those design boffins in head office have been doing this for decades so you'd expect nothing less.

It's 4.5 metres long so I doubt it would have much problem accommodating the kids, the dog and the weekly shop.

Despite the added bulk, it still looks familiarly Ford

Stowage capacity is not an issue, what might be is fitting it snugly in your garage, so perhaps have a measure-up first - or simply use the Kuga's rear view camera when you're backing in.

From the Fiesta to the Focus to the Kuga, Ford likes to standardise interiors, so don't expect this crossover to stand out inside.

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That's not to say it's not impressive. Kudos to any system that reads your text messages out loud and offers hands-free control of just about everything other than the steering wheel (yes, including the tailgate, just wave your foot under the bumper).

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Added bulk ... loses some of Ford's brilliant handling

And don't be afraid to go for the basic model, either. It comes with air conditioning, USB ports, Bluetooth, cruise control and parking sensors as standard. More than enough to get most of us excited.

It feels powerful with real poke. Long motorway journeys wouldn't be a struggle and its Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system means it susses out the driving conditions before you do and automatically adjusts to cope.

It makes the passengers feel special

In essence, it delivers exactly what you'd expect from a company that churns out millions every year with super successful engines that rarely go wrong.

The fuel consumption on all these cars - except the Qashqai, which is a class apart - is competitive as manufacturers are acutely aware it is one of the first things buyers look for.

Despite being one of the bigger models on test, the Kuga holds its own here. It employs a few sneaky tricks to do it, however, indicating when you should change gear and switching off the engine automatically when stopped at traffic lights.

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Acres of space ... even 6ft 3in Jake can get in the back

The 2014 Ford Kuga is a huge step forward. It's bigger because the US market demands it, we know that lovely Ford styling and reliability is a proven success and it makes the passengers feel special, provides ample boot space and fuel economy.

If you want a family crossover and have around £20,000 to spend the Ford Kuga should be on your shortlist.