A Kuga heading towards Kota Kinabalu. Pictures: Jason Thomas
IT WAS a perfect day for a road trip. The air was crisp, the skies were clear and I was feeling bright-eyed and hopeful after a few cups of coffee.
I am not usually inclined to wake up before noon but the chance to test-drive Ford’s latest offering, the Kuga 2.5 Titanium, was all the motivation that got me out of bed an hour after sun-up and down to the Premier Automobiles showroom in Beribi an hour later.
The plan was to drive to Kota Kinabalu (KK) on Saturday with a few colleagues of the local Press and Premier Automobiles personnel, spend a couple of days there, explore the sights and sounds and drive back on Monday.
I hadn’t been to the city since 1996 and I was relishing the opportunity to make visit to KK.
In addition, it would be my first time driving a compact SUV – one of only five in Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore and a model that was yet to be launched – added to the trip’s allure.
After a quick breakfast, we, the media friends were indulged in a chit-chat for a few minutes over our new ride for the weekend, took a few photos and scribbled some notes. A short briefing by Premier Automobiles’ managing director Teng Chee Khiong and our convoy was off.
It was a three-car convoy and we were sandwiched between a Ford Ranger and a Ford Everest all the way to Kota Kinabalu.
With the Kuga docked out in bright green stickers on each side proclaiming our road-trip, it was only natural we were bound to get a few curious stares – the first of which came from some M-16 wielding customs officers at the Kuala Lurah immigration checkpoint.
I got behind the wheel after lunch in Lawas and I remember commenting to one of my companions that the Kuga is a machine that doesn’t really stand out – and maybe that’s the aim.
But once in the driver’s seat, it became apparent that the delicate steering and sturdy suspension are this beast’s real shining points.
The Kuga was nimble around corners and its suspension easily handled the bumps and potholes the kilometres of B-roads threw at us.
Overtaking was effortless and its brakes were just as impressive and I was having fun in no time at all.
Before I had my fill we were approaching the Kota Kinabalu, and the Kuga shifted seamlessly in and out of the rush-hour traffic.
Having parked in the spot that was reserved for the Kuga at the hotel’s entrance, the Kuga drew more envious stares and it was fair to say I was enjoying the trip so far; I just needed another fix.
I got my dose the next morning during the most interesting leg of our journey – a trip to Mount Kinabalu, or rather, Kinabalu National Park.
I drove for nearly half the trip up the World Heritage Site but I wasn’t complaining since I was having a hard time keeping my eye on both the meandering road and the serene countryside which I was taking an absolute interest in.
The view of the hills and valleys was simply breathtaking and I remember thinking that no photograph could possibly do it justice.
We drove past the Mount Kinabalu Golf Club to high up the foothills of Kinabalu, our final destination being the Mesilau Nature Resort.
Definitely the highlight of my trip, the resort which is nestled in thick jungle at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu is 2,000 metres above sea level. It is an alternate starting point where climbers attempt the summit of Mount Kinabalu – the other being Timpohon Gate.
The cool climate, fresh air and view of the majestic Mount Kinabalu made for a perfect Sunday, and I was thinking to myself I should go on more road trips of this nature.
Lunch was served at a nearby resort and we were back down the windy roads to our hotel, where the Kuga’s ABS came in handy more times than once.
We drove back to Brunei the next afternoon and overall, it was a trip I won’t forget.
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