Ford Kuga is a cavernous family SUV packed with power…but the blizzard of safety warnings while driving gets a bit much

“NICE colour, that!”

The “bursting green” hue of the Ford Kuga plug-in hybrid I’m driving has just been given what could be the greatest colour-based compliment yet.

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Because the man who said it literally stares at cars for a living – he works for DFDS Ferry in Dover.

Good start to the test. And I agree.

So: Colour – gold star.

Of course, what colour your car is means bugger all when it comes to its performance and suitability for taking a family of four to France.

So is the rest of it any good?

The answer is a resounding yes. The first plus point is it’s a beautifully designed Tardis of a vehicle.

Outside it looks like the compact family SUV it is billed as – like the Nissan Qashqai or the Volkswagen Tiguan – but inside it is simply cavernous.

From a surprisingly high-up driving position you can motor along with 243hp under your right foot, accelerating from 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds.

The petrol/electric plug-in hybrid combo averaged 45mpg on test, not far off the official 52.3mpg which, as we know, is conducted in a lab.

You are supposed to get 42 miles of pure electric driving when the battery is fully charged.

The reality is around ten per cent less.

Another plus point is all the anti-crash kit.

This is one of the safest cars I have experienced – almost too cautious at times.

Indeed, if there is a downside to this car it is that you cannot drive it anywhere without getting short shrift from the safety warnings.

Take a rest, stay in your lane, hands on the wheel (Oi, PROPERLY!!) . . . the list of infractions is long and it can get a little much.

This is one of the safest cars I have experienced

I popped to the boulangerie one morning and was told to take a rest from driving – it was a five-minute journey.

Kuga has a blizzard of safety tech, including blind-spot indicators, steering assist, parking assist and the most aggressive lane assist in Christendom.

But I suppose it is churlish to complain about something that is trying to avoid you having an accident.

After all, no matter how gorgeous the £800 paint job, it alone won’t save your life.