There was a time when most of us ordinary folk would have quite happily settled for, say, a Ford or Vauxhall parked on the road outside our houses. Back in the day, as we old codgers’ like to say, our aspirations amounted to running hot and cold water, leasing a TV and VCR from Radio Rentals and owning a car. And almost any car would do.

The landscape has changed a great deal since and aspirations have grown. Whereas owning a premium automobile used to be little more than a pipe dream, we now live in a world where the BMW 3 Series outsells both the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia.

Well now Ford is going after a slice of the premium pie with its Vignale spec models. What that means for potential buyers is a car loaded with just about everything worth having from the options list as well as few extras that aren’t on there – such as the quilted Windsor leather seats and unique 18in polished alloys – at a price that, compared to its perceived rivals, remains attractive.

That standard equipment list also includes rain-sensing wipers, LED daytime running lights and rear lights, keyless start and hands-free tailgate, rear view camera, multi-colour ambient lighting, all-wheel drive and hill start assist, 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat and Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system with sat nav and Sony nine-speaker premium audio system.

Under the bonnet of my test car was a 2.0-litre TDCi with the company’s six-speed PowerShift dual-clutch semi-automatic gearbox. The engine produces a healthy 180PS and 400Nm of twisting force.

The almost £36,000 all that costs also buys you access to a special concierge service where a member of staff will look after your car for you. It also undergoes 100 additional quality checks during assembly compared to the standard model.

What the Vignale does share with lesser models in the range is taut but compliant ride and fun – for an SUV – handling. The steering offers up a reasonable level of feel and, while the ride can lack some refinement over the worst broken surfaces, it manages to combine strong grip, excellent response to changes in steering input and a satisfying sense of dynamism.

Ford’s problem with the Vignale branding is that it’s being measured against much sterner opposition than other models in the range and, consequently, the noise from the diesel engine, which can be a little intrusive at high revs, might be just about acceptable in, say, Titanium X trim, but at the premium end of the market the bar is raised significantly.

However, under less strenuous conditions you’ll find the passenger space a refined and comfortable environment. It’s reasonably well insulated from wind and road noise and the front seats are very supportive and, while the leather isn’t the most supple I’ve had the pleasure of parking my backside on, it still manages to offer a welcome impression of luxury.

It’s not quite the same story for passengers in the rear who will find that the padding is a little less generous under cheek and though space will rarely be an issues for people riding up front, leg room could be a little more generous in the back.

If you’re the sort of owner who enjoys prodding and poking you’re likely to stumble across a few places where the material quality doesn’t quite live up to expectations. That’s a shame because, in general, the cabin is a thoughtful and well put together space and the dashboard architecture at least injects a pleasing level of interest.

Ford’s Sync3, the latest version of the firm’s infotainment system, is accessed via an 8.0in touchscreen that is buried just a little too deeply in a recess at the top of the dashboard. It makes using it just a bit more awkward that it needs to be although it is very well protected from reflected light, meaning that it’s easy to read in all conditions.

It’s equipped with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay the system and phone connectivity worked flawlessly – with an Android device at least – but the screen can be sluggish to respond to touch inputs.

The boot will hold 406 litres of your luggage – unsurprisingly the same as other Kugas in the range – but because the seats are marginally larger the load bay floor isn’t completely flat when the rear seats are stowed away and, consequently, the 1,603 litres is marginally less useable.

In isolation the Kuga Vignale looks promising and, to be fair, it does come mightily close to ticking all the premium boxes but there are areas where it just lacks that final level of polish to fully justify both its premium ambitions and price tag.

It remains one of the better handling SUVs on the road but there’s no need to fork out close to £35,000 because the sort of driving thrills Ford’s mid-size SUV is capable of delivery is available right across the range so, while it’s not hard to recommend buying a Kuga, it’s hard to recommend one at this price.

Ford Kuga Viganle 2.0 TDCi Powershift AWD

Price: £35,815

As tested: £38,415

Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel

Transmission: 6-speed Powershift dual clutch auto

Max power: 180PS

Max torque: 400Nm

Acceleration (0-62mph): 10sec

Urban: 51.4mpg

Extra urban: 57.7mpg

Combined: 54.3mpg

Emissions (CO2): 134g/km

For more information visit www.ford.co.uk