Britain’s new favorite automotive pushed – we assessment the Ford Puma

All hail Britain’s new King of automobiles! 

Well, not fairly but, however Ford positively has the champagne on ice, get together popper strings prepped to tug and the balloon launch readied as its Puma is destined to turn out to be the nation’s best-selling new mannequin of 2023.

Having amassed 46,434 gross sales by the top of November, it has constructed itself an insurmountable lead within the charts of greater than 7,000 models forward of Nissan’s Qashqai – the 2022 champ it is going to quickly dethrone.

But earlier than it formally receives its crown because the UK’s hottest motor, we have spent per week driving one to let you know whether it is worthy of the title…

Ford Puma: The automotive that killed the Fiesta

The Puma nameplate was reborn and reintroduced in 2019.

For these of us who can bear in mind the dizzying heights of the mid-nineties, the Puma of that period was an affordably-priced, two-door coupe with a quick wheelbase and darty driving dynamics.

Today, we will not make certain what phase the Puma suits into. Is it a supermini? An SUV? A ‘crossover’? We’ve stopped attempting to pigeonhole it.

But one factor is for positive – its latest rise in recognition is the rationale Britain’s favorite automotive of all time is now lifeless and buried.

A rising demand for jacked-up compact automobiles of this ilk (and the upper margins on every unit offered by automotive makers) has seen Ford prioritise it over the much-adored Fiesta – the motor that Britons personal extra of than every other automotive (there’s round 1.5million of them on our roads as we speak).

As such, Fiesta – the UK’s bestseller in sixteen completely different years, together with an 11-year spell on the high of the pops from 2010 to 2020 – ceased manufacturing in July 2023.

Its gradual disappearance from showrooms in latest months has fed the Puma’s success and seen its order books bursting on the seams.

It has obliterated its largest rivals when it comes to demand, with Vauxhall’s Mokka, Nissan’s Juke, VW’s T-Cross and Skoda’s Kamiq getting nowhere close to it within the registrations league desk.

Ford’s even dared to supply one for boy racer varieties – a efficiency ‘ST’ variant that you’ve got virtually actually handed at a McDonalds automotive park in latest occasions. 

Here, although, our assessment focuses on the run-of-the-mill Puma. 

What’s the Puma wish to drive?

Engine selection for the usual Puma is proscribed to 1.0-litre petrols with 48-volt mild-hybrid (mHEV) know-how. It’s good tech, although.

The engine shuts off when decelerating to a standstill to ration gasoline consumption and solely fires again into life if you have interaction a gear. A small electrical motor gives a bit added oomph that will help you transfer off.

There are two energy outputs, 125bhp and 153bhp. Both are linked to a six-speed handbook gearbox, although the previous has the choice of a seven-speed auto – and that is the one we have been driving.

Is it quick? 

In a phrase, no.

Officially, Ford tells me it could possibly hit 60mph from a standstill in 9.6 seconds – that is the identical time it took Usain Bolt in 2009 to run 100 metres in a world file time that also stands as we speak.

Is it fast sufficient for UK roads? Undoubtedly.

It’s punchy on the town when driving turns into a stop-start train and also you’re reliant on low revs. And it adequately gathers tempo on a slip street when accelerating from 30mph to 70mph to merge into lane one on the similar velocity because the circulate of site visitors.

In each city and freeway eventualities, its exceptionally easy, although there may be greater than a touch of street rumble generated by the big 19-inch alloy wheels fitted to our take a look at automotive (extra on this later) at motorway speeds – and a passenger within the again assures me it is noisier than being sat within the rear of a VW T-Cross. 

But the place it gazumps rivals is the dealing with – a trait that Ford has had mastered for years. It’s what made the Fiesta a category chief for so long as I can bear in mind.

Despite the raised trip top and boxy proportions, the Puma is an enjoyably nimble automotive within the corners. It adjustments path and activates a sixpence – it is like a stocky shot-putter spinning on the balls of their toes earlier than ejecting the metallic sphere.

And one of the best half about it’s that you simply get this sensation of agility always. Like if you’re navigating spherical parked automobiles on the town centres, touring a enterprise park, or whizzing round a small roundabout.

Ours, delivered in ST-Line trim, got here with the sporty suspension set-up that helps it to alter path on a B-road like a sheepdog attempting to command its pack, whereas the related really feel by the chunky steering wheel rim is splendidly weighted.

Is the Ford Puma snug?

Given how properly the Puma corners, possibly we should not have been shocked by how agency the trip is. But we nonetheless anticipated extra from a automotive on this phase. 

Our ST-Line mannequin got here with each the more durable suspension set-up and the biggest, 19-inch, wheels. The mixture makes for a harsh trip.

Fail to swerve a pothole and you’ll actually learn about it. However, even minor floor imperfections – akin to cats eyes dividing motorway lanes – are felt within the cabin if you clip one.

The street rumble from the bigger rims can also be audible inside, with the fixed drone on the nationwide velocity restrict thumping into the ears of passengers within the again extra so than these up entrance. 

A VW T-Cross positively gives higher trip consolation ranges, although there are crashier compact crossovers, like Nissan’s Juke, as an illustration. 

I’m positive that deleting the game suspension and choosing smaller 18 and even 17-inch wheels would remove these trip consolation points. 

In phrases of the seats, the thick-bolstered sports activities chairs in our take a look at automotive present plenty of help and luxury for the motive force and accompanying passenger, even on longer journeys. There’s loads of adjustment too, together with the steering wheel for top and attain.

Unfortunately, the rear bench is not as accommodating, with quick and inclined seat bases that may get uncomfortable after some time.

Back seat passengers even have restricted legroom – six footers usually are not welcome right here – and there is a restrictive, virtually cocooning sensation from the narrowing window frames, which make it really feel darker and extra enclosed than it actually is. 

This additionally impacts visibility for the motive force, which regardless of the raised trip top is not any higher than a supermini hatchback. The letterbox-style rear window and people rising rear-quarters make over-the-shoulder lane change checks harder – although the wing mirrors are usefully boxy in form. 

Our take a look at mannequin additionally got here with the non-compulsory (£1,000) panoramic roof, which lowers the ceiling top considerably – another excuse why taller folks will not love being within the again. 

Practicalities and ease of use

Let’s begin from the entrance and transfer backwards, we could?

If there may be one factor Ford nails each time, it’s its logical management structure and performance. It’s no completely different with the Puma, with all the principle switches, gauges and stalks precisely the place you’d anticipate – and wish – them. 

Every trim degree comes with an eight-inch contact show infotainment system that homes the DAB radio, Bluetooth, sat-nav. There’s additionally compatibility with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. 

It is under no circumstances essentially the most up-to-date working system and generally takes some time to reply after you’ve got made a range through the on-screen menus, but it surely’s an ample set-up.

The inside high quality throughout the dashboard, principal contact factors and centre console really feel chunky, sturdy and tactile. If you have been anticipating a wash of flimsy laborious plastics, you may be very impressed with simply how plush the Puma’s cabin is.

Further again, each Puma comes with 60/40 split-folding rear seats, although they did not drop solely flush with the boot flooring in our take a look at automotive.

The boot itself is extraordinarily accommodating.

Lift the tailgate and you may initially marvel the place the quoted 456 litres of area is. But the Puma’s adjustable baggage flooring might be lowered deep into the chassis so to simply match a pair – possibly three – medium-size vacation suitcases within the again.

It’s additionally value mentioning that regardless of all Pumas coming with the trendy preventative security aids you’d anticipate in a brand new motor as we speak – computerized emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping help and traffic-sign recognition – you do should pay additional for blind-spot detection and steering help.

And whereas there may be an assortment of six airbags, Euro NCAP solely awarded the Puma 4 out of 5 stars when it crashed examined it in 2022.

Ford Puma: value and working prices 

Gone are the times of low-cost Ford fashions. 

The Puma, now its smallest automotive in Britain, rings in from a whopping £25,640.

Our take a look at automotive, an ST-Line X trim with the seven-speed auto gearbox, is £28,790 on the street, and kitted with quota of choices it tallied to a barely-believable £33,515.

Given {that a} BMW 1 Series in M Sport spec prices £31,585, this feels extraordinarily steep on Ford’s behalf. 

Fortunately, what you get with the Puma is a powerful engine that is additionally reasonably priced to run.

Official gasoline economic system is claimed to be 47.1mpg, and on a combination of roads we nonetheless managed a decent 45mpg.

The Puma additionally pumps out much less CO2 than lots of its rival small SUVs, which means [relatively] low car excise obligation annual funds.

Cars & Motoring verdict on the Ford Puma

There’s no questioning that the Puma is among the many greatest compact crossovers available on the market at this very second.

Where it leads its rivals is driving efficiency – it is in all probability the sweetest-handing small SUV on the market proper now. And whereas the rear of the cabin is extra cramped than among the competitors, the pliability of the boot is an actual spotlight.

But the place it loses huge factors is its washboard trip consolation, which is not as forgiving as its VW Group rivals – neither is the general high quality of end.

And beginning at greater than £25,500, it is undeniably dear for a small SUV that – inside – gives little to no more room than a Fiesta hatchback.

Yet, irrespective of our opinion, the success of any automotive is the way it resonates with prospects. And the Puma has confirmed its success as a product by the sheer quantity of Britons who’ve purchased one in 2023.