Ford Puma review

You might remember the Ford Puma name on a small coupé back in the Nineties, but here we're reviewing its staggeringly successful small SUV reincarnation.

What does staggering success look like? Well, for the Puma it meant winning our overall Car of the Year award and spending many months at – or near – the top of the UK's sales charts.

Echoing the original Puma, you could say the latest model looks sportier than most other cars in its class and that it's more fun in other ways too, as we’ll come on to explain.

The Puma has been around long enough to undergo a mid-life facelift, so it looks a bit different to earlier models – the front Blue Oval badge has been relocated to the grille and the design of the LED headlights is different. The interior has been reimagined, too.

But should you buy a Ford Puma instead of, say, a Nissan Juke, Skoda Kamiq or Volkswagen T-Roc? Read on to find out, as we rate it in all the important areas and compare it with the best small SUVs. Or to read about the fully electric version see our Ford Puma Gen-E report.

How fast is it and which engine is best?

All Ford Puma engines are 1.0-litre petrols with 48-volt mild-hybrid (MHEV) technology to bolster fuel economy and performance.

Even the entry-level Ecoboost mHEV 125 has plenty of zip and it’s our favourite version. It pulls well from low revs and maintains cruising speed effortlessly, being much quicker than many of its rivals we tested it up against from 0-60mph – including any Nissan Juke, the Renault Captur TCe90, Skoda Kamiq TSI 95  and VW Taigo TSI 95. If you want more pace (not that it’s crying out for it), the Ecoboost mHEV 155 is noticeably nippier, hitting 60mph from a standstill in 8.7 seconds. That's as quick as pricier small SUVs, including the Audi Q2 35 TFSI.

The mHEV 125 comes standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, with the option to upgrade to a seven-speed automatic. The 155 mHEV, however, is exclusively available with the seven-speed automatic gearbox.

There’s an even punchier ST version that we review separately, and, of course, the pure electric Puma Gen-E.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

If you enjoy driving and value handling, the Puma will really win your heart. It's super-nimble by small SUV standards and you’ll notice its agility whether you’re merely scooting around a roundabout or driving down your favourite country lane.

To experience the Puma at its most entertaining, you'll want an ST-Line version with sports suspension. It helps keep the body more upright when cornering, although even the entry-level Titanium version darts into bends more eagerly than most of the rivals.

Then there’s the steering. It’s quick to respond and gives you a far better sense of connection to the front wheels than you get from the Hyundai Kona or the Juke – again, something you can appreciate whether you're driving on quicker roads or zipping about town.

If ride comfort is a priority, you’d be better off looking at the Kamiq or VW T-Roc. Both have softer suspension, which means you feel less impact from lumps and bumps as they pass beneath the car.

In fact, if you want the most comfortable Puma, Titanium trim is your best bet because it’s the only version to come without the firmer sport suspension fitted to all ST-Line variants. Even so, the Puma is far from a bone-shaker and never truly gets uncomfortable – it just follows the contours of the road more closely than the Kamiq and T-Roc.

There's a positive trade-off too: better body control equals less bouncing on undulating country lanes, and we think most buyers will quite like the compromise. By comparison, the Juke jostles you around in your seat far more. While we recommend sticking with 17in or 18in wheels if buying a Puma, the ride isn’t too harsh with the largest 19in alloys (optional on all but the entry-level trim).

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

There are certainly quieter small SUVs than the Puma. Its engines have a slightly sporty rasp and there’s a fair amount of tyre roar at a steady 70mph – especially with 18in or 19in wheels fitted. On motorways, the Kamiq and T-Roc do a much better job of keeping unwanted noise from reaching your ears.

On the other hand, the Puma’s precise, snickety gearshift, feelsome clutch pedal and progressive brakes make it a really easy car to drive smoothly. Although the slick manual is our pick, the seven-speed automatic gearbox is an equally good option.

The stop-start system goes about its business incredibly unobtrusively, and you hardly even notice when the engine switches off and on. It’s much smoother and quicker to respond than the system fitted to the Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida.

“The VW T-Roc is more comfortable than the Puma, but when it comes to driving thrills, the Ford is streets ahead. I find it’s the kind of car that encourages you to drive a bit more spiritedly than its rivals.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

The Puma’s interior looks more modern than earlier versions, but the quality of the materials used isn’t really a step up. Most of the plastics on the dashboard feel cheap to the touch and the faux leather-wrapped trim pieces feel quite hard.

ST Line models come with red stitching on the seats and steering wheel to add a bit of colour, otherwise it’s predominantly dark and grey inside. Top-level Sound Edition gets patches of grey faux-leather on the dash and doors to liven it up.

Overall, it’s more lavish than what you’ll find in an Alfa Romeo Junior or Fiat 600, but it can’t quite match the Juke, T-Roc or Peugeot 2008 for upmarket feel. Meanwhile, the Lexus LBX feels significantly plusher and better built inside.

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

No matter which trim you go for, the driver's seat in the Ford Puma is comfortable and comes with adjustable lumbar support to help reduce back pain on long journeys. A minor gripe with the entry-level Titanium’s seats is that they could do with a bit more side support, but that’s solved on all ST-Line versions, with their thicker bolsters. 

All Pumas have front seat adjustment and plenty of movement to get the steering wheel just where you need it, no matter your shape or size. And while you don’t sit as far above the road as you do in a VW T-Roc, you’ll prefer that if you favour a sporty driving position.

Some may find the aggressively angled front pillars will partially obstruct their view out at junctions and roundabouts. Visibility out of the back of the Puma isn’t brilliant either – blame the rising window line and chunky rear pillars for that.

On the plus side, all Pumas come with a rear-view camera and rear parking sensors as standard. If you want front sensors and a 360-degree reversing camera, you’ll have to option the expensive Driver Assistance Pack on most versions.

LED headlights come as standard, while matrix LED headlamps – which alter their beam to avoid dazzling other drivers – are also a reasonably priced option. Only top-level Sound Edition comes with the upgraded lights and Driver Assistance Pack as standard.

Is the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

All versions of the Puma now come with a larger 12.8in infotainment touchscreen (rather than the previous 8.0in unit) that’s located lower down on the dashboard. That means it’s no longer in your line of sight, and as a result you have to look down and away from the road to use it.

The increase in screen size does mean the big virtual buttons are easier to hit while driving, plus it’s running Ford’s latest SYNC4 software. It’s much more responsive than the old system, placing it ahead of what you’ll find in the 2008, Juke or Toyota Yaris Cross, though it doesn’t look quite as modern as the T-Roc’s. 

Unfortunately, the physical climate controls from the pre-facelift Puma are gone – instead you'll find them incorporated into the bottom section of the touchscreen. That's a shame because it makes them more distracting to use while driving than the previous set-up.

All Pumas come with a 12.8in digital driver's display that’s bright, clear and easy to read. It’s simple to navigate through using the physical steering buttons, but the layout isn’t as configurable as what you get in higher-spec versions of the T-Roc.

Pricier ST-Line X models have a wireless charging pad for your smartphone and a punchy 10-speaker B&O sound system. If we’re being picky, the sound quality isn't quite as warm or enveloping as the Bose system in range-topping versions of the Juke, but it's still good. Go for the flagship Sound Edition and you get a more powerful 650w version of this same unit.

“The Puma's steering wheel, pedals and gearlever are perfectly placed for a sporty driving position. For me, it's intrinsic to the model’s already impressive driving experience.” – Dan Jones, Reviewer

How much space does it have for people?

Unless you’re exceptionally tall, you’ll fit just fine in the front of the Ford Puma and won’t find yourself struggling for head or leg room.

It's not as roomy as the T-Roc though – that car has a few more centimetres of head room, along with a slightly broader interior that provides more shoulder room between the driver and front passenger.

There’s plenty of storage space, with decent-sized door bins, a cubby in front of the gear lever, another one below the front armrest and a couple of cupholders between the front seats.

The Puma's small rear side windows don’t help create an impression of roominess and, in real terms, a couple of six-footers will have less knee room than in the limo-like Kamiq or either the VW Taigo or T-Roc.

Head room is worse than it is in those rival cars, but in case that all sounds rather damning, you can still carry a couple of tall passengers in the back without too many grumbles.

We think it’s best to avoid the Puma's optional panoramic roof because it lowers the height of the ceiling and reduces head room further, especially in the back.

How much room does it have for luggage?

You can fit six carry-on suitcases in the Puma's main boot compartment – one fewer than you’ll squeeze into a Kamiq, Yaris Cross or T-Roc. The Puma has a trick up its sleeve though: if you lift up its boot floor, you’ll find a large well underneath that can swallow two more cases, increasing the overall boot volume to 456 litres.

The boot floor can clip to the rear seatbacks so you can stand two sets of golf clubs, or a couple of large pot plants, upright in the well. There’s even a removable plug at the bottom, so you can hose out any mud afterwards.

The boot floor is height-adjustable. When it's set to its highest position and the rear seats are folded down, there's no step in the floor of the extended load bay and only a very small lip at the boot entrance. The tailgate-mounted parcel shelf lifts up when the boot is opened to give excellent access.

All Pumas have 60/40 split-folding rear seats, which matches what you get in almost all small SUVs, including the Kamiq and T-Roc, and the Lexus LBX. 

However, it's a pity there’s no ski hatch in the Puma (there is in the T-Roc), or any other neat touches, such as the sliding rear seats offered in the Renault Captur and VW T-Cross.

“The Puma's underfloor boot storage grabs the headlines but I’ve also found the 12-volt power socket in the boot to be very useful.” – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

There are no weedy engines in the Ford Puma line-up, nor are there any super-basic trim levels. That explains why its starting price is higher than those of the Juke and Kamiq. However, in like-for-like form, it’s actually cheaper than both those cars, and also undercuts the equivalent T-Roc.

PCP car finance deals are usually pretty attractive, helped by the fact that the Puma is predicted to depreciate more slowly than many of its peers. It’s economical, too – we achieved a real-world figure of around 48mpg in the Ecoboost 125 (manual). That’s not far off the Renault Captur TCe 90 and Skoda Kamiq 95 that achieved around 50mpg on the same day.

Petrol-powered Pumas pump out less CO2 than many small SUVs so it's a relatively cheap company car – just not as cheap as an electric SUV. For the lowest BIK tax you'll be better off with the all-electric Puma Gen-E.

The cheapest Puma trim, Titanium, doesn’t feel that entry-level at all, with 17in alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, climate control, cruise control, keyless start, a heated front windscreen and rear privacy glass.

Our favourite trim is ST-Line. When paired with our favourite engine (the 125 mHEV), it’s only marginally more expensive than the Titanium, and yet it builds on that car’s already great specification with sportier styling, power-folding door mirrors (with puddle lamps), sports seats and sports suspension. 

ST-Line X trim is too expensive to recommend, but if you want all the kit then it’s your only choice. It introduces 18in alloy wheels, keyless entry, an upgraded B&O sound system, a powered tailgate, part-synthetic leather seats and adjustable lumbar support for the passenger’s seat.

Sound Edition comes with different 18in alloy wheels, a black exterior roof, grey part-leather upholstery and the Advanced Driver Assistance Pack as standard, which includes adaptive cruise control. You also get the Winter Pack, which adds heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

The Puma finished in a disappointing 32nd place in a class of 38 small SUVs models in the What Car? Reliability Survey – above the Nissan Juke but below most other rivals.

As a manufacturer, Ford finished in a below average 24th place out of the 30 brands included. That matches VW but just below Renault, Seat and Skoda but above Fiat and Nissan.

All Pumas come with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty as standard, although that can be extended to five years (with a 100,000-mile limit) for an extra charge. That’s about average, but you get longer standard warranties with the Hyundai Bayon and Kia Stonic.

How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?

All Pumas come with the modern safety aids you’d expect, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance and traffic-sign recognition.

The optional Driver Assistance Pack is well worth considering. It’s not cheap, but introduces adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, an Evasive Steering Assist system and Cross Traffic Alert (to stop you from pulling out on an unseen vehicle).

Safety testers from Euro NCAP awarded the Puma four stars out of five for safety in 2022 – a slightly disappointing score. To keep would-be thieves at bay, all Pumas come with a Thatcham category one alarm and immobiliser.

“Out of all the option packs, I’d definitely spec my Puma with the Winter Pack. It’s the most affordable and the heated seats and steering wheel will be most appreciated in the colder months ” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

Buy it if...

- You’d like a small SUV that’s fun to drive

- You’re after a small SUV that has one of the biggest boots

- You don’t want to spend money on adding too many options

Don’t buy it if…

- You want the most quiet small SUV 

- You want a smart interior that hasn’t been built to a budget

- You need lots of space in the rear seats

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