FIRST DRIVE | Ford Puma is peachy but pricey
In recent years, Fords ’ presence in the compact passenger car market has dwindled with the demise of the Figo, Fiesta and EcoSport, all popular sellers in their time.
The blue oval has relied on its locally built Ranger bakkies to generate most of its sales in SA, supplemented by small volumes of the imported Everest, Mustang and Tourneo/Transit.
The popular mini SUV/ crossover segment recently vacated by the long-running EcoSport accounts for about 15% of SA’s new-car market, a significant market sector Ford did not want to ignore. It has’ filled the gap with the swishly styled Puma, launched last week.
Based on the latest Fiesta hatchback, which isnt sold in SA, the imported Puma is not a direct replacement for the EcoSport and is slightly larger and a whack more expensive. It is available in two versions: the Puma Titanium for R569,900 and the deluxe Puma ST-Line Vignale for R613,900.
In a competitive category, it is pitted against rivals such as the similarly priced Volkswagen TRoc and Taigo and Hyundai Kona, and sub-R500,000 competitors such as the Renault Captur, Peugeot 2008, Opel Mokka and Toyota C-HR. The EcoSport was SA’s best-selling compact SUV for many years, but the Puma is unlikely to match the feat because of its steep pricing, which makes it a hard sell against rivals with similar features and more power.
I drove the Puma at its launch in Cape Town. The little 1l petrol turbo engine chortled away with a typical three-cylinder thrum that is not unpleasant but becomes vocal as the revs rise. With 92kW and 170kW there’s enough oomph to propel the compact Ford through urban streets at a decent lick at sea level. It is also not averse to openroad driving, where it cruises comfortably and musters acceptably peppy overtaking pace.
Buyers seeking the best bustle for their buck will find better value in cheaper and more powerful crossovers such as the Renault Captur 1.3T (113kW), Opel Mokka 1.2T (96kW) and Hyundai Kona (146kW).
The Puma’s seven-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox clicks through gears efficiently and can be made to select lower gears more briskly by selecting sports mode. There are also normal, eco, slippery and trail modes that also adjust throttle and steering responses.
To save fuel, a cylinder deactivation system automatically switches off one of the engine’s cylinders when full power isn’t needed.
The entry Puma Titanium displayed acceptable ride comfort on Cape Town’s roads, which are less potholed than the Jozi streets I’m used to. The high-profile 17-inch tyres absorb road imperfections well, though with its short wheelbase the car feels a little choppy on bumpier roads.
It handles neatly. At 164mm the Puma has a lower than average ground clearance for a crossover that helps ensure a pressed-down feel when hustled through twisty roads at a robust pace. There’s little body roll and the roadholding is carlike. The Puma ST-Line Vignale has sports suspension and lower-profile 18-inch tyres that give it an extra dynamic edge through corners, though the ride quality suffers a little as a result.
The car seems well bolted together and there are no squeaks or rattles and wind noise is satisfactorily muted.
Life aboard the Puma is pleasant with plush interior trimmings and soft touchpoints, and it is roomy enough for four adults. The generous 456l boot takes a lot of luggage and the optional “MegaBox” provides additional storage space sunk into the boot floor capable of accommodating two upright golf bags.
Both versions are comprehensively kitted with a Ford Sync 3 infotainment system, satellite navigation, wireless smartphone charger, automatic climate control, keyless operation, ambient lighting and FordPass Connect — the latter allows features via the FordPass mobile app including vehicle locator, vehicle status, remote door lock/unlock and remote starting.
The flagship ST-Line Vignale in addition has a digital instrument panel, 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system, powered tailback, sports seats trimmed in partial leather and front seats with a massage function. It has a sportier vibe with a flat-bottomed leather steering wheel and signature red stitching throughout the cabin, alloy pedals, an aluminium gear shifter and a black headliner.
Ford offers an optional styling pack for the ST-Line Vignale, adding a panorama sunroof and four-way adjustable front passenger seat.
With a four-star Euro NCAP crash rating, the Puma comes standard with six airbags, ABS brakes, electronic stability control, automatic headlamps, lanekeeping assist and precollision assist with pedestrian detection.
Pricing includes a four-year/ 120,000km warranty and fouryear/unlimited distance roadside assistance package. Service or maintenance plans must be purchased extra, with the cheapest option being a sixyear/90,000km service plan for R17,693.