Crossover ticks all the boxes
IT’S A LONG time since I wrote about a car called Puma. Like this one it was built by Ford and was based on the Fiesta.that’s about where the similarity ends.the old one was a little coupe that was an absolute blast to drive.you might have once owned one (perhaps you still have it) and if you’re a real performance Ford enthusiast you might even have owned one of the limited edition Puma Racings.that was a cracker.
Ford stopped making the Puma because, presumably, not enough people bought it. Our fault then.
So to the new Puma. It is of course a crossover because that’s what does sell in big numbers these days. Based on the Fiesta it might be but dimensionally it is substantially different: it’s 146mm longer than the compact hatchback, 54mm taller, with a 95mm longer wheelbase.that’s what turns into a crossover.
The next two dimensional adjustments turn it into a crossover that’s unusually pleasant to drive; not as fun as the original Puma but it tips in that direction.these are a width that’s increased by 71mm and more importantly the track has been widened by 58mm.this should translate into a car that’s better planted on the road thanks to offsetting the higher centre of gravity.
For the moment you can only buy a
Puma with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with a choice of 94bhp or 123bhp power outputs.the 123bhp one is also available with a mild hybrid system which
W£22,895
Petrol – 1.0 123bhp
0 to 62mph in 9.8 seconds, 119mph top speed 43.5-60.1mpg 99g/km Seat Arona, Kia Stonic, Hyundai Kona
8/10 is essentially a starter/ generator unit that helps the engine by reducing both the effect of turbo lag and the CO2 output. There’s a 153bhp version of the engine that also uses the mild hybrid system. I don’t quite understand why Ford doesn’t fit all Pumas with this CO2 reducing tech.
Later, Ford will also offer a 1.5-litre diesel engine and rumour has it there’ll be a high performance ST model too.there’s no word about a fully electric version of the car or a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
E’RE TESTING a Puma with the 123bhp motor fitted with the mild hybrid system which Ford refers to as MHEV which while not exactly dishonest, does rather overstate the hybrid-ness of the vehicle. Our car is also in St-line X spec which means an on-theroad price of £22,895.
We’ll go straight to a feature on this car that I really like even though it’s ridiculously simple in concept.the Puma’s boot floor is higher than the Fiesta’s and because the MHEV’S lithium-ion battery, which lives under the boot floor, is pretty small the car’s designers have used the space to fit a square 80-litre plastic recess. Of course in the modern world everything needs a name so Ford calls it the Megabox.what’s really useful is that there’s a bung in the bottom of it that allows you to wash out the box if it’s got all muddy from wellies or anything else stowed there. Simple but useful. Give me more of that rather than complicated driver assistance systems that none of us asked for.
Moving forward to where the people sit we have a well-made dashboard that features an 8.0in touchscreen and a digital instrument pack. Smartphone mirroring is included as is, on this trim level, an excellent B&O audio system.
The materials used are what you’d expect at this price point (the cheapest Puma costs just over £20,000) with a mixture of hard plastics, soft surfaces and a bit of chrome embellishment to add sparkle to the otherwise business-like interior. The seats are comfortable and there’s adequate legroom front and back.
Only manual gearboxes are available on Ford’s test fleet at the moment but automatics are on their way.the engine is smooth with a pleasant note.you’ll not notice the hybrid system doing its bit.
Is the Puma the fun-to-drive car that its predecessor was? Certainly it is one of the more pleasant to drive crossovers on the market, with tidy handling, a comfortable ride and a safe feel.the steering could have more weight but otherwise there’s little to criticise.
That said, I’d rather drive a Fiesta if I was after a more enjoyable experience. But this is a family car and any deficiencies in the driving experience are more than made up for by its practicality.
Especially the Megabox. I hope that’s an invention that’s widely copied.