Daily Express

Hot Puma is an SUV with its claws out

FORD BRINGS BIG FUN TO THE FAMILY CROSSOVER MARKET

- Edited by COLIN GOODWIN

The SUV isn’t a car for me. I like sports cars, fast estate cars and hot hatchbacks, and have owned loads of each over the years. But if I did suddenly have a change of taste or was forced into buying one, I know exactly what I would choose. If I was particular­ly flush then it would be the Cupra Formentor, and if the budget was smaller it would be the Ford Puma ST.

There was a lot of fuss about how brilliant the Puma was when it was launched over a year ago. We tested it and although I thought it was pretty good, I didn’t find it to be quite the enthusiast’s SUV that most of my fellow car hacks judged it to be.

However, the hot version of the Puma we’re testing today is rather different.

It shares the same 197bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine as the Fiesta ST, which bodes well, and it also has the same six-speed manual gearbox.

To create the proper cross- over/ SUV look you need to lift a car on its suspension to give a generous ride height. But this lifts the centre of gravity which is a bad thing for handling so, ironically, the Puma ST has lowered suspension.

Ford has added a rear roof spoiler and diffuser, a re-worked front bumper with ‘Ford Performanc­e’ embossed in it and a new front grille that helps with engine cooling. Finishing off the job are 19-inch alloy wheels – in Magnetite finish or machined metal – and red brake calipers.

The car also rides on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres which have been specially developed for the Puma. There’s a choice of six colours, including a very in-your-face but rather cool Mean Green, pictured.

Our test car is finished in Fantastic Red which is a £500 option. The only other goody added to our car is a hands-free tailgate at £600. I think I’d save the money and instead buy the Performanc­e Pack that includes a Quaife limited-slip differenti­al because it’s only £950 and I suspect it has quite an effect on how the car drives.

The car itself will set you back £30,415. Not unreasonab­le for this sector but the problem for me is that the Fiesta ST in its poshest ST-3 guise costs £24,575.

That’s a hot hatch enthusiast whose family has left home talking, though. If you like crossovers and have young kids then the Puma ST makes sense.

The Puma is very well equipped as standard with wireless charging, a heated windscreen, front and rear parking sensors and a comprehens­ive infotainme­nt system all included.

As is one of the Puma’s greatest selling points – the MegaBox, a deep rubber-lined box in the boot that has a bung in the bottom so that you can wash it out. It’s a simple idea that’s immensely useful.

Inside you get ST-logo sports seats that are suitably supportive in corners. The seating position itself is a bit odd as it’s too high to make you think you’re in a hatchback but not high enough to give the SUV peer-over-hedges feel. Whatever, the reality is that the Puma ST is great to drive.

The three-cylinder motor, which is tuned to give more torque than it does in the Fiesta ST, has bags of character.

The Puma is a heavier car but that extra torque enables it to do 0-62mph in the same 6.7sec as the Fiesta. And although the suspension has been substantia­lly stiffened over the regular Puma’s the ride is not uncomforta­ble.

The engineers who work at Ford Performanc­e are really good at making cars like this. They don’t just bung in a powerful engine and stick on some badges and a sexy bodykit, there’s real attention to detail.

The steering and the front suspension geometry settings are both bespoke for the hot Puma.

It’s not as sharp to drive as the Fiesta ST but it’s considerab­ly more fun than any other crossover you can buy. The Cupra Formentor is a different animal as it is both more powerful (with an extra 100bhp) and four-wheel drive.

But those already in the crossover camp who want a family car with more sparkle will undoubtedl­y love the Puma.

The torquey threecylin­der engine has bags of character

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