Ford takes crossover class by storm with revival of the Puma name
Given that the Ford Puma of the late 1990s arrived with the bold tagline ‘A driver’s dream’, Ford’s decision to reprise the name of its pint-size coupé on the tailgate of a crossover seems perplexing.With a larger frontal area, a higher centre of gravity and more weight, the Puma clearly distances itself from traditional ‘driver’s dream’ territory where the 1034kg original did everything budgets would allow to get closer.But times have changed. Today, the compact crossover class is bursting at the seams with members as manufacturers cash in on demand for SUVs and the mass-market space for more unusual, enthusiast-minded projects has rapidly shrunk.However, what this segment was long devoid of was something genuinely good to drive, which is where – Ford said – this Puma justified its name. After all, it is the smallest Ford currently on sale, and shares a platform with the now-departed Ford Fiesta, which remains the dynamic benchmark in the supermini class.The Puma is the first small Ford to use hybrid power, in the form of a 48V system bolstering a three-cylinder petrol turbo engine. The car’s striking design, described as ‘anti-wedge’ by one Ford designer, is intended to steal sales from more premium brands, notably Mini. Strong ergonomics were also promised, with the Puma possessing one of the largest boot capacities in the small SUV class, more passenger space than the Fiesta and what Ford calls the Megabox – an 80-litre compartment under the boot floor. Fully digital instrument dials and level two ‘autonomous’ driver aids should add to its appeal.How, then, does the smallest Ford measure up to the likes of the Nissan Juke, Seat Arona, Skoda Kamiq, Renault Captur, Vauxhall Mokka and Volkswagen T-Cross? Let’s find out. The Ford Puma range at a glanceThe UK Puma line-up is relatively straightforward. Power comes from Ford’s 1.0-litre Ecoboost petrol three-pot, which is available with either 123bhp or 153bhp. Each features mild-hybrid assistance and a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, but the 123bhp engine can also be had with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.Titanium spec represents the entry level and is followed by ST-Line, ST-Line X and ST-Line Vignale. If those options sound too sedate, there is also the Ford Puma ST, which now assumes the role of the company’s junior hot hatch. This is offered with the choice of an uprated 167bhp version of the 1.0-litre mild-hybrid engine, mated to the seven-speed auto ‘box, or an electrically-unassisted 1.5-litre unit that is paired with the six-speed manual, and outputs 197bhp.A battery-electric version of the Puma is in the pipeline, but this is not scheduled to go on sale until early 2025.
