Ford Puma SUV - Engines, drive & performance

Rekindling the Puma model name for an SUV, rather than a small coupe, has been a polarising move amongst enthusiasts, so does the new Puma have the driver appeal to pull it off? Our experience indicates it's certainly a contender as the most fun crossover, thanks in no small part to its stretched Fiesta underpinnings.

We praised the Ford Fiesta for its handling and the Puma loses little of that with its taller body and ride height. Ford has done an impressive job of maintaining the best aspect of the Fiesta, by firming up the Puma’s suspension. However, this does come with its drawbacks as, with 18-inch wheels fitted, the ride can be a tad harsh on rougher roads.

Ford Puma petrol engines

Both of the Puma's petrol engines are 1.0-litre EcoBoost units with three cylinders and Ford's new mild-hybrid technology, producing 123bhp and 153bhp respectively. Acceleration is competitive for a crossover, with 0-62mph taking nine seconds for the more powerful version with its six-speed manual gearbox, while the 123bhp engine with manual gears is reasonably close behind at 9.8 seconds.

Like the smaller Fiesta, the Puma’s manual gear shifter has a delightfully satisfying feel to it, like something that’s been pulled straight out of a hot hatchback, rather than an SUV.

As of the time of writing, both the 123bhp and 153bhp engines are available with a seven-speed automatic transmission – although only on some trim levels. A price difference of around £1,500 separates the manual and automatic gearboxes, with the auto adding a couple of tenths to the acceleration figures – although, this is likely to go unnoticed.

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In ST-Line Vignale trim, the automatic gearbox feels jerky when driving at low speeds around town, with an eagerness to shift up very quickly as you move off from a standstill. In our test car, we found the automatic gearbox was easier to operate via the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, which helped make it far smoother to drive. At faster motorway speeds, the gearbox is far less intrusive – although a Skoda Kamiq is a better choice if you’re looking for a long-distance motorway cruiser.

Overall, the automatic version of the Puma is not as sharp, nor as involving to drive as the car with a manual. It’s also a chunk more expensive to buy and slightly less efficient, making it difficult to recommend unless you absolutely need an automatic.

At the top of the range is the Ford Puma ST, which we’ve reviewed separately. It’s the most powerful model in the range by some margin with 197bhp, and is powered by the same turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine as the Fiesta ST. This makes it the quickest version of the Puma, managing 0-62mph in only 6.7 seconds. It has impressive poise that makes it genuinely satisfying to drive; it’s a rival not only to small fast SUVs but some of the best hot hatchbacks too.