Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Ford Puma review - Engines, drive & performance

Fun handling makes the Ford Puma a potential class-leader for enthusiasts

Carbuyer Rating

4.2 out of 5

Owners Rating
Be the first to review
Engines, drive & performance Rating

4.5 out of 5

We have been impressed with the Ford Puma’s driving feel since it launched in 2019, so the post-facelift model has a great foundation on which to build. Sadly, though, Ford has chosen to discontinue the hottest 1.5-litre turbocharged Puma ST with its slick six-speed gearbox.

We praised the discontinued Ford Fiesta for its handling and the Puma loses little of that with its taller body and ride height. There’s a little more body roll as you’d expect of a high-riding model, but the Puma is by no means wallowy and still feels just as playful and engaging to drive. ST-Line models get sports suspension keeping it very composed, yet it’s well balanced in terms of harshness and comfort, so longer journeys will still be more than bearable for passengers. We wouldn’t go with the 19-inch wheels, though – these make the Puma a little more fidgety at lower speeds so we’d stick with the smaller wheels on offer.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Sadly the Ford Puma ST feels like a watered-down version of the pre-facelift model. Essentially it’s now just a renamed version of the old ST Powershift, so it gets an automatic gearbox as standard with no manual override, which takes away some of the engagement from the old model, and that’s before you even take into consideration the new car’s lower performance compared to before. 

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 8.7 seconds for the more powerful version with its seven-speed automatic gearbox, while the 123bhp engine with the same gearbox takes 9.6 seconds.

While the manual version of the 123bhp engine takes slightly longer from 0-62mph at 9.8 seconds, its 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.

At the top of the range is the Ford Puma ST, but it’s now less powerful than before with just 168bhp from its 1.0-litre mild-hybrid turbocharged engine. The automatic transmission is not very engaging, but it’s at least smooth – it’s just a shame there’s no manual override option and the gearbox can be a little slow to change even in Sport mode. 0-62mph takes 7.4 seconds.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best?

Cheapest

  • Name
    1.0 EcoBoost Hybrid mHEV Titanium 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • Price
    £26,350

Most Economical

  • Name
    1.0 EcoBoost Hybrid mHEV Titanium 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • Price
    £26,350

Fastest

  • Name
    1.0 EcoBoost Hybrid mHEV ST 5dr DCT
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £33,600

Charlie writes and edits news, review and advice articles for Carbuyer, as well as publishing content to its social media platforms. He has also been a regular contributor to its sister titles Auto Express, DrivingElectric and evo. As well as being consumed by everything automotive, Charlie is a speaker of five languages and once lived in Chile, Siberia and the Czech Republic, returning to the UK to write about his life-long passion: cars.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Ford Puma review – a fun-to-drive small SUV
Ford Puma Carbuyer review
In-depth reviews
28 Aug 2024

Ford Puma review – a fun-to-drive small SUV

Top 10 best used small SUVs to buy
Best used small SUVs
Best cars
12 Jul 2024

Top 10 best used small SUVs to buy

Most Popular

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s best PCP finance offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
11 Oct 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s best PCP finance offers

Renault 5 review – iconic supermini reinvented as an EV
Renault 5 front quarter
In-depth reviews
7 Oct 2024

Renault 5 review – iconic supermini reinvented as an EV

The best cars for snow and winter driving 2024
Best cars for winter
Best cars
10 Oct 2024

The best cars for snow and winter driving 2024

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
26 Mar 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps
Charging station
Tips and advice
23 Jul 2024

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
Best electric cars
Best cars
16 May 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024