Skip advert
Advertisement

2020 Ford Puma ST performance SUV breaks cover

New Ford Puma ST has 197bhp and sprints from 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds

  • Shares 197bhp petrol engine with the Fiesta ST
  • Capable of 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds
  • Sporty styling tweaks

After months of teaser pictures and prototype sightings, the new 2020 Ford Puma ST has been unveiled. It’s powered by the same 197bhp Ford EcoBoost engine as the Fiesta ST and is capable of 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds. The new flagship Puma will go on sale in early 2021 with a starting price of £28,495.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Best hot hatchbacks to buy now

The Puma ST will have few direct rivals when it arrives but is essentially a more practical alternative to the Fiesta ST and other small performance models such as the Suzuki Swift Sport and Volkswagen Polo GTI.

2020 Ford Puma ST - styling

At the front, the Puma ST gets a special front splitter that’s claimed to increase the car’s downforce by nearly 80% for improved handling. There’s also a new bumper and air intakes, plus a gloss black honeycomb grille.

Other ST-specific styling touches include a black roof panel, door mirror caps, side trim and rear tailgate badging. The rear spoiler, also added to aid the car’s aerodynamics, is also black. A twin exhaust with chrome tips and a rear diffuser also feature, along with 19-inch alloy wheels and red brake calipers.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Buyers will be able to choose one of six paint colours, namely Agate Black, Desert Island Blue, Fantastic Red, Frozen White, Magnetic and ‘Mean Green,’ which is exclusive to the Puma ST.

Interior, equipment and practicality

Inside, the flagship Puma gets the same subtle tweaks as Ford’s other ST models, with sporty Recaro seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel, a unique gear knob, and ‘Ford Performance’ branded skid plates.

The Puma ST carries over all of the the interior tech from the standard car, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Ford’s SYNC 3 software, sat nav, Apple Carplay and Android Auto. A B&O Play stereo system is available as an option.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Safety features include automatic emergency braking, active parking assistance with front and rear parking sensors, cross traffic alert with active braking and adaptive cruise control. Owners will also be able to access remote features via the FordPass connect app, which can unlock or lock the doors and show the location of the car.

Practicality is unchanged from the standard Puma, with 456 litres of luggage space, and an additional 80-litre ‘Mega Box’ storage compartment in the boot floor.

Engine, chassis and performance

The Puma ST is powered by the same 197bhp 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder Ecoboost petrol engine as the Fiesta ST. Power goes to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox, with 0-62mph taking 6.7 seconds - 0.2 seconds slower than the Fiesta. Top speed is 137mph.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Other performance upgrades over the standard Puma include larger front brake discs, a lower ride height and a tweaked version of Ford’s ‘force-vectoring’ suspension setup. The steering has also been changed and is 25% quicker than the standard car, with Ford claiming that all of the changes combine to make the Puma ST the best handling small SUV in its class.

An optional performance pack adds a mechanical limited-slip differential that helps to improve traction and grip in the corners, and grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres that were specially developed for the car.

A launch control system also features, along with switchable driving modes. Eco and Normal mode are for normal driving, with Sport setting making the exhaust louder while sharpening the steering and throttle response. The Track setting is recommended for use on a circuit, with minimal intervention from the traction and stability systems.

While fuel economy is usually an afterthought in a performance car, the Puma ST does feature cylinder shutdown technology, meaning it can run using only two-cylinders. According to Ford, the Puma ST can manage fuel economy of up to 40.9mpg and emissions of 155g/km under the stricter WLTP test.

Do you want to know more about the Ford Puma? Read our in-depth reveal for everything you need to know.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Bentley Bentayga review – an opulent and comfortable SUV
Bentley Bentayga Hybrid
In-depth reviews
27 Mar 2024

Bentley Bentayga review – an opulent and comfortable SUV

New Hyundai i30 facelift freshens family hatch for 2024
Hyundai i30 front quarter
News
27 Mar 2024

New Hyundai i30 facelift freshens family hatch for 2024

Volkswagen Golf review – almost perfect, but less intuitive
Volkswagen Golf Black Edition front 3/4 tracking
In-depth reviews
26 Mar 2024

Volkswagen Golf review – almost perfect, but less intuitive

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio SUV review
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio front quarter dynamic
In-depth reviews
22 Mar 2024

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio SUV review

Most Popular

New Polestar 4 coupe SUV – how is the £60k EV shaping up?
Polestar 4 Prototype drive front quarter
News
22 Mar 2024

New Polestar 4 coupe SUV – how is the £60k EV shaping up?

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
28 Mar 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers

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?

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: a complete guide
Public EV charge point
Tips and advice
11 Jan 2023

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide

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
The best electric cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 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