The Ford Puma’s work becomes much more difficult.
Currently, it’s below popularity Escape within Ford Australia.
By the end of 2023, however, it will be forced to fly the small SUV flag alone – the Escape is being phased out and no replacements are forthcoming. An electric Puma is also coming.
With a sleek design reminiscent of more expensive ones porsche macanand responsive handling backed by a powerful turbocharged three-cylinder engine, the Puma has proven it has a lot to offer in the competitive new car market.
It also has solid value in 2023.
Despite all that, it was not a sales success. So far in 2023, it’s just ahead Nissan Juke And Renault Captur on the sales chart, behind the best-selling books Mazda CX-3 equals 5000 sales. Why?
Note: The pictures of the Ford Puma are from an earlier review. Our test car has the same colors and specs, the same interior, but doesn’t have the black hood shown here.
How much does the Ford Puma cost?
The tested Puma was the base model, the Puma FWD, with a list price of $30,340 before road costs.
Adding the Park Package increases the price by $990, while the black roof increases it by $500.
Price of Ford Puma 2023:
- Ford Puma FWD: $30,340
- Ford Puma ST-Series: $32,690
- Ford Puma ST-Line V: $35,890
Price does not include road costs
Main competitors include:
Price does not include road costs
How is the Ford Puma on the inside?
There is no hidden link between Puma and festival No longer sold in Australia. After all, under the hood, they are the same car.
However, the Puma’s driving position is higher than that of the Fiesta, and the seats in the Puma FWD are flatter than the heavily reinforced seats in the defunct Fiesta ST.
Unlike higher-end models with sunroofs, the base Puma has plenty of headroom for taller drivers. Its manually adjustable front seats have enough range to accommodate all body types, while the steering wheel itself is a quality item.
Thought has really gone into the touch points, as evidenced by the rubber ring dial, although the door handles are proof of Puma’s humble origins. It’s an economy car at its core, but that’s easier to swallow as it’s a $30k car instead of a $40k like the flagship ST-Line V.
There are a few other ergonomic quirks. The manual handbrake obscures one of the cargo spaces on the transmission tunnel, and the tunnel itself is very narrow, which means drivers and passengers with broad shoulders will feel like they’re sitting on top of each other. on top of each other.
Ford has sorted out the tech basics, as it tends to, even though the 8.0-inch screen looks a bit small in 2023.
Sync 3 isn’t the flashiest infotainment system in the world, but it’s one of the easiest to use. Everything is within easy reach, and its response is sharp enough to feel natural for even the most dedicated smartphone user.
Apple CarPlay showed up well on screen and didn’t drop or falter during our time behind the wheel. The plus point for Ford is that it makes it easy to turn off the screen – there is a hard button below the screen, which is a rare smart button.
However, competitors are starting to switch to wireless CarPlay, which is something we’d love to see in the Puma update.
The base model doesn’t have the flashy digital dials offered on the higher-end Pumas, instead settling for simple analog dials alongside the basic dash computer with digital speedometer .
The rear seats feel a bit outdated compared to the lavish front seats. Legroom behind a tall driver is lousy and headroom will be an issue for anyone but kids there again thanks to the optional panoramic sunroof.
Combine that with the fact that there are no rear vents, no fold-down armrests and little padding on the door panels, and it’s clear that the Puma’s rear area is reserved for small children or adults. big that you really don’t like.
The boot space is surprisingly good. Deep and wide loading area, with requirements 376L space with the rear seats in place and another 34L in a plastic bin below the fake floor but above the space-saving accessory.
It’s not quite as spacious as the overseas-powered MegaBox, but it still leaves some room for sweaty bathing suits or workout clothes without staining carpeted floors.
Since Ford Australia has the choice between deeper underfloor storage or adding a space-saving spare tire, we’re glad it chose the latter. Folding the rear seat frees 1170L Space.
What’s under the bonnet?
All versions of Ford Puma in Australia are equipped with engines 1.0 liter turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine manufacture 92kW power and 170Nm of torque.
Drive is sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
Fuel economy is claimed as 5.3 liters/100km on the combined cycle, and the fuel tank keeps 42L. Puma drink is more expensive than 95 RON lead-free premium.
An electric version confirmed for Australiabut has not been revealed yet.
How does the Ford Puma drive?
Compact SUVs are often thought of as floor shopping carts, cars for people who don’t care about driving. Fortunately, no one told Ford.
Puma is a honey on the open road, as simple as that. For starters, the engine is defined and captivating, with bags of unsurpassed torque aided by a warm, deep cabin sound.
It’s quick over the landmark and tugs through stacked gears at city speeds, never falling out of the sweet spot between 1500rpm and 4500rpm, though it also will happily return to the red line if the driver clings to the wall of fire.
The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is one of the best, to the point of being confused with a torque converter in most situations. Shifting on the go is done with ease, and it doesn’t cause the jitters at low speeds that sometimes plague small-engine cars with dual-clutch transmissions.
However, swapping between steering and reverse can be slow, which makes three-point turns a bit slower than it really should be.
Ready engines are supported by a lively, talented chassis far beyond what most owners would ask for. With direct steering and plenty of traction on the front axle, it can slam into corners like an oversized hot hatch and feels wonderfully balanced once the car is stabilized on the outer front tyres. .
Sure, it doesn’t feel as lively as the Fiesta ST, but it’s adjustable and fun in a way its rivals don’t. Ford, bring the Puma ST to Australia. If the regular car was that good, the proper ST would be an absolute laughing stock.
Puma’s talent on the open road doesn’t come at the expense of flair. The ride is European for sure but never crashes and the steering is light enough to make backing a breeze.
Compared to the ST-Line V we drove in 2021, the base FWD on its 17-inch alloy wheels is more supple.
There’s a sizable blind spot on the driver’s shoulder, but the array of cameras, sensors and driver aids help make up for that blind spot.
The engine is smooth and quiet when you’re flying, and road noise is well suppressed on smooth asphalt. However, it can be a bit noisy on rough gravel, as is common in European hatchbacks and crossovers.
The only real hit to its highway fine-tuning is the slightly overbearing lane-centering system, which is too responsive in a straight line and too easily flustered in curves. . Thankfully it can be turned off with a button on the steering wheel.
What do you get?
Highlights of Puma FWD:
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Satellite positioning
- DAB + digital radio
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Automatic LED headlights
- LED daytime running lights
- Front fog lights and cornering lights
- LED tail lights
- Connect FordPass
- embedded modem
- FordPass App Compatibility
- Online functions and services
- keyless start
- Ambient light
- Sensico artificial leather steering wheel
- Wireless phone charger
- Sound system 6 speakers
- cruise control
- Rain sensor wiper
- Automatic climate control
- Tire pressure monitoring
- upholstery fabric
Is Ford Puma safe?
Puma has a Five-star safety rating ANCAP based on the Euro NCAP test carried out in 2019.
This small SUV scored 94% for adult passenger protection, 84% for child passenger protection, 77% for vulnerable road users and 74% for assistance safety aid.
Standard safety features include:
- AEB includes Pedestrian, Bicyclist Detection
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keeping assist
- Traffic sign support
- Reverse camera
- Rear parking sensor
- Tire pressure monitoring
- 6 airbags
Park Package ($990) as tested adds:
- Front and side parking sensors
- Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
- Blind spot monitoring
How much does a Ford Puma cost to run?
Ford Puma is covered by a 5 year unlimited km warranty.
For the first four years/60,000 km, Ford provides routine maintenance services limited to $299 each visit.
Service is required every 12 months or 15,000km – whichever comes first.
CarExpert takes on Ford Puma
The Puma is still the most fun you can have behind the wheel of a small SUV, and it presents a pretty solid value in 2023.
It also doesn’t want much in the base decoration. Yes, the touchscreen looks a bit small, but the three-cylinder engine is sharp and has a full suite of active safety with the (optional but affordable) Parking Package fitted.
Yes, the back seat is tight, but the trunk is handy – and Ford still offers the Escape if you want something bigger. Mind you, when the Escape disappears at the end of 2023, Puma (and its upcoming electric cousin) will play a bigger role again.
There are flashier small SUVs out there, but the Puma got a lot right.
Click on an image to see the full gallery
THAN: Everything Ford Puma
