the new ford puma should not only impress with its dynamic looks, it should also offer driving pleasure with high efficiency. We reveal whether this succeeds.
Wednesday, 8. July 2020 wednesday, 8. July 2020
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with the puma, ford has given new life to an old model name. The only thing the puma has in common with its predecessor is its name, and the fact that it shares the same base as the fiesta.
Instead of a coupe, however, this time it’s a sleek SUV that bears the model name puma. The designers have managed to make the puma live up to its name and also visually resemble the big cat.
The front end impresses with its sharp and dynamic look, while the entire vehicle has a very stocky appearance – just like the little feline predator.
For our test, we chose the top model in the range, the puma ecoboost hybrid 155 hp ST-line X. At a list price of 29.900,- euro already includes a very good basic equipment, which makes the puma very interestingly priced.
Among other things, there are already 18" alloys, a B&O sound system, automatic climate control, the body-styling kit, digital instruments, leather/cloth upholstery, a sport-tuned suspension, cruise control, the ford navigation system with SYNC3 and 8" touchscreen, and a wealth of assistance systems on board.
we were additionally spoiled with an electric tailgate, the driver assistance package, the winter package, the dynamic blue metallic paint, LED headlights and the design package.
With the extras you get a price of 34.950,- euro, but you have almost everything you could wish for on board.
The interior is of course very reminiscent of the fiesta, but it has a sporty flair and good workmanship. Above all, the red decorative stitching and the aluminum pedals make the interior look even more dynamic.
A digital speedometer that displays a puma graphic at startup and an 8" touchscreen in the center console also bring a modern touch to the cabin. The operation of the touch screen is intuitive, and there is also a very attractive graphics for menus and navi maps.
Comfortable seats and plenty of space for driver and passenger are also features of the new ford puma, which also comes with lots of storage space.
In keeping with its class, the space available in the rear is rather limited, but the puma has a sensational feature in the luggage compartment.
Not only does the trunk have a capacity of 468 liters, but the "ford megabox" with a capacity of 68 liters is also hidden under the fold-up cover.
This tub in the trunk also has a drain, which means that in winter you can simply put your snowy ski boots in without worrying about the melting snow.
in summer you can fill it with water and ice cubes and take a refreshing footbath. anglers, on the other hand, can store their catch in the tub – so there are countless possible uses for this unique feature, which will probably be copied by another manufacturer just as soon as the door edge protector, which ford also had in its program for the first time in our country.
Ford offers only the 1.0 liter 3-cylinder ecoboost gasoline engine, which is available with 125 hp (92 kW) or 155 hp (114 kW). While the 48-volt mild hybrid drive can be selected as an option for the weaker unit, the more powerful engine comes with it as standard.
This is supposed to make the puma livelier and more fuel-efficient. In 2.500 rpm, the gasoline engine delivers a maximum torque of 240 nm.
In practice, however, the thrust of the mild hybrid system is added to the mix, giving you an extremely zippy driving experience.
In the city in particular, the puma can provide a lot of driving pleasure with this additional thrust, but it also gives you an extra boost when you need it overland.
The 6-speed manual transmission has a shorter gear ratio and is easy to change over short distances. Despite the mild hybrid system, the puma is not a fan of high gears in combination with low revs.
For an overtaking maneuver, you’d better shift down a gear or two and not hope for the extra boost alone.
If you want full power right from the start, you can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 9 seconds and reach speeds of up to 200 km/h. The driver can also choose from different driving modes that slightly vary the character of the vehicle.
Nevertheless, one is already in normal mode very sporty on the road, which concerns chassis and suspension. In our opinion, the sport suspension included in the ST-line X would not be necessary for the puma, especially if you know the "normal suspension" from ford, which offers perfect road holding with the highest level of comfort.
of course the puma has a great road holding and offers in combination with the compact dimensions (420,7 cm length) and the direct steering a lot of driving fun.
The mild-hybrid system is nevertheless more for driving pleasure than for fuel economy on board. We were not able to reach the 5.9 liters average fuel consumption stated by the factory, we got an average of 6.6 liters. Equally powerful cars in this class can do it without a mild hybrid system.
In the sum of its characteristics, the puma is nevertheless convincing all along the line. First and foremost, the looks and sensational roadholding combined with the luxurious equipment speak for the puma. In addition, it is very interesting price positioned and can come up with many practical details.
What we like:
the design, the road position, the equipment, the price/performance ratio, the driving pleasure, the tub in the trunk
What we don’t like:
The somewhat too hard suspension, but that is a matter of taste
Test report:
Equipment safety: 1
equipment comfort: 1
consumption: 2
driving performance: 1
driving performance: 1
processing: 1
driver/passenger space: 1
rear seat space: 2-
trunk: 1
storage: 1
clarity: 2