New Ford Puma

May 12, 2021

Tarmacs are heating up as Ford introduces the Ford Puma into the compact SUV class. This comes as a replacement for the EcoSport that had a lot of scope for improvement according to Australian car buyers.

Ford Puma is poised to make a greater market impact and is based on the Fiesta city hatch. This new Ford is available in three models, each appealing to the increasingly sophisticated and demanding SUV audience. The three new Ford model grades are Puma, Puma ST-Line and Puma ST-Line V. All of them have a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine roaring under their hoods.

Top features, top tech

Ford is proving to be tough competition for its rivals as the entry-level Puma comes with auto high beam, rain-sensing wipers, wireless phone charging and ambient interior LED lighting that are not common at this price point. The 8.0-inch touchscreen with the cutting-edge SYNC 3 infotainment system, brings a myriad of functions, sharp presentation and voice control. It also features a navigation system, digital radio, Apple Car Play, Android Auto, and split-view reversing camera- more than what you find among new cars. This stylish Ford passenger car comes with Driver Assistance Technology suite, AEB with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, driver impairment monitor, tyre pressure monitoring and cruise control across all models.

Sophisticated cabin

Unique among the new cars, ST-Line brims with several upgrades to the cabin – sporty seats, metallic pedals, auto-dimming rearview mirror and sporty steering wheel with paddle-shift levers. Analogue dials are replaced by a cool 12.3-inch digital driver display unit. A 7-speaker sound system also comes standard, but the ST-Line V gets a 10-speaker unit by B&O Play.

Sporty drive

Ford Puma is highly stable through the corners with super-responsive steering which turns it into a highly dynamic car in its class. This Ford passenger car reflects a certain racing machine appeal to the cabin with low-slung drivers seat, splashes of faux carbon fibre, grippy steering wheel with red stitching throughout. The digital instrument cluster could remind you of the Mustang, flashing a shiny image of a puma.

Looking closer

Though there’s a Fiesta connection, Ford Puma is distinctly different in its persona. The new Ford Puma is longer (146 mm), wider (+71 mm), taller (+54 mm) and with a 95 mm longer wheelbase than its hatchback counterpart. The rear torsion beam suspension is adapted to integrate added mass and changed geometry. Its deep luggage compartment boasts of a 410 L luggage space which is more than you will find in a T-Cross or CX-3. Underfloor storage, 12-V outlet and space-saver tyre lay low for you to uncover when they are needed. The EcoBoost motor combines the fuel-saving cylinder deactivation tech to deliver a fuel average of 5.3L/100 km. You should know that Puma needs 95-octane premium unleaded fuel.

Ford has clearly stepped up its game in the compact SUV grounds with Puma’s suave sporty character that’s worthy of making it a great high rider on our roads.