We all loved the Fiesta, but now the award-winning, sales-topping Ford Puma takes the lead

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Car Reviewed: Ford Puma 1.0MHEV ST-LINE X Ecoboost 5DR 125PS AUTO 7SP

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It’s fun to drive, and our week-long test of the latest MHEV model proved it to be a likeable and enjoyable car. So, in essence, it’s the SUV version of the Fiesta that’s no longer.

Moving towards this compact SUV, Ford dabbled with increasing the ride height on the Fiesta with the Active version. The Ford EcoSport filled a slot, but it just didn’t quite do it; the Puma has now taken on the task, and in the UK, we do love the blue oval.

It’s just great to drive; the seating position is slightly lower than on some SUVs, and in an enjoyable way, you feel more connected. The turbocharged engines give it a nippy, punchy feel, and the agile handling is fun on a back road; the ride is a bit firmer than some of its competitors.

The mild hybrid, 3-cylinder, 1.0-litre Ecoboost engine has a thrummy sound that is quite pleasing. The 48-volt mild hybrid system brings to the party, smoother acceleration, reduced fuel consumption, by shutting the engine off while slowing down and reduced emissions.

The car tested was powered by a great combination of the three-cylinder, turbocharged, 1.0-litre EcoBoost mHEV engine with 123bhp and the 7-speed automatic transmission. The 48-volt mild hybrid system supplements the engine to improve economy, providing extra torque and reducing emissions.

One of the hidden bonuses of the Puma is the exceptional size of its boot. Named the mega-box, there’s an extra deep cavity below the boot for carrying stuff, even dirty, muddy stuff, as there is a plug hole where you can wash it out—a practical solution to simple problem.

So this facelifted model arrived quite quickly, to keep the car at the top of the UK best-sellers. It still has a very contemporary look, a slightly happier-looking grille, new, pretty cool-looking headlights and a bit of re-modelling here and there; it has been modernised and has increased its charms to attract new buyers.

On the inside, a lot of updates have been made. The revamped dash with a humungous 12.8in digital display using Ford’s SYNC 4, which is improving in leaps and bounds, must be one of the most straightforward, concise and graphically attractive-looking systems out there now. The B&O sound system uses a massive kind of sound bar above the instruments; it sounds great. The dash styling works well and is quite rewarding, and the new, slightly oversized, squarer (Austin Allegro) steering wheel makes driving easier. I want to say the black plastics don’t feel a bit cheap, but I can’t. Look at some competitors that now use a myriad of touchy, feely materials and, maybe, take note.

The Puma is one of the best-selling cars for ’24, and now ’25. The competition includes the latest Nissan Juke, some Volkswagens and Skoda’s and the ever-popular Kia Sportage or Niro. It’s a tough decision, but the Puma is a good choice.

Ford EV Fans – The fully electric Puma Gen-E with 233 range is coming soon.