Last month, I couldn’t decide whether I would choose a Fiesta ST or a Focus ST for my personal transport. This month, Ford have generously provided the answer in the form of the Puma ST.

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The high and firm bolsters on the Recaro front seats made it slightly awkward for my mother-in-law to slide her bottom in and out of place when I was ferrying her to the supermarket, but anybody younger than 91 might not find it too much of a trial. If you reverse those digits, you might find a driver who would appreciate the flat-bottomed steering wheel and the alloy pedals, but anybody over 19 might feel that they could manage to live perfectly well without them.

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The 200 bhp 1.5 litre EcoBoost engine suits this Puma like a hand in a glove and its 320 Nm of torque or pulling power provide a punch of acceleration which shifts the car from 0-60 mph in under 6.5 seconds. Ford give the average mpg as 41.5, but mine was only 35.4, which I would guess is nearer to a real-world figure.

When you choose the Track setting on the options button, a glorious racket – cosmetically enhanced by Ford’s engineers – roars from the dual slash-cut exhaust. Stiffened suspension and strengthened anti-roll bars supply a degree of stability and lack of body roll in corners which no so-called SUV ought to offer. Handling and steering are as precise and secure as the Fiesta from which the Puma ST is drawn.

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Unlike the Fiesta ST, however, that suspension is not so rock hard as to make your bum die on a long drive; nor is it set soft to assuage any complaints from family who might be thrown about in corners, as in the Focus ST. This may make the Puma sound like a compromise, but it is no such thing: it is ideal in its own right.

Our test car came with a powered tailgate which added £600 and a Performance Pack that put on a further £900. With all extras, the price rose to £30495, which may seem like a ridiculous amount of money for a compact car but, in the context of performance-oriented SUVs, it’s something of a snip.

On the subject of Ford ST models, I would like to say that I now regard this Puma ST as the last word.