Ford Puma

The driver's crossover returns with a new design and a much-needed tech lift - is it now the best in class? The Ford Puma now has the unenviable task of picking up where the Fiesta left off.It must become the brand’s crucial entry-level model that draws buyers in with a well-sorted chassis, new interior technology, good practicality and competitive fuel efficiency before they migrate to cars further up the range later in life, and it must be a worthy successor to the pre-facelift model, which is the UK's best-selling car.Now that the compact crossover class is bursting at the seams as manufacturers cash in on demand for SUVs, the competition tussling for your attention against the Puma has never been so hot.Crucially, though, the Puma always had a trump card. This segment had long been devoid of something genuinely good to drive, until the pre-facelift car came along in 2019. Sharing a platform with the now-departed Fiesta, it became the dynamic benchmark in its class, and this new one wants to continue that legacy.How, then, does the smallest Ford measure up to the likes of the Nissan Juke, Skoda Kamiq, Renault Captur and Volkswagen T-Cross? Let’s find out. The Ford Puma range at a glanceThe UK Puma line-up is relatively straightforward. Power comes from Ford’s 1.0-litre Ecoboost petrol three-pot, which is available with either 123bhp, 153bhp or 167bhp in the top-rung ST. Eeach one features mild-hybrid assistance and is mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox as standard, but the 123bhp engine can also be had with a six-speed manual gearbox.Titanium spec represents the entry level and is followed by ST-Line, and ST-Line X. A battery-electric version of the Puma is in the pipeline, but this is not scheduled to go on sale until early 2025.