The older car buffs among you will remember the Ford Puma as a pretty little coupe from the 1990s.
The only strange thing about the 2020 Puma is why it took Ford so long to reboot such a popular name.
This Puma isn’t a small coupe, naturally – no one wants them anymore. It is, of course, a compact SUV.
And it’s a very good one. For a start, Ford absolutely nailed the styling. It’s be best looking of the small SUV crop by quite some margin, especially in the striking desert island blue of my test car (a £650 option). Sharp lines, creases and excellent proportions make it pleasing on the eye from almost any angle.
Inside is a treat too, with a well designed dashboard, clear touchscreen and plenty of light thanks to a (£950 option) panoramic glass roof.
There’s plenty of tech, too, with wireless phone charging, onboard wifi and a 10-speaker B&O stereo on my 1.0 litre petrol ST-Line model.
The Puma is a Fiesta in SUV clothing. You sit a bit higher up than in the supermini but aren’t up in the clouds with Range Rover drivers. Still, you get a good view of the road and the extra height doesn’t affect handling too much. The Fiesta has always been a great car to drive and the Puma mirrors that, with the best cornering in its class.
It’s based on a small car so don’t expect acres of room inside. Driver and passenger have plenty of space, while those in the back are fine for headroom but will find legroom a bit pinched.
Boot space is good, though, at 456 litres and there’s a superb feature called the “mega box.” Lift the boot floor up and there’s a huge cubby under there. Providing an extra 68 litres of space it’s perfect for muddy outdoor gear and even has a drain to let excess water out.
Ride quality is good and only an excess of road noise lets down an otherwise terrific package – Mazda’s CX-30 is noticeably more refined.
Prices start at £20,415 and my car cost £24,420 exluding options. I highly recommend taking a look at the Puma.
jmckeown@thecourier.co.uk