Ford Puma ST-Line | Test Drive
The human being is not inclined to change, especially when these have to do with the best memories of their youth. I understand the sense of amazement in those who, like myself, had just got their driving license at the end of the 90s and shared the inevitable dreams about Porsche and Ferrari. However, the Ford Puma was the car we put our eyes on and which, after the first double shifts at work, we finally took home. It was a coupe with a distinctly sporty line, light and with a drivability that would have made you forget all the stress accumulated during the week. Produced from 1997 to 2003, it has been waiting for over fifteen years and when in 2019Ford decided to brush up on its feline, it decided that it would return in the form of a crossover. A risky choice? Definitely. Wrong move? No way. Let’s find out why.
Stop for a second thinking about how life has changed compared to twenty years ago. This can be seen in how we dress, or in all that array of new occupations brought by living online 24/7 with even more frenetic rhythms. It is perceived by putting our nose outside the home, but above all by keeping it pointed at the smartphone, now a fundamental vehicle that allows us to go everywhere without moving our bottom from the chair. As habits change, needs change as well and therefore Ford has transformed a beautiful and fun coupe into a practical and innovative crossover. The new Puma is a completely different car, it has not only grown in length, width and height, but also in weight and on board space and therefore offers the practicality that a car 2.0 must be able to give to its driver, who probably has a family, some luggage and maybe even a dog to be washed in the smart mega box, an 80 liter capacity well, equipped with drain and completely washable, also useful if your favorite sport implies muddy boots and the like to be stored under the traditional compartment.
But let’s not be fooled by this Puma’s sweet eyes, because it’s not joking at all. The very one entrusted to us by Ford for our test is top-specced, powered by a mild-hybrid 3-cylinder of 998 cc, but still capable of delivering a maximum power of 155 hp (the old Puma, in the most powerful version, just got 125 hp), with a torque of 240 Nm available at just 1,400 rpm. Traction is on the front axle only and although the electric unit only supports the combustion engine, once on the move you will notice how the Puma is able to wriggle easily in traffic, as to feel at ease on the motorway, also thanks to an average fuel consumption that stands at 4.5 l/100km. The aspect that pleased me the most, however, is the precision that is perceived once at the steering wheel. The engine runs smoothly and accentuates its edges if you set in Sport mode, while favoring fuel and energy savings in Eco mode, or intelligently manages traction and torque delivery in the new Dirt mode. The very fact of being able to vary, albeit significantly, the dynamic setup of the car demonstrates how Ford intends to make the Puma a car capable of adapting to the many situations that can be faced in the world we know in 2020.
The cockpit is updated to the latest Ford styling features, with the new 12.3″ digital display in front of the driver and the infotainment screen with a precise and very intuitive navigation system that can be controlled via the 8-inch touch screen positioned in the center of the dash. 6-speed manual gearbox and a very precise clutch pedal, despite the latter being soft enough not to tire once stuck in rush hour traffic. Then, sitting a few extra centimeters from the ground compared to the Fiesta, for example, parking maneuvers are also simple, obviously paying attention not to scrape the rims, especially if you choose the ST-line trim like that of our specimen, which squeezes the eye on the sporty taste of the Puma we had when still university students looking for glory.
Long story short, the new Ford Puma is anything but the continuation of a beloved and never forgotten model. However, it is a logical handover, after all, for having fun we have the performance Focus ST (which you will see very soon on our pages, ed) and therefore avoids those inevitable comparisons with the nostalgic 90s, keeping our feet firmly on the ground and offering a crossover with a youthful look and which, as sales figures confirm, reward Ford’s courage and the excellent work done in creating a car capable of attracting the looks and keen to be appreciated, no matter what!
FORD PUMA ECOBOOST HYBRID
Layout – front-engined, front wheel drive
Engine – 3 cylinder 998cc – hybrid
Transmission – 6-speed manual gearbox
Power – 155 hp
240 Nm @ 1.400 rpm
Weight – 1.280 kg
Acceleration – 9 sec.
Top Speed – 205 kph
Price – from € 26.000