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2021 Ford Puma ST-Line V review

Ford's fun driver's SUV stumbles with some of the important stuff

2021 Ford Puma ST-Line V
Gallery8
7.0/10Score
Score breakdown
7.0
Safety, value and features
7.0
Comfort and space
6.0
Engine and gearbox
7.0
Ride and handling
8.0
Technology

Things we like

  • Packed with goodies
  • Playful dynamics
  • Fuel consumption

Not so much

  • Ride errs on the firm side
  • Second-row ambience
  • Expensive compared to rivals

The Ford Puma is not short of competition. In fact, in the compact SUV segment – dominated by the Mazda CX-3 – the Puma is outgunned by most rivals when it comes to sales.

But is that fuelled by memories of an underwhelming Ford EcoSport, the Puma’s market predecessor? Or is it a case of the Puma only appealing to a small number of buyers?

It’s one of many relative newcomers to the market, including the Toyota Yaris Cross, Hyundai Venue, and the Kia Stonic, and it’s got something to prove. We’re looking at the top-spec Puma, the ST-Line V, which is still one of the cheapest ways to get behind a Blue Oval, but starts to look rather pricey compared to its competition.

For its $35,540 asking price (before on-roads), the Puma ST-Line V comes packed with standard features, including: a 12-inch dash cluster screen, a hands-free power tailgate, Bang & Olufsen 10-speaker sound system with subwoofer, keyless entry, plus a wireless phone charger. It also comes with 18-inch alloys, leather accented seats, tinted privacy glass, and scuff plates with the ST-Line logo.

Ford Puma ST Line 23
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It's an impressive list and, if you’re looking for bells and whistles, justifies the pricing for the ST-Line V. Much of this is either unavailable or optional in rivals – the similarly priced CX-3 Akari doesn’t get wireless phone charging or power tailgate at all, and even the scuff plates are an option.

Ford’s five year/ unlimited kilometre warranty is also included, and Ford quotes $320 or $370 for most of its annual (or at 15,000km interval) servicing aside from a more expensive 60,000km and 120,000 service, $560.

All three versions of the Puma come with the same drivetrain – a turbo 1.0-litre three-pot with 92kW and 170Nm mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch – and both ST-Lines have sports suspension, which is an important distinction we’ll get to later.

The safety suite remains the same across each trim level in the Puma range, meaning: regular driver and passenger airbags, front side and rear side curtain bags, ABS, seatbelt reminders, a driver attention monitor, ESC, emergency brake assist, forward collision alert, lane keeping, and departure warning.

You need to spend extra for the optional ‘Park Pack’ to get adaptive cruise, lane centring, blind spot monitoring, and evasive steer assistance.

Ford Puma ST Line 22
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Even in top-spec trim, the Puma ST-Line V is one of the cheapest ways to get behind a Blue Oval, but starts to look rather pricey compared to its competition.

The Puma gets a five star crash rating from ANCAP, with high marks for occupant protection (94 per cent scored for adults, 86 per cent for child occupant protection) but slightly lower scores for pedestrian safety and driver assistance (77 and 74 per cent respectively).

These scores are fairly in line with other compact SUVs across many price points, with the Puma being pretty much lineball with the likes of the Nissan Juke and more expensive Mercedes-Benz GLB, both of which were tested around the same time.

So, on paper, the Puma ST-Line V ticks plenty of boxes, but what’s it like to actually be in, live with, and drive?

Ford Puma ST Line 3
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In the cabin, the leather driver’s seat is comfortable and well-bolstered, and all the primary touch points are nicely finished. The dash sports a leather-look, with a carbon accent in the middle, though there are some hard, cheaper-looking plastics that are visually obvious and in places that will occasionally be touched, like the doors and centre console.

Leather on the steering wheel is also welcome, and the layout itself is fairly simple and inoffensive, if a little conservative. Cupholders sit surrounded by the handbrake, drive controls like the mode select and TCS button, and the centre console storage, so they’re a little bit awkward to reach down to if you’re driving.

While the Puma’s seating position does have the advantage of a relatively commanding view of the road, the dash and window lines around the car are also a little high. This helps form that high-riding ‘hatchback’ look from the outside but does little for awareness of the Puma’s corner points, and rear-seat passengers can feel a little hemmed in.

The HVAC controls and infotainment screen on the centre of the dash are all very easy to use from an ergonomic perspective, and Ford’s SYNC software for its 8.0-inch touchscreen is among the simplest and most straightforward to operate. Any issues or personal preferences users might have can be bypassed by Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, though plugging in a phone is hard while it’s in the narrow wireless charging cradle.

Ford Puma ST Line 6
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Where the front seat is a pleasant environment, the rear seat suffers. Headroom isn’t great for adults, though it’s just adequate for anyone nearing 6-feet-tall. And the seat itself is a little too flat to settle into comfortably. There are also no AC vents, no centre armrest, and no outlets for devices.

There’s also a laughable cupholder in each door, and netting for ‘storage’ on the backs of the front seats. It’s not the kind of place an adult would be comfortable for very long, but the smallish space in the back seat comes with an advantage further back…

The 410-litre boot (up to the luggage cover) is one of the largest in this class (the ever-popular CX-3 has just 264 litres), and there’s an extra 80-litre storage space under the floor perfect for wet or dirty clothes. You also score an electric-close tailgate and the rear seats fold down 60/40 for a total luggage space of 1170-litres if needed, enough to fit a mountain bike for example.

But of course, any Ford with ST-Line on its badge should double as a fun drive, right? The Puma name goes back to a sporty styled coupe from the 1990s, and the Fiesta platform the Puma is built on has plenty of talent potential.

Ford Puma ST Line 8
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Starting up the Puma reveals a three-pot purr with a bit of a raspy character. The advantage of the diminutive engine is that its 5.3L /100km fuel consumption claim is actually not too far from the truth. A Wheels long-term test of the same drivetrain in the Puma ST-Line saw a 6.9L/100km figure returned after a little over 5000km, with plenty of deliberate test driving included. We’d expect most daily drivers to best our consumption rate.

The cooperation between engine and gearbox is one point where the Puma feels slightly off at low speeds. The 7-speed dual-clutch sometimes feels a little hesitant and cuts into the car’s momentum, while the turbocharger builds to a burst of torque. These characteristics can be worked around quite easily on a regular drive, but after some time in city traffic become a little tiresome.

This isn’t to say the Puma ST-Line V is fast – it isn’t, though its outputs from a 1.0-litre engine are impressive – but it does feel like it’s trying to feel sporting at the expense of smooth acceleration. The other aspect of the Puma’s sporting focus that can perhaps be a little much is its suspension, where the stiffer sports tune of the ST-Line keeps the driver aware of just how rough the road below is.

Ford Puma ST Line 14
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Once you have a good, relatively fast road ahead of you the Puma is a standout in terms of dynamics. Suddenly, through fast backroads, the Puma’s suspension isn’t a worry and its accurate steering is evident. Its chassis is playful and easy to control, too. The engine, though again not particularly powerful, is able to provide useful urge when it’s needed, though powering out of a corner after a slow turn can be a little frustrating.

Despite its mild flaws as a city SUV, the Puma is a playful and unintimidating car to hustle through country roads. The question is, if that doesn’t appeal to you, is it worth living with the slightly firm ride day-to-day to reap those benefits?

It’s difficult to justify the stretch from base Puma to ST-Line if the sharp driving dynamics don’t matter to you. The Mazda CX-3 can be had cheaper with a Euro-inspired interior quality, or even a more premium Euro in the Peugeot 2008 can be had.

But for keen drivers intent on the compact SUV life, the Puma ST-Line V’s shortcomings shouldn’t be deal breakers. It’s well equipped and fun to drive, making it the pick for anyone who intends to pedal their city SUV on some windy back roads on the weekend.

Ford Puma ST Line 25
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Ford Puma ST-Line V specifications

Body: 5-door, 5-seat SUV
Drive: FWD
Engine: 999cc 3-cyl, 12v turbo-petrol
Power: 92kW @ 6000rpm
Torque: 170Nm @ 1500-4500rpm
0-100km/h: 9.0sec (claimed)
Fuel consumption: 5.3L/100km (combined)
Weight: 1291kg
Transmission: 7-speed DCT
Suspension: MacPherson strut/torsion beam axle
L/W/H: 4186/1805/1550mm
Wheelbase: 2588mm
Tracks: 1562mm/1567mm
Brakes: Front ventilated discs/solid rear discs
Tyres: 215/50 R18
Price: $35,540

7.0/10Score
Score breakdown
7.0
Safety, value and features
7.0
Comfort and space
6.0
Engine and gearbox
7.0
Ride and handling
8.0
Technology

Things we like

  • Packed with goodies
  • Playful dynamics
  • Fuel consumption

Not so much

  • Ride errs on the firm side
  • Second-row ambience
  • Expensive compared to rivals
Chris Thompson
Contributor

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