New 2020 Ford Puma SUV: prices and specs revealed

Full prices and specifications have been released for the new Ford Puma SUV. It’ll be available in three ‘First Edition’ guises, starting at £22,295, with the base range starting at £20,845. The new model sits between the Ford Ecosport and Ford Kuga SUVs and will be a rival to the updated versions of the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008. Delivery of the First Edition models will start in January 2020, and you’ll be able to order the standard trim levels soon after.

After the First Edition models, the range will be divided into Titanium, ST-Line and ST-Line X trim levels, although an entry-level model badged Zetec or Trend may arrive later. Titanium offers plenty of standard equipment, including sat nav, an eight-inch touchscreen, a FordPass Connect modem with online services, cruise control, auto wipers and lights, climate control and wireless phone charging. Standard safety kit includes a lane-keeping aid, pre-collision assist and pedestrian and cyclist detection. ST-Line, costing from £21,795, adds a sportier body kit and interior trimmings, plus a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, while ST-Line X adds part-leather upholstery, privacy glass and a B&O premium audio system for £22,895.

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The First Edition trims are mostly similar to these specifications but add extra equipment. Choosing the Titanium First Edition gets you a heated steering wheel and heated seats, privacy glass and a driver assistance pack with extra safety equipment that includes rear cross-traffic alert, a rear-view camera and adaptive cruise control. The ST-Line X First Edition brings the driver assistance pack alongside LED headlights, keyless entry and a powered tailgate, and there’s an ST-Line X First Edition Plus version with 19-inch alloy wheels and a panoramic sunroof. These trim levels cost from £22,295, £25,195 and £27,345 respectively.

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Like its coupe namesake from the 1990s, the new Puma shares its underpinnings with the Ford Fiesta. In every other sense it’s all change, with the new Puma getting an all-new five-door coupe-like SUV design that is 46mm longer, 54mm higher and 71mm wider compared with the Fiesta. The Puma’s wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) is 95mm longer too.

From launch, two versions of Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine are offered. Both feature mild-hybrid technology to save fuel, and are economical as a result. The 123bhp engine returns up to 61.4mpg, and the more powerful 153bhp version still does 58.9mpg. Only the 153bhp engine with the bigger wheel options emits over 100g/km of CO2, so the Puma is likely to be a good choice for company-car drivers. Zero-to-62mph takes 9.8 seconds with the smaller engine and 8.9 seconds in the more powerful car.

At the front of the car, the headlights are mounted high, with ST-Line spec models getting additional LED daytime running lights along with a familiar-looking front grille. From the windscreen onwards the car features a sweeping roofline, with rugged looking arch extensions and side sills on the flanks. The rear of the car gets a similar design to the Fiesta, with darkened rear lights and Puma name badging on the rear tailgate.

Inside, the dashboard is similar in design to the Fiesta with an eight-inch centrally mounted infotainment screen featuring Ford’s SYNC 3, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and a digital dial cluster. Both the front and rear seats feature removable covers, allowing owners to mix-and-match their interior colours but to also remove them for cleaning when needed. Massaging seats will be available on higher trim levels.

The new Puma is practical too, with a 456-litre boot and a rear parcel shelf that is made from a flexible material that makes it adaptable to the shape of items in the boot. The boot floor can be raised or lowered, or folded against the rear seats. According to Ford, this gives enough space for a couple of small suitcases or a golf bag stored upright. The lower boot also has a drain plug in the floor allowing you to clean the entire boot if required.

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A 94bhp version of the same 1.0-litre engine will arrive later, along with a diesel model and the option of a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. It’s thought that Ford may also consider a hot ST version that uses the powertrain from the current Fiesta ST hatchback.

If you want to know more about Ford’s current SUVs, why not read our reviews of the EcoSport and Kuga or why not check out our picks for the best cars you can buy in 2019.