Ford Puma: carsales Car of the Year 2020 contender

Just as the new-generation Ford Escape medium SUV is lining up in this year’s carsales COTY program, the all-new Ford Puma light SUV is making a claim for the coveted title on similar grounds.

The Fiesta-based, Euro-designed and Romanian-built compact SUV is all-new, attractive, sporty, contemporary and, not least of all, high-tech in terms of its powertrain, safety systems, cabin infotainment and more.

It will have no trouble outselling the unloved Indian-built Ford EcoSport and, on the face of it, will appeal to buyers who would otherwise be drawn towards accomplished rivals such as the Volkswagen T-Cross, Nissan JUKE, Hyundai Venue and the segment-leading Mazda CX-3.

There are also plenty of other slightly larger SUVs that come into the mix when considering a compact crossover that is neither family wagon nor off-road adventurer but more of a high-riding hatchback with charisma and charm.

And the Ford Puma is just that, which makes it a worthy contender for the 2020 carsales Car of the Year, proudly presented by Bingle.

The latest models from respected brands are highly sought-after in this segment, which has experienced sales growth of more than 10 per cent this year as the overall pandemic-hit new-vehicle market has slumped 20 per cent.

This has everything to do with excellent new entrants reaching showrooms and the broad and ever-strengthening appeal of this vehicle genre, which is drawing buyers out from traditional small passenger cars.

As sales of light SUVs have boomed, micro and light cars have fallen away.

We could theorise here that the all-new Ford Puma, with its Euro-chic looks, techy feel and sporty nature, will appeal to young, fashionable types.

But we are loath to generalise because buyers of all age groups will naturally steer towards its appealing looks and high specifications.

Its small size will rule it out for families, unless there is more than one car in the garage, but singles and couples from all walks of life should find the new Ford Puma worth a closer look.

All budgets? Now, that’s another story…

Ford isn’t the first major brand – and won’t be the last – in recent times to introduce an all-new compact model that pushes upmarket and sacrifices sales volume for higher profits derived from selling cars with a generous specification and a price to match.

No, the new Ford Puma is not what you’d call cheap. It starts at $29,990 plus on-road costs for the entry-level variant known simply as Puma, rising to $32,340 for the mid-spec ST-Line and topping out at $35,540 for the ST-Line V flagship.

Ford Australia copped some flak for these price points when it announced local pricing and specs back in March, so it came as little surprise that last month – as the Puma was about to enter showrooms – the company sweetened the deal with generous drive-away pricing and further discounts of up to $1000 for customers who test-drive the car in person at a dealership (before the end of October).

The drive-away pricing, without the other bonuses, is $31,990 for the entry-level variant, $33,990 for ST-Line and $36,990 for ST-Line V.

No matter how you look at it, however, these $30,000-plus markers all underline the fact that the Puma is a relatively pricey proposition in this popular segment.

All models rely on a peppy 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine (92kW/170Nm) that combines with a seven-speed DCT automatic transmission and, driving the front wheels only, delivers fuel economy as low as 5.3L/100km.

Other key selling points include its European origins and high level of standard equipment, such as an 8.0-inch SYNC 3 touch-screen infotainment system with navigation, digital radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless phone charging and split-view reversing camera.

Ford’s Driver Assistance Technology suite is also fitted as standard and includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, driver impairment monitor, tyre pressure monitoring and cruise control.

The ST-Line has a sportier bent via its suspension tuning, body adornments and cabin features – most notably, the flat-bottomed steering wheel, shift paddles, metallic pedals, sports seats and 12.3-inch colour digital instrument display.

ST-Line V variants come with larger 18-inch alloys, extra chrome detailing, tinted windows, a higher-grade stereo, automatic climate-control air-con, and more.

The sporting bent of the Ford Puma ST-Line was clearly evident in our recent review by carsales news editor Sam Charlwood.

“On a twisty section of road, the Puma turns in confidently and offers admirable adhesion via its 17-inch Goodyear rubber,” he said.

Charlwood was quick to add, however, that this sporting nature might not be to everyone’s liking, and that the balance struck between ride and handling is “far from perfect”.

“There’s no questioning the new Ford Puma’s effectiveness in replacing the EcoSport within the blue oval’s Australian line-up. It’s a clear step forward,” he concluded.

Put through the rigours of the comprehensive 2020 carsales Car of the Year program, proudly presented by Bingle, we’ll see whether the many, varied and largely positive character traits of the new Ford Puma can place it ahead of the pack.

Ford Puma ST-Line V at a glance:
Price: From $35,540
Engine: 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 92kW/170Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 5.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 121g/km (ADR Combined)