Ford Puma ST-Line 2021 Review

The tasty Ford Puma has been on the Australian market since late 2020, but so far it’s not getting a great deal of sales traction.

And this is not due to current stock shortages, with Ford Australia reporting good supply in the first half of 2021.

Compared to light SUV segment leaders such as the Mazda CX-3, Volkswagen T-Cross and Toyota Yaris Cross, not to mention a host of other next-size-up ‘small SUVs’ for similar money, the 2021 Ford Puma – tested here in high-spec ST-Line trim – is well off the pace in sales terms.

For every Ford Puma sold, nearly five examples of the Mazda CX-3 roll out of showroom doors. In these times where demand for new cars is exceeding supply, there’s something about the math here that doesn’t compute.

As noted in our review of the entry-level Ford Puma in December 2020, the sticking point looks to be pricing.

Kicking off at $29,990 plus on-road costs – around 25 per cent higher than, say, the entry-level version of Mazda’s CX-3 – the little Ford’s uphill battle loomed large right from the get-go.

Though the Puma becomes more price equivalent with rivals at mid- and top-spec levels, the lack of a competitive model at entry level remains a big obstacle to buyers who might be considering their first SUV, or maybe even their first car.

For a vehicle that has the potential to be vying for a place as one of the top sellers in the light SUV class, that’s a bit of a downer.

All said and done, the Puma offers plenty. It’s a charming SUV, motivated by a perky, economical and characterful 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine (92kW/170Nm) with seven-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox.

It also has a spacious-for-class cabin, good loading space and a very nicely sorted ride and handling combination.

Consistent with all this, Ford tends to see the Puma as more than a mere contender in the segment. Developed off the Fiesta light hatch – available here only in hot ST form – the Puma is quite distinctly Euro, in theory placed alongside the Volkswagen T-Cross – a model that does happen to be experiencing stock shortages but is nonetheless outselling the Puma at a ratio approaching two-to-one.

You don’t step into a 2021 Ford Puma for less than $30,000 and the flagship ST-Line V will set you back as much as $35,540 before on-road costs are added.

Sitting between is the mid-spec ST-Line reviewed here. At $32,340 plus ORCs, it brings most of the ST-Line V’s equipment other than 18-inch alloy wheels, climate control, a power tailgate and deep-chested, 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio.

Like the base model known simply as Puma, the ST-Line comes with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) including pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition and tyre pressure monitoring.

It is also fitted with sat-nav, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity and 17-inch alloy wheels wearing 215/55R17 tyres.

Over the base Puma, the ST-Line adds a bigger 12.3-inch instrument display, sports seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel with shift paddles, metallic floor pedals and a profusion of showy red stitching.

A $1500 Park Package available across the Puma line-up brings a self-parking system, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go plus lane centring, front parking sensors and blind spot monitoring.

Other options include a $2000 fixed sunroof – which, for most, is a take-or-leave proposition – roof rails (which you kind of expect on an SUV but cost $250) and, more helpful, a $750 power tailgate.

All Puma models qualify for a maximum five-star safety rating from ANCAP.

If a small SUV that’s unquestionably fun to drive is for you, then the Ford Puma is right up there, as we found recently in our recent 2021 Best Small SUV mega-test.

Though its around-town practicality is unquestioned, the 2021 Ford Puma ST-Line is defined more by its lively, sporty, driver-rewarding nature.

There’s an immediacy evident right from the moment of firing up the tiny, throaty turbo. It feels eager to go, certainly not in the style you might have expected from a mere 1.0-litre engine – and a three-cylinder at that.

A squeeze of the accelerator brings a solid, audible response and the upshifts from the dual-clutch seven-speed auto are crisp and energetic.

It’s all quite invigorating, with no hint of the questionable behaviour of the previous PowerShift dual-clutch gearbox in its predecessor, the Ford EcoSport.

Unlike some light SUVs, the Puma is quiet, cosy and punchy enough to perform duties as an urban runabout, to unleash itself on a winding back road or while away the hours on a freeway.

Despite the size of the engine, it’s quite a strong climber and ticks over on the open road unobtrusively enough.

Thanks in part to cylinder deactivation, the 1.0-litre turbo triple is economical too. Although we didn’t match the official 5.3L/100km, we saw an acceptable, more-or-less consistent 6.8L/100km over a week of combined freeway and urban driving.

The feeling was that regular use over a longer period would see better, with the 42-litre tank promising a useful touring range.

It’s also worth noting that, although the Puma asks for a diet of 95 RON fuel, Ford says it’s comfortable with a 94 RON E10 mix.

To steer, the Puma feels compact and light – in a good way.

Although it wears the same 17-inch rubber as the base Puma (the ST-Line V has 18-inch tyres), the ST-Line’s suspension is more firmly set up so it responds a bit more sharply to the light, quick-ish steering (at 2.5 turns from lock to lock).

And although it’s almost impossible to detect, the ST-Line sits flatter in corners.

There is some added sensitivity to abrupt bumps though, which can elicit a certain unsettledness. Still, in terms of ride quality, the ST-Line Puma is generally comfortable, composed and absorbent – especially for a light SUV, which is partly due to its relatively long 2588mm wheelbase.

No, the 2021 Ford Puma ST-Line is unlikely to be considered by anyone as a family car.

Though there’s reasonably handy cabin space for, say, four adults, it’s really best suited to young singles or couples.

Legroom in the back seat is fine if all passengers are of average height, and it remains acceptable, with a bit of give and take, for those measuring up to 180cm or a bit over.

The cabin looks chic and upmarket, with pretty straightforward, easily familiarised amenities including the ST-Line’s decent-size colour screen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, single USB and USB-C points and 12-volt outlets in the cabin and boot.

Up back, it’s notable but not surprising that no Puma offers a fold-down centre arm rest or air vents. Funnily, despite the funky metallic floor pedal inserts, it also lacks a left-side foot rest.

The boot provides two loading levels and measures a generous 410 litres, expanding to 1170L with the back row folded down. To get a pushbike on board though, you’ll need to remove at least the front wheel.

The Ford Puma’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty is backed by a servicing program that is capped at $299 per service for the first 60,000km.

The 2021 Ford Puma ST-Line is an appealing, sporty and accommodating light SUV that continues to stand out in its segment.

The issue with pricing never really disappears, but there’s solace in the fact that, compared like-to-like, the Ford is at no major disadvantage against any of its competitors.

It’s just that the Puma doesn’t offer an expansive model spread that obviously underpins the sales success of others – say, the Mazda CX-3 – in the segment.

The Ford Ranger ute is booming, which underpins the Blue Oval brand’s fortunes in Australia. But the company’s seeming inability to gain traction at the lower end of the SUV market must still create a lot of corporate angst.

Would a bare-bones entry-level Puma do the trick? Ford undoubtedly has done the sums and, so far, it appears to think not.

How much does the 2021 Ford Puma ST-Line cost?
Price: $32,340 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
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)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2020)

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