Driving Torque

It's All About The Motors.

Driving Torque

This is the YouTube page for Driving Torque - Articles, reviews and opinions about cars and all things automotive.
Go to www.drivingtorque.com

Driving Torque
Review by Ben Harrington from Driving Torque of the Suzuki Jimny SZ5
Suzuki Jimny Review
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_tBEwl0WmNRw
Watch as a Model X performs its Celebration Mode Easter egg in the snow
Tesla Model X Celebration Mode
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_Z04UK1MRXjE
This is what the exhaust tail pipe of a Ford Focus RS sounds and looks like when you accelerate quickly.
2017 Ford Focus RS Exhaust
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_QkKOE0J4baE
Another gratuitous exhaust video for you. This time it's the behemoth that is the Mercedes GL63 AMG.
Mercedes-Benz GL63 AMG exhaust sounding immense
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_S7TdJrBe8aw
This is a Porsche Cayman in Sport Plus mode with a Sports exhaust, showing the exhaust revving and moving as the car is put through its paces. Great footage of over-run and even the heat haze from the hot engine.
Porsche Cayman PDK Sport Plus
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_8l_WTgJB0sk
Subscribe
  • Home
  • About
  • Ben’s Car CV
  • DTQ Partners
  • Contact

New Ford Puma 2020: First Drive Review

January 15, 2020 by benharrington 2 Comments

2020 new ford puma blue front side review roadtest

New Ford Puma

With all of the decent ‘normal’ car names already bought up, and manufacturers resorting to making up increasingly tenuous words for their new models, it was only going to be a matter of time before Ford revived one of the better names on their books; the Puma.

new 2020 ford puma blue front review roadtest

The sharper amongst you will already have noticed that this 2020 Puma doesn’t share much with its 90s car namesake . That was a sporty, 3-door coupe, this……..isn’t. You see, we just don’t buy that many coupes anymore, but what we cannot get enough of is SUVs and crossovers. So – guess what – the new Puma is a sporty, compact crossover – a niche that seems to be gaining momentum.

new 2020 ford puma side blue review roadtest

Fiesta Based

It is based on the Fiesta, and that’s no bad thing, as Ford’s best-seller is still a car that offers some real driving satisfaction without breaking the bank, and the ST version is a belter.

The new Puma may be based on the Fiesta, but it’s been extended in every area. It’s longer, both in terms of overall length and wheelbase, plus it’s quite clearly higher. What’s most welcome, though, is the fact that Ford have widened the Fiesta’s track. You see, when you raise a car’s centre of gravity, you adversely affect its handling. One remedy for this is to stiffen the suspension, thereby lessening roll, but then you get a stiffer ride. By simply widening the Puma’s track, it handles like the Fiesta it’s based on and you don’t have to finish a long journey with collecting your loose fillings out of the footwell.

new 2020 ford puma blue rear back review roadtest

One Engine, Two Outputs, Mild Hybrid

There are more engine and transmission choices to come, but from launch it’s Ford’s familiar 1.0l, 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine in either 124bhp or 154bhp guise. Both are mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox.

There is one more choice to make, though. Ford have introduced a mild-hybrid system for the Puma; the 154bhp engine comes with it as standard but you can choose whether or not to have it with the 124bhp engine. Just to clarify, the power output stays the same whether you have the hybrid system or not, but fuel economy improves, emissions are lower and you somehow get very slightly improved performance. All this comes at a premium of just £300, which does beg the question; why sell the non-hybrid version at all?

Honest Fun

Go for the higher powered Puma, stick it in sports mode, and it’s one of those cars that can really put a smile on your face. With 0-62mph coming around in 9.0s, this 154bhp model is the quickest Puma available (for now), but despite the numbers not being exactly breathtaking, it’s genuinely good fun thanks to decent handling and that EcoBoost engine.

new 2020 ford puma cabin interior review roadtest

Optimistic Grille, Anti-Wedge

Looks wise, the new Puma is actually hard to fault. Ignore from the waist-line downwards, squint a bit and it does look quite like the original Puma, and that was a good-looking car. The grille is apparently an optimistic one and the styling incorporates an anti-wedge design. What this actually means is the car grins like the Cheshire Cat and, viewed from the side, it’s sitting on its haunches, rather than leaning forwards.

From launch there’s three trim levels; Titanium, ST-Line and ST-Line X with prices ranging from £20,545 up to £23,645. Inside is very Fiesta-based in terms of switchgear, but you also get either some dark faux-wood trim or faux-carbon-fibre trim, dependent on spec. A range-topping ST-Line X Vignale will come along in due time, and who knows after that?……..

new 2020 ford puma rear seats review roadtest

On-Board Modem

All Pumas come with an on-board modem and this allows them to pretty-much ‘talk’ to each other. What this means in the real world is should, for example, a Ford vehicle be stopped further up the road with its hazard-warning lights flashing, it will tell other equipped cars in the area and a warning will appear on the dash, warning the driver of the hazard. How this will work on modern high-streets where cars have been parked on double-yellow lines while the driver pops into the newsagents for a paper, remains to be seen.

Tall? – Be Careful How You Spec It

The driving position of the new Puma depends very much on how you’ve specced it. Go for electric seats and a panoramic roof, and anyone over 6-foot will struggle to get comfortable. Go for manual seats and you sit so much lower down that the experience is entirely different. No pano-roof means there are indents above both front seat occupants and taller people fit far better. This really is a car you have to sit in before ticking the options list.

Despite its leaning towards the performance end of compact SUVs, Ford are keen to stress that the new Puma is family orientated. The front seats are roomy enough, and the 456 litre boot is class-leading. It’s only adults that have to sit in the back seats that won’t be totally happy; longer journeys are for kids only really.

new 2020 ford puma boot trunk review roadtest

Megabox

Back to that boot, though, its capacity is really only half the story. The C-pillars have been redesigned to allow a 1-metre loading width and Ford have patented a new parcel-shelf design that’s cloth and it stays with the rear hatch. What’s really smart, though, is the ‘Megabox’ under the boot floor. It’s essentially a large, 68 litre plastic box that sits between the rear wheels and has a plugged drain hole in the bottom. Yes, it’s essentially a plastic box, but anything muddy can be put in it and then you just swill the box out when you’re done. Not only that but it means larger items such as golf clubs and plants can be stood upright in it. Simple, yet genius.

new ford puma megabox review roadtest
new 2020 ford puma megabox plug removed review roadtest

How the new Puma handles the UK’s roads clearly remains to be seen. For now you’ve got to give Ford credit for putting some genuine thought into the Puma, rather than simply shoehorning a new body onto some slightly raised suspension and calling it a crossover.

By Ben Harrington

The New Ford Puma is available to order now. For more details go to; www.ford.co.uk

Filed Under: Crossover, Driven, Review, Road Test Tagged With: crossover, Ecoboost, Ford, ford puma, Hybrid, megabox, puma, Review, roadtest, SUV

Comments

  1. Andy says

    August 14, 2020 at 2:33 pm

    Very interesting article. I’ve recently purchased one of these, and pick it up when the new plates come out. I’ll let you know what my thoughts are after a few weeks.

    Reply
    • benharrington says

      August 14, 2020 at 3:02 pm

      Please do, Andy, we’d love to hear your thoughts.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Driving Torque

I'm Ben Harrington and I'm a car lover, freelance motoring journalist and family-man (I'll let you decide the order!) I started Driving Torque in 2010 to share my love of all things motoring with the wider world. Since then, … continue reading

Driving Torque’s Instagram Posts

driving_torque

Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the las Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the last Honda HR-V. This goes back today, though, and I think I’ll miss it. #honda #hondahrv #carsofinstagram
Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the las Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the last Honda HR-V. This goes back today, though, and I think I’ll miss it. #honda #hondahrv #carsofinstagram
Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the las Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the last Honda HR-V. This goes back today, though, and I think I’ll miss it. #honda #hondahrv #carsofinstagram
Another highlight from this week’s SMMT Test Day Another highlight from this week’s SMMT Test Day was this; the unashamedly macho Ford Mustang Mach 1. A full review will follow later this year, hopefully. #ford #fordmustang #forduk #carsofinstagram
What do you do when you own two VW vans? Why, you What do you do when you own two VW vans? Why, you go and drive the latest VW Multivan, of course! The Multivan is not, I repeat, is not based on a van, though. Got it? Good. #vw #volkswagen #notavan #carsofinstagram
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Driving Torque’s Twitter Feed

Ben Harrington Follow

Freelance motoring writer and Editor of Driving Torque. @NGMWcars member. Classic VW owner. Husband and father to a wonderful wife and two amazing young ladies.

DrivingTorque
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
23 Jun

https://buff.ly/3ObO4Z5 #honda #hrv #review #hybrid

Reply on Twitter 1540033698485133313 Retweet on Twitter 1540033698485133313 1 Like on Twitter 1540033698485133313 Twitter 1540033698485133313
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
22 Jun

https://buff.ly/3ObO4Z5 #honda #hrv #review #roadtest

Reply on Twitter 1539671061008191492 Retweet on Twitter 1539671061008191492 1 Like on Twitter 1539671061008191492 1 Twitter 1539671061008191492
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
22 Jun

https://buff.ly/3ObO4Z5 #honda #hrv #review

Reply on Twitter 1539565356506816514 Retweet on Twitter 1539565356506816514 Like on Twitter 1539565356506816514 Twitter 1539565356506816514
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
16 Jun

Anyone struggling on @TicketmasterUK for Taylor Hawkins tribute concert - try following the link from the email they sent you. That just worked for me after over an hour of being thrown out of the site 😃

Reply on Twitter 1537366165013643264 Retweet on Twitter 1537366165013643264 Like on Twitter 1537366165013643264 Twitter 1537366165013643264
Retweet on Twitter Ben Harrington Retweeted
yorkshiremsf Yorkshire Motorsport Festival @yorkshiremsf ·
15 Jun

We’re excited - a little over a week to go until the Yorkshire Motorsport Festival

Tickets still available if you follow the link below👇🏽

https://www.ymsf.net/buy-tickets

#Motorsport #Festival

Reply on Twitter 1536972026304507906 Retweet on Twitter 1536972026304507906 12 Like on Twitter 1536972026304507906 18 Twitter 1536972026304507906
Load More

© 2022 · DrivingTorque.com · Site designed and built by Kobestarr.com