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Ford Puma ST video review
Rory Reid reviews the Ford Puma ST crossover. Will the extra power and performance make it even better than the standard car?
Words by: Andrew Woodhouse
Published on 18 November 2020 | 0 min read
As crossovers continue to boom in popularity with car buyers, more manufacturers are looking to carve their niche and make their name in this market.
Enter the Ford Puma ST which is looking to make its name as a fun crossover. Ford gave this car to their performance division, which is the team behind the Ford Mustang and the Ford GT, and they’ve made several substantial tweaks to improve the performance, power and body control. But how did it turn out? Rory Reid finds out in our video review.
Enter the Ford Puma ST which is looking to make its name as a fun crossover. Ford gave this car to their performance division, which is the team behind the Ford Mustang and the Ford GT, and they’ve made several substantial tweaks to improve the performance, power and body control. But how did it turn out? Rory Reid finds out in our video review.
Ford Puma ST interior and looks
On the outside the Puma ST mirrors the solid looks of the standard Puma, adding some glossy finishes to the exterior surfaces and a twin exhaust, amongst other tweaks.
In the boot, you get a fantastic megabox which allows you to store everything from dirty wellies to ice and goldfish (yep, they’re in the video) and a handy drain plug to empty the box when you’re done. As with the standard Puma, you get some pretty decent tech including Apple CarPlay, WiFi, and an app that helps you locate and lock/unlock your car remotely.
In the boot, you get a fantastic megabox which allows you to store everything from dirty wellies to ice and goldfish (yep, they’re in the video) and a handy drain plug to empty the box when you’re done. As with the standard Puma, you get some pretty decent tech including Apple CarPlay, WiFi, and an app that helps you locate and lock/unlock your car remotely.
Ford Puma ST engine
The Ford Puma ST uses the same 1.5 litre, three-cylinder engine as the Ford Fiesta ST. From this, you get 200 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. So, to get the most out of it, you’ll want to keep your foot down.
Even though the Puma ST is 100kg heavier than the Fiesta ST, you don’t feel a lack of speed in a straight line. This is because torque has been increased from the Fiesta ST, to 320 Newton metres. You’ll still get 0-62 in 6.7 seconds too.
Even though the Puma ST is 100kg heavier than the Fiesta ST, you don’t feel a lack of speed in a straight line. This is because torque has been increased from the Fiesta ST, to 320 Newton metres. You’ll still get 0-62 in 6.7 seconds too.
What’s the Ford Puma ST like to drive?
All of that power goes through a six-speed manual gearbox. Ford gearboxes haven’t always been the best in class, but this one is a marked improvement on the Focus RS and Ford Mustang.
The Ford Puma ST offers four drive modes: ‘normal’, ‘eco’, ‘sport’ and ‘track’. Each one makes slight changes to the engine mapping, throttle and steering response, and eases off traction and stability control settings. ‘Sport’ and ‘track’ help you get the most out of the engine, while selecting ‘normal’ is ideal for daily driving. Ford have increased the speed of steering by 25% for the Puma ST. This means that it’s hyper-responsive, so even tiny movements on the wheel have a big impact. We’ll be honest, it’s too sensitive for normal driving. This is most acutely felt out on B roads, which is where hot hatches like this are going to spend most of their time for the average driver. It might not be a deal breaker, but it’s something to be mindful of on your test drive.
The Ford Puma ST offers four drive modes: ‘normal’, ‘eco’, ‘sport’ and ‘track’. Each one makes slight changes to the engine mapping, throttle and steering response, and eases off traction and stability control settings. ‘Sport’ and ‘track’ help you get the most out of the engine, while selecting ‘normal’ is ideal for daily driving. Ford have increased the speed of steering by 25% for the Puma ST. This means that it’s hyper-responsive, so even tiny movements on the wheel have a big impact. We’ll be honest, it’s too sensitive for normal driving. This is most acutely felt out on B roads, which is where hot hatches like this are going to spend most of their time for the average driver. It might not be a deal breaker, but it’s something to be mindful of on your test drive.
Is the Ford Puma ST any good?
The Ford Puma is one of the best crossovers on the market, so the ST performance edition looked incredibly promising.
But sensitive steering and even more sensitive brakes mean this isn’t the most intuitive driving experience. Changes made in the pursuit of speed have been aggressive, so it’ll be down to your driving style as to whether they suit you. Check back for our full expert review, and head to our YouTube channel for more exclusive videos
But sensitive steering and even more sensitive brakes mean this isn’t the most intuitive driving experience. Changes made in the pursuit of speed have been aggressive, so it’ll be down to your driving style as to whether they suit you. Check back for our full expert review, and head to our YouTube channel for more exclusive videos