Long-term Update: Ford Puma ST-Line feels premium, right down to the doors
Image: Jason Woosey
"This door feels quite heavy," a good friend of mine exclaimed while curiously pushing it back and forth after exiting my Ford Puma long-term test car.
His everyday ride is a similarly sized Japanese hatchback that costs around half the price of the Puma, and while I'm in no way under any illusion that the two should be compared, this little encounter did highlight the solid and safe structure that this German-built Ford has. After slamming the passenger door shut, he admitted to being impressed by this vehicle's overall feeling of quality, and the luxurious feel of the interior finishes.
Priced at R617,500, the Puma ST-Line Vignale is not aimed at the mainstream family SUV buyer. Instead, it appeals to drivers who want sharp handling, premium features, and a car-like driving experience in a compact and car-like package. It is in many ways a clever and successful crossover reinvention of the two-door Puma coupe that Ford sold in Europe in the late 1990s, and which unfortunately never came to South Africa.
Under the hood is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine producing 92kW and 170Nm, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. While this engine isn't new, it remains refined and smooth, featuring clever engineering to reduce vibration - unlike many other three-cylinder engines.
The Puma has a sporty shape that's more car than SUV.
Image: Jason Woosey
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The ST-Line Vignale's sports suspension and 18-inch wheels give it confident road-holding and sharp responses, particularly noticeable on twisty roads and mountain passes, as we discovered while tackling the R74 in the Drakensberg last month.
While Sport mode doesn't radically transform the driving feel, it adds a bit more responsiveness, and the chassis remains playful and surefooted, reminiscent of the discontinued Fiesta.
However, this agility does come at the cost of a firmer ride than many modern SUVs. For those seeking a softer suspension setup, the Titanium trim with smaller wheels may offer more comfort.
Fuel consumption so far has amounted to 6.5 litres per 100km on the freeway and 9.2 l/100km in town.
Premium cabin finishes
The cabin feels upscale and well-appointed, particularly in the ST-Line Vignale trim. Cool features include quilted leather seats with a massage function, a 10-speaker B&O premium sound system, and a digital instrument cluster.
The cabin is very well appointed.
Image: Supplied
Despite its compact footprint, the interior feels thoughtfully designed. Infotainment duties are handled by Ford's Sync 3 system via an 8.0-inch touchscreen. While it's a bit small by today's standards, it is intuitive and backed by good old physical controls for essentials like volume and climate.
The Puma isn't the most spacious SUV, particularly in the rear seats, where legroom and headroom are limited for adults and teens.
However, it does compensate with a 456-litre boot, offering split-level storage and Ford's clever MegaBox - a deep storage compartment under the boot floor that's washable and drainable, ideal for muddy sports gear. While I don't see most Puma owners using it for that on a regular basis, that 'hidden' floor does add an extra layer of protection when stashing valuables like laptops as criminals who break in won't necessarily look there.
The Mega Box is a 'secret' boot compartment.
Image: Supplied
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