Latest news with #FordPumaGen-E
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ford Puma Gen-E
Few of the many other cars we test in 2025 will carry the significance of this one. Yes, the Ford Puma Gen-E is just another all-electric compact crossover, and there have been quite a few of those released in the past couple of years. But the difference here is that the combustion-engined version happens to be the UK's best-selling car. We therefore know that the fundamental Ford Puma recipe is one that many people love, and Ford will be hoping those existing Puma owners will be among the first in line to swap petrol for electric. It will be interesting to observe the extent to which that actually happens. The enormous popularity of the petrol Puma means this Gen-E model is something of a litmus test for broader attitudes toward EVs at the more affordable end of the market. Ford executives expect the Gen-E to make up 10-15% of total Puma sales, and if it's less than that, we will know the reason lies not in the basic product but in the manner of its propulsion. You can rest assured that other competitors in this class, and also beyond, will be taking notes. Of course, the Puma Gen-E is also pivotal to Ford, whose EV roll-out hasn't been straightforward. Its first full-blooded EV, the Mustang Mach-E, was not without merit but was expensive. Next up was the Explorer – a serviceable family EV spun off the platform used by the Volkswagen ID 4 and therefore without much real Ford DNA in it. As much became apparent when we drove one. The dynamic package didn't have that sparkle about it, as the Focus – the car the Explorer is all but superseding – always did. It means the Puma Gen-E is only the second serious, fully in-house EV Ford has made (we're excluding the toe-in-the-water Focus Electric of 2011 and the much more esoteric F-150 Lightning here). It arrives not before time too. Other car makers have had footholds in the small EV arena for some time and the Puma's rivals now include the Jeep Avenger, the Skoda Elroq, the Smart #1, the sizeable MG S5 EV and the more premium Volvo EX30, not to mention the formidable Renault 5 and the Kia EV3. Some of these cars undercut the Puma Gen-E's £29,995 starting price, while others justify their higher cost with extra space and some degree of opulence. The question is where this pivotal and potentially likeable Ford slots in to the class hierarchy. Let's find out. The Gen-E is built alongside the 'regular' Puma in Ford's Craiova plant in Romania, and visually there's scant difference between the two. The new variant has the EV-typical covered-off grille and naturally there are no tailpipes, but otherwise the appearance is unchanged, but for two exclusive colour options (Electric Yellow and Digital Aqua Blue, for £800). The technical specification does suggest that the EV rides a fraction higher than its ICE sibling, although the difference is slight, and with the same body-in-white, the kerbside stance of the two cars is identical. The chassis is an adaptation of the Ford Global B-car platform that underpins the petrol Puma, and indeed served beneath the fine-handling Fiesta before the supermini was retired. At this price, it's not unusual for this approach to be taken, although certain rivals do use a dedicated electric platform. The more expensive EX30 gets one (its Sustainable Experience Architecture is loosely shared with everything from the #1 to the Lotus Eletre in the Geely stable), as does anything from the Volkswagen Group, and also the Renault 5. Along the floor sits an NMC battery pack with 43.6kWh of usable capacity. If that sounds on the modest side, that's because it is. Among entry-level rivals from Mini, Renault, Volvo and Kia, the least you will find is 49.0kWh and some of those cars have a 'long-range' option for even more capacity – something Ford so far insists it won't offer for the Gen-E. It drives a 166bhp, front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor built at Ford's Halewood factory, which last year came online after a £380 million redevelopment and will create electric drive units for 70% of the firm's Europe-sold EVs. So far there's no talk of a more powerful Gen-E derivative (an ST is the obvious candidate), but the existing car's output certainly leaves head room, given that petrol Pumas have had as much at 197bhp. The rest of the hardware is broadly the same as for the petrol version, with MacPherson-strut suspension at the front and a torsion bar rear, controlled by coil springs and passive dampers. The set-up has been subject to a comprehensive retune, however, on account of the Gen-E's considerably lower centre of gravity and increased kerb weight. We were unable to weigh the car on this occasion, but Ford's claim of 1488kg makes the Gen-E 283kg heavier than the 1.0-litre mild-hybrid Puma we tested in 2020. With the driver on board, it means this crossover supermini treads the scales at well beyond 1500kg. Amazingly, this compares fairly well with rivals. A Renault 5 is a touch lighter, but an EX30 and a Mini Aceman are considerably heavier than the Ford. The Gen-E's trump card from an interior perspective is an unusual one for electric cars: luggage space. If you include the Gigabox – a large, drainable recess beneath the adjustable-height boot floor – there's 523 litres of capacity, which is nothing short of colossal for a car in this segment (and at the more compact end of it, at that). The Gen-E also benefits from a frunk, which is useful for cables, and the boot can be opened electrically, which feels pleasingly grown-up. Inevitably, the driving position does feel perched, and the car's raised floor poses greater problems in the back because Ford has neglected to add cut-outs for your feet, which can make it difficult to slip them under the seat in front (for your information, this tester wore New Balance trainers – hardly disco slippers but not chunky). Head room is good, mind, although in general the Gen-E can't touch the EV3, which remains the obvious choice if you regularly need to cart teenagers about in the front, the Gen-E sports the layout of the updated petrol Puma, which blends surprisingly plush trim with conspicuously cheap plastics and includes two large digital displays, the central one of which contains all the climate control commands, albeit in a fixed row along the bottom. It runs Ford's Sync 4 software, although Android Auto and Apple CarPlay both connect wirelessly, even if the visual integration isn't too slick. In general, the Gen-E's cockpit lacks the visual flair, build quality and tactility of the Renault 5's, but it has a maturity about it as well as fundamentally good ergonomics (the steering column has huge reach adjustment) and plenty of oddment storage, including a split-level centre console with two USB ports on the lower deck, to hide for the driver, in some ways that higher hip-point detracts from the Gen-E experience to a greater extent than it might in a rival with no pretence of being 'fun to drive'. The petrol Puma always felt inherently 'right' as soon as you slid into its neatly bolstered seats. Even so, this is a good cockpit, with subtly dished, comfy seats. Moreoever, not only is there that adjustment in the steering column, but the relationship between the pedals and seat is also well judged and the slim, firm steering rim is satisfying to hold. It also allows a clear view of the digital display ahead of you, which is controlled via spoke-mounted buttons that have a nice feeling of solidity about them. The column stalks also feel more robust than you often find in this class, and using the right-hand arm as the gear selector comes naturally enough after a short while. Elsewhere, with its optional Winter and Comfort packages, our entry-level Select test car didn't feel at all bargain basement, although the Premium grade does add a Bang & Olufsen sound system as well as Sensico synthetic leather seat trim. You're not forced to endure any synthetic sonic enhancements if you don't want to, but the Gen-E's selectable accelerator sound is rather good. For a start, it's subtle. It comes from the correct place too, emanating not from the dashboard ahead but somewhere low and behind you. The note is also quite enjoyable, being reminiscent of the three-pot burble of the old Puma ST but with a bassiness in the vein of air-cooled Porsche 911s and, as speeds increase, a higher-frequency element a bit like that of the V6 in a Ferrari 296 GTB. Strange but true. The performance level is also exactly where you would want it to be in a sprightly, small EV without overtly sporty pretensions but with a bit of driver appeal. At MIRA, the sprint to 60mph took 7.2sec, which isn't quick but certainly isn't slow, either. Tip-in acceleration is also delivered sensibly, with a gratifying sharpness that never overspills into hair-trigger jerkiness. You can choose from a couple of modes that vary this sort of thing, but the Gen-E always feels intuitive. Our only real criticism is that you can't mix and match. It would be useful to have the crisp accelerator pick-up of Sport mode while retaining the easygoing, fingertippy steering calibration you get in Normal mode. As is the norm in this class, there isn't a vast array of regeneration braking options or paddles with which to vary the strength of the system on the fly, but you can go into the menus and select a (slightly grabby) 'one-pedal' mode that ramps up the regen normal driving, there are two settings, the default being close to a freewheeling mode and moderately strong 'L' mode selected via the drive selector stalk. Meanwhile, outright braking performance wasn't especially impressive during our tests (the Renault 5 stops more keenly), but the pedal feel is mostly good. The handover from regenerative to physical braking has been carefully considered, it seems. A showdown with the Renault 5 beckons, because the Gen-E handles very agreeably by class standards. Given that underneath the crossover-lite body and the electric powertrain sits more or less the same platform as the old Fiesta, this shouldn't come as a surprise. What's encouraging is that the Fiesta's enthusiasm for turning in to corners, and its well-judged balance of fun-invoking roll and neat control, has largely survived the transition from supermini to far heavier, taller, electric crossover. The Gen-E is good to drive. Much of this stems from the steering. For this kind of car, you need to temper your expectations in respect of feel and communication, but do that and you will find the Puma rack's crisp off-centre pacing satisfying, with an enjoyable lightness that stops short of feeling disconnected. It's an engaging helm and, as with the petrol Puma, means the Gen-E is fun to put down all manner of roads at everything from a canter to a committed lick. Helping matters is the fact that the Gen-E will have a better weight distribution than the petrol Puma, hardly a nose-heavy car itself in the first place. The EV is conspicuously well balanced and cannily damped, which not only makes it easy to place but also allows the chassis to claw considerable lateral grip out of its efficiency-minded tyres. With 166bhp, there was never going to be any need for a limited-slip differential, as the old Puma ST had, but even with that car's 197bhp output, we doubt the Gen-E would need mechanical intervention to remain hooked up. This a neat, cohesive car to drive, with a good sense of flow and personality. As for comfort, the Gen-E uses a torsion-bar back axle where several rivals have fully independent rear suspension, which might be a concern for some. Equally, at this point Ford knows a thing or two about setting up a smallish hatchbacks, and we found our Select test car to ride well enough despite its comparatively ordinary mechanical layout, even at low speeds. Note, however, that the entry-level Gen-E tested here wears 17in wheels with generous sidewalls. Premium-grade cars have 18in wheels with shorter sidewalls, and in our experience this can make a noticeable difference to compliance on a small wheelbase, and with a quite a taut, sporty setup. Still, we can only assess the car we've driven and, by class standards, the Gen-E Select cushions sharp impacts (potholes and the like) surprisingly well for a car with such engaging handling and it also exhibits a fine long-wave gait on motorways – although you won't be spending too much time on those, as we will come to soon. The Gen-E is refined enough too. Its 66dBA at a 70mph cruise is an exact match for the larger (and independently suspended) Skoda Elroq, as well as the considerably more expensive Mini Aceman SE Exclusive we've previously tested. Ford has taken its time to deliver a sub-£30,000 EV, but the Gen-E is, finally, that car – so long as you go for the entry-level Select without any options whatsoever. (Add £2000 to go for Premium grade.) In fairness, doing so won't leave you bereft of kit. You might want to spec an option pack or two for heated seats and a fancier sound system, but even if you don't, you still get the Sync 4 infotainment, the digital instruments, wireless phone charging and a rear-view camera. It puts the Gen-E in an interesting position, usefully undercutting some of the premium brands but starting at a noticeably higher price than the Renault 5, which has to be considered this car's chief rival. In terms of usability, the small battery capacity should concern anybody undertaking longer drives on a regular basis. Our test car's 3.4mpkWh at 70mph isn't poor, but with just 43.6kWh to draw from, it translates to a motorway range of only 148 miles. Public charging can be done at up to a claimed 100kW, which is par for the class, but we saw a considerable drop-off in speed from a 50% state of charge (SoC) onwards, and a weighted average of 68kW for the 10%-90% SoC period. The Renault 5 has the same maximum charging speed but maintained a quicker rate for longer. However, the Gen-E aced our 'everyday' economy test for low- to medium-speed routes, averaging 6.2mpkWh. That should give you a strong 270-mile day-to-day range. Because we're dealing with a small crossover here, that's probably a compromise most Gen-E owners will be prepared to make. Ford is also offering a free home charger in partnership with Octopus Energy and 'up to 10,000 miles' of charging credit if you opt for the Intelligent Octopus Go tariff, though only for cars bought before the end of June. There's five years' free servicing on offer too, although the likes of Kia, Hyundai and MG all offer longer vehicle warranties. Being based on the existing petrol Puma platform, the Gen-E's potential to change the game in its class was always going to be limited. Certainly, Ford's belated introduction of a more affordable EV doesn't set new benchmarks for range, charging speed or price, even if the car's 'everyday' efficiency is very good indeed. Instead, this is a nicely rounded small electric crossover and, unlike the VW-based Explorer, it is recognisably 'Ford' in its handling. Owners will enjoy driving it, even if they can't quite say why. Its easygoing manner extends to its refinement, which is a surprising strength, to go along with that everyday economy and a vast boot. The Gen-E straddles the outright-budget EV class and the more refined small SUV class and does so neatly. ]]>
The Courier
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Courier
The cat's out of the bag: Introducing the new Ford Puma Gen-E
The mystery of the Fife cats has been solved. For the past few weeks residents of the Kingdom have been baffled by dozens of images of felines that have appeared on signs and roadsides. Some Courier online content is funded by outside parties. The revenue from this helps to sustain our independent news gathering. You will always know if you are reading paid-for material as it will be clearly labelled as 'Partnership' on the site and on social media channels, This can take two different forms. This means the content has been paid for and produced by the named advertiser. This means the content has been paid for and approved by the named advertiser but written and edited by our own commercial content team. The moggie art had users of the Fife Jammers Facebook page scratching their heads, with more than 500 reactions and over 100 comments. As well as the street art, there was a poster campaign and newspaper adverts in The Courier. Now the culprits behind the scheme have stepped forward. The cats are a clever viral marketing campaign by local car dealership Your Ford Centre. Thinking of going electric? Head to Cupar Ford Centre's state-of-the-art showroom and workshop, fully equipped to meet all your needs. Whether you're seeking advice on the best car for your lifestyle or assistance with a technical issue, the experienced and fully trained staff are ready to help. This summer, the team at Cupar Ford is promoting the new Ford Puma Gen-E. The fully electric version of Ford's incredibly popular small SUV is on sale now, with prices starting at under £30,000. It has a 43kWh battery that gives the car a range of 233 miles – making it one of the most efficient EVs on the market. The boot has a false floor with more space underneath and there's storage under the bonnet. Altogether, the Puma Gen-E has a huge 566 litres of storage space. Stuart Prentice and Filip Krawczyk are group marketing executives for Your Ford Centre and came up with the idea for a viral marketing campaign. The pair were inspired by the 'puddle lights' on the new Ford Puma Gen-E, which beams a puma image onto the pavement when you open the driver's door. They went to great lengths to keep their campaign secret. Stuart explained: 'We didn't tell any of the staff or management here so that there was no risk of it being leaked, and so they wouldn't share the likes of Fife Jammers posts – so there was no way of it being traced back to us. 'We created the website and email address for new cat on the block from personal computers and contacts again so it was harder to trace back to Your Ford Centre.' The pair stencilled more than 100 cats all over Fife over the course of a few days. 'The hardest part was actually getting the cats out there without being caught,' Stuart continued. 'Some were done during the day wearing high vis so no-one really questioned what was happening if they did see us, but most were done in the dead of night. 'I was out several times at midnight and beyond to do them.' Filip said: 'It was hard to keep it a secret, but we have made it happen. It was even harder to keep a straight face while overhearing people talk about it, but what a great feeling to be behind one of the most secret campaigns in the UK automotive industry.' What's not a secret? The high-quality and fully electric Ford Puma Gen-E.
The Courier
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Courier
The cat is out of the bag: Culprits admit to Fife stencil 'mystery'
The mystery of the Fife cats has been solved. For the past few weeks residents of the Kingdom have been baffled by dozens of images of felines that have appeared on signs and roadsides. The moggie art had users of the Fife Jammers and Glenrothes Awareness Facebook pages scratching their heads, with nearly 800 reactions and over 100 comments across both pages. As well as the street art, there was a poster campaign and newspaper adverts in The Courier. Now the culprits behind the scheme have stepped forward. The cats are a clever viral marketing campaign by local car dealership Your Ford Centre. They're promoting the new Ford Puma Gen-E. The fully electric version of Ford's incredibly popular small SUV . It has a 43kWh battery that gives the car a range of 233 miles – making it one of the most efficient EVs on the market Stuart Prentice and Filip Krawczyk are group marketing executives for Your Ford Centre and came up with the idea for a viral marketing campaign. The pair were inspired by the 'puddle lights' on the new Ford Puma Gen-E, which beams a puma image onto the pavement when you open the driver's door. They went to great lengths to keep their campaign secret. Stuart explained: 'We didn't tell any of the staff or management here so that there was no risk of it being leaked, and so they wouldn't share the likes of Fife Jammers posts – so there was no way of it being traced back to us. 'We created the website and email address for new cat on the block from personal computers and contacts again so it was harder to trace back to Your Ford Centre.' The pair stencilled more than 100 cats all over Fife over the course of a few days. 'The hardest part was actually getting the cats out there without being caught,' Stuart continued. 'Some were done during the day wearing high vis vests on so no-one really questioned what was happening if they did see us, but most were done in the dead of night. 'I was out several times at midnight and beyond to do them.' Filip said: 'It was hard to keep it a secret, but we have made it happen. It was even harder to keep a straight face while overhearing people talk about it, but what a great feeling to be behind one of the most secret campaigns in the UK automotive industry.'
The Independent
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Ford Puma Gen-E review: The UK's best-selling car goes electric
The Ford Puma Gen-E is an electric version of the UK's best-selling car. Ford has done such an uncontroversial job of electrifying its chart-topping compact crossover that it's almost safe to end the review right there. The Gen-E handles like a Puma. It mostly looks like a Puma. The interior is what you'd expect from an entry-level Ford. The price is right at £29,995. The capacious boot – including the 'megabox' as Ford calls it – is actually bigger than in the petrol car, expanding into the space where the exhaust once lived. There were countless ways to drop the ball here, and Ford has handily avoided most of them. Range is the only big concern. Although it's the final piece of Ford's all-electric line-up, the Gen-E doesn't use the dedicated, Volkswagen-sourced EV architecture seen in the pricier Ford Capri and Ford Explorer, but instead retrofits electric tech into the existing Puma's frame, which was never designed for it. That means less space for the battery, which rates at 53kWh but with just 43kWh usable energy to play with. The Ford Puma Gen-E gets a claimed range of 233 miles, which worked out to around 200 miles on our real world test drives. That will drop further in cold weather, on motorways, and with a family on board and a full boot, plonking the Gen-E firmly into city runaround territory. While the range dawdles behind rivals, it'll still be plenty for many drivers. The Gen-E is efficient too with 4.7 miles per kWh. Look past the battery and the Ford Puma Gen-E hits all of its marks. It's practical, fun to drive, composed and comfortable. And it will take an impressive 523 litres of luggage, which is enough for some buyers to snap one up. It won't shatter the entry-level EV market, but neither will the Gen-E disappoint existing Fiesta and Puma owners looking to make the switch to electric. And that's before you consider Ford's impressive new value-add: the Ford Power Promise – an enticing raft of freebies and bonuses designed to lure you away from petrol. How we tested We spent two days driving the Ford Puma Gen-E around Spain, testing the car on winding mountain ascents, squeezing through densely packed urban streets and cruising along stretches of motorway. Ford Puma Gen-E: From £29,995, Independent rating: 7/10 Pros: Familiar Puma charm, loads of storage, decent standard tech, composed handling Cons: Modest range, only one battery option, cabin quality decent but not premium Ford Puma Gen-E specs Price range: £29,995 to £31,995 Battery size: 43kWh Maximum claimed range: 233 miles Miles per kWh: Up to 4.7 Maximum charging rate: 100kW Battery, range, charging, performance and drive The Puma Gen-E launches with just one battery option – a 53kWh pack with 43kWh usable – and two trim levels. This translates to an official range of up to 233 miles for the entry-level Select trim, dropping slightly to 226 miles for the heavier Premium model. In reality, you can expect closer to 180-200 miles in varied driving, and significantly less on a motorway run with a full car. Charging speed maxes out at 100kW, which allows a 10-80 per cent top-up in around 24 minutes – acceptable, but rivals like the cheaper MG4 offer a faster rate and a longer range. An overnight charge on a 7kW home wallbox will take around 6-7 hours. Performance from the 166bhp front-wheel-drive motor is adequate rather than thrilling, with 0-62mph taking eight seconds – although that's a whole two seconds quicker than Ford's legendary hot hatch the Fiesta XR2 used to do the same sprint. The Puma feels nippy enough around town thanks to instant electric torque, even if acceleration tails off near the top speed of 99mph. Pleasingly, Ford's chassis magic is very much on display here. The steering is direct, body control is tidy so the car (and your passengers) won't lean through roundabouts, and the ride is generally comfortable despite the extra weight of the battery. Interior, practicality and boot space Inside, the Gen-E takes its cues from the recently refreshed petrol Puma, with a large 12.8in digital driver display and a 12in central touchscreen running on Ford's unfussy and easy to use Sync 4 system. There's a lack of many knobs to twiddle; air-con controls are on the touchscreen, though your wing mirrors get physical controls in the door The gear selector has been moved up to a stalk to make room for three cupholders, a sliding armrest, a few inches of extra storage and a wireless charging pad for your phone. Otherwise, not much of your £30,000 has been wasted in the cockpit. The interior is inoffensive enough, but hard, shiny plastics abound in the entry-level Select trim. The Premium edition gets some pleather upholstery and a few practical touches like keyless entry, but the luxury B&O sound bar clings to the dashboard like an aftermarket limpet, looking out of place and unintegrated. The so-called 'megabox' – a deceptively spacious bonus compartment hidden under the boot – remains the Puma's standout party trick. In the Gen-E the compartment is upgraded to 'gigabox' status, claiming extra room where the exhaust pipe would normally go, giving the car a whopping 523 litres of space for your stuff. It must have tempted the designers, but Ford doesn't expect you to keep your charging cable in the gigabox either. The frunk can hold it, along with a few other small bits like the emergency kit. And all that storage space hasn't left the cabin feeling cramped. Up front is roomy and things in the back are acceptable for a compact crossover. Technology, stereo and infotainment Ford's Sync 4 infotainment system is intuitive and well-designed, and connecting wirelessly with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is straightforward, even for technophobes. Ford's own infotainment systems play nicely with your phone's features too. You can use the car's navigation while still seeing windows for Spotify and other car apps alongside the map, for instance. All very sensible. The entry-level trim comes with a decent amount of kit as standard. You've got all of your usual driver assists like lane-keeping, rear parking camera and cruise control. There's an intelligent speed limiter that, like in most cars, isn't quite reliable enough at spotting the correct signage to leave switched on. Elsewhere the Select trim enjoys ambient interior lighting, button start, Alexa voice controls and a perfectly alright-sounding six-speaker audio system. Spend an extra £2k on the Premium trim and you get matrix-LED headlights with Puma-claw detailing, 18in alloys, puddle lights and folding heated mirrors, a hands-free tailgate and keyless entry. The interior steps up too with pleather seat trim and a 10-speaker B&O system with soundbar. All nice to have, but questionable value for money when the base-spec car is reasonably kitted out to begin with. Prices and running costs Ford has completed its EV line-up with its cheapest electric car. Starting at £29,995, the Puma Gen-E is about £3.5k more expensive than the petrol Puma. That undercuts a few EV rivals, but is far from a knockout blow in an increasingly hot compact crossover market. Similarly priced alternatives are the Volkswagen ID.3 and Kia EV3, which offer better range, or the Volvo EX30, which offers a more premium interior. You can't talk about the Gen-E's value without mentioning the newly deployed Ford Power Promise, which could claw back thousands of pounds depending on your circumstances. Buy an EV from Ford and you get a free wall box for your home, free installation and 10,000 free miles' worth of charging if you switch to Octopus Energy and use their EV charging tariff. That tariff gets you a rate of 7p/kWh overnight – meaning driving 233 miles in the Gen-E would cost £3.23 compared to £29 in the combustion Puma. And if that limited range is still haunting you, Ford's Power Promise also gets you free roadside recovery, towing your car to the nearest charging point should you ever get stranded. Ford Puma Gen-E rivals Vauxhall Mokka Electric Volkswagen ID.3 Volvo EX30 FAQs How long does it take to charge? On a 100kW DC fast charger, 10-80 per cent takes around 24 minutes. A full charge on a typical 7kW home wall box takes approximately 6-7 hours. How much does it cost - is it worth it? From just under £30k, it offers familiar Puma practicality with low EV running costs. It's decent value if the range suits, and the Ford Power Promise bundles plenty more value with perks like free miles and free wall box installation. Does Ford replace batteries for free? Like most EVs, the Puma Gen-E's high-voltage battery comes with an 8 year/100,000 mile warranty. The verdict: Ford Puma Gen-E Ford has done precisely as much as it needed to, and no more, to electrify the UK's best-selling car. The Gen-E retains the character and quality of the Puma. It's keenly priced, comes bundled with decent tech as standard and offers a bevy of free EV charging perks. It's fun to drive and has loads of space for the family's luggage. The circa-200 mile range is a limiting factor for sure, but urban drivers who don't need a touring car will appreciate that Ford has instead focused on practicality, build quality and tech. The Puma Gen-E is a worthy addition to Ford's newly completed EV fleet.
The Independent
10-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Free chargers, free charging and free servicing for Ford EV buyers
Ford is hoping to boost sales of its electric car line-up to private buyers by offering a load of freebies aimed at taking the stress out of EV buying and owning. According to a survey of potential EV owners across Europe, Ford says that 25 per cent of people are put-off by uncertainty and complexity with EV ownership. Reacting to that, Ford has put together a package of incentives that are available to buyers of its range of all- electric cars: the new Ford Puma Gen-E, Ford Explorer, Ford Capri, Ford Mustang Mach-E, E-Tourneo Custom 7 and E-Tourneo Courier. Under the banner of Ford's Power Promise, the package includes a free home charge point including standard installation, up to 10,000 miles-worth of 'Home Energy Bonus', which is free energy to power owners' Ford EV, a five-year service package, five years of roadside recovery and the standard eight-year 100,000-mile coverage for the battery system. The Home Energy Bonus comes courtesy of Ford's relationship with energy giant Octopus Energy, giving Ford Power Promise access to the 'Intelligent Octopus Go' smart energy tariff. That means owners can charge their electric Ford for just 7p/kWh overnight, meaning a full charge for a new Puma Gen-E with a range of 233 miles could cost as little as £3.23. Covering 233 miles in a petrol Puma would cost £29 with unleaded currently averaging around £6.52 a gallon. Customers who don't need a home charger and don't want to take advantage of the Home Energy Bonus can get a £500 cash bonus from Ford instead. Despite the eight-year warranty cover on the battery – a standard figure for all electric cars – Ford still only offers a three-year warranty on all its cars. However, Ford buyers getting a commercial vehicle through Ford Pro benefit from a five-year warranty. Ford UK's chair and managing director, Lisa Brankin, said 'switching into an electric vehicle for the first time can be a daunting prospect for some drivers, so Ford have decided to simplify and de-stress the entire ownership experience by launching a one-of-a-kind promise to new electric car buyers. This commitment from Ford aims to entice new buyers into the exciting world of electric vehicles and stimulate additional demand for our freshest-ever lineup of electric passenger cars.'
