Don’t be fooled by appearances. Beneath its classic Puma ST appearance (complete with painted bumper and wheel arches, its front and unobtrusive rear spoilers, not to mention its pretty 19-inch wheels with red brake calipers), this Ford isn’t as sporty as its appearance would suggest. In fact, the car maker recently launched a lesser version of its compact SUV. However is the ST tag still relevant ? What about driving pleasure ?
In fact, everything happens under the front bonnet : the 200bhp 1.5 3-cylinder turbo was replaced by a smaller 1.0 l EcoBoost engine. This one’s power was put up to 160bhp and it is now backed up by some electric assistance device providing an additional 10bhp. Torque is rated at 248 Nm, compared with 320 Nm for the bigger-engined Puma ST. While this one is still available with a 6-speed manual transmission, the newer one gets a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Ford states it aims at reducing fuel consumption while offering better day-to-day offer enjoyment.
I like it
It’s a pleasure to be reacquainted with the Puma ST’s interior : its perfectly supportive Recaro seats, as well as the red stitching and piping scattered throughout its cabin. There’s also fake carbon fiber on the dashboard and ST logos on the floor mats. Eventually, holding the three-spoke steering wheel is once again a real pleasure, with its « S » button urging you to get into the groove more quickly. Another button lets you select one of the driving modes: Eco, Normal, Sport or Low Grip. Don’t look for any Track mode here as it’s only available on the 200bhp ST. That one is also fitted with the Performance Pack and its self-locking differential. In the rear, there’s plenty of room for two adults, while the 456 liters boot volume is more than adequate for such a car. The boot also features an underfloor MegaBox for storing dirty items before flushing them down the drain.
Quite clever
Honestly, if we hadn’t been told, we’re sure we’d never had found out power is down 40 hp. The grippy front end, lively lump and driving environment are all very similar to the most powerful version. This 3-cylinder engine is perhaps noisier but the turbo ensures the automatic Puma ST is quite dynamic, not to say sporty. However, in rainy conditions, the front axle is understandably a bit overwhelmed by the sudden torque surge but it’s well-contained anyway and remains just as biting as expected. In other words, the lack of a limited-slip diff wasn’t a real problem. Braking is absolutely perfect for road use, and as weight went up just by 36 kilos, driving pleasure remains as good compared t the other Puma ST.
I don’t like it
We always thought automatic gearboxes and sports cars don’t really mix up and this Ford Puma ST Powershift won’t change our minds. Admittedly, the gearbox is absolutely right for everyday use, in cities congested as it allows the driver to rest the left foot. However, when the road gets interesting with bends and curves , the steering wheel controls prove too small and the transmission takes too long to translate your inputs in motion. On top of that, don’t be fooled into believing that shifting manually will improve things : there ‘s no such mode available !
Why I buy it
The Puma ST Powershift is more interesting tax-wise and less extreme for everyday driving conditions. However, it looks just as good as the other Puma ST. Perhaps the Puma ST Powershift Powershift will be successful and eventually replace the now-defunct Fiesta ST in sporty drivers’ heart ? We can assure you there are still some about… Fit and finish is quite good and there are some subtle but successful details that set the Puma ST Powershift apart. In Belgium, registration tax is €1,239 for the Powershift version while the other Puma ST’s €2,478. Road tax is €154.04 for the lesser one and €248.95 for the Puma ST. Quite a large saving, especially with guaranteed driving pleasure. Average fuel consumption was 35 MPG during our 235 miles test drive as we didn’t want to play the eco card as we’re not used to it. As is often the case, we drove about 150 miles on motorways while the rest was city driving. As the weather was mostly cold, our figures would surely be better in other driving conditions.
Why I don’t buy it
While the auto transmission adds a comfy side to the Ford Puma ST, it can’t erase suspension stiffness. Seen as an essential ingredient of a sports car by enthusiasts drivers, it nevertheless ends up getting tiresome in the long run. It’s a shame, but if you’re looking for a softer ride, there are better Pumas in the range. Therefore, this is not a major fault for us. We didn’t really notice the lack of a limited-slip diff but we would have enjoyed larger steering wheel paddles or being able to change gears using the central gearshift lever. As far as prices are concerned, both Puma STs (1.5 MT with 200 bhp and 1.0 AT with 160 bhp) , start from €37,900 without extras. These days, that’s almost a bargain for a Ford… (Translation : Dimitri Urbain)
