Britain's new favourite car driven - we review the Ford Puma?

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All あられ／賞賛する Britain's new King of cars!?

Having amassed 49,591 sales, Ford's Puma has 公式に dethroned the Nissan Qashqai as the most popular new モーター in the UK in 2023.

But before it 公式に received its 栄冠を与える as the UK's 最高の，を越す choice モーター, we've spent a week 運動ing one to tell you if it is worthy of the 肩書を与える...

Britain's most popular new car of 2023: The Ford Puma is the nation's new favourite model. But does that mean it's any good? We spent a week 実験（する）ing one

Ford Puma: The car that killed the Fiesta

The Puma nameplate was reborn and 再提出するd in 2019.

For th ose of us who can remember the 中央の-nineties, the Puma of that 時代 was an affordably-定価つきの, two-door クーデター with a?short wheelbase and darty 運動ing dynamics.

Today, we can't be sure what segment the Puma fits into. Is it a supermini? An SUV? A 'crossover'? We've stopped trying to pigeonhole it.

But one thing is for sure - its 最近の rise in 人気 is the 推論する／理由 Britain's favourite car of all time is now dead and buried.

A growing 需要・要求する for jacked-up compact 乗り物s of this ilk (and the higher 利ざやs on each 部隊 sold by car 製造者s) has seen Ford prioritise it over the much-adored Fiesta - the モーター that Britons own more of than any other car (there's around 1.5million of them on our roads today).

For those of us who can remember 運動ing in the 1990s, you might associate the Ford Puma 指名する with this car...

The new Puma has essentially killed off the Fiesta after 47 連続した years of 生産／産物 dating 支援する to 1976

As such, Fiesta - the UK's bestseller in sixteen different years, 含むing an 11-year （一定の）期間 at the 最高の，を越す of the pops from 2010 to 2020 - 中止するd 生産／産物 in July 2023.

Its 漸進的な 見えなくなる from showrooms in 最近の months has fed the Puma's success and seen its order 調書をとる／予約するs bursting at the seams.

It has obliterated its biggest 競争相手s ーに関して／ーの点でs of 需要・要求する, with Vauxhall's Mokka, Nissan's Juke, VW's T-Cross and Skoda's Kamiq getting nowhere 近づく it in the 登録s league （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する.

Ford's even dared to 申し込む／申し出 one for boy racer types - a 業績／成果 'ST' variant that you've almost certainly passed at a McDonalds car park in 最近の times.?

Here, though, our review 焦点（を合わせる）s on the run-of-the-mill Puma.?

What's the Puma like to 運動?

Engine choice for the 基準 Puma is 限られた／立憲的な to 1.0-litre 石油s with 48-volt 穏やかな-hybrid (mHEV) 科学（工学）技術. It's smart tech, though.

The engine shuts off when decelerating to a 行き詰まり to ration 燃料 消費 and only 解雇する／砲火／射撃s 支援する into life when you engage a gear. A small electric モーター 供給するs a little 追加するd oomph to help you move off.

There are two 力／強力にする 生産（高）s, 125bhp and 153bhp. Both are linked to a six-速度(を上げる） 手動式の gearbox, though the former has the 選択 of a seven-速度(を上げる） 自動車 - and this is the one we've been 運動ing.

If you want a Puma, you have the choice of 1.0-litre Ecoboost engines - just two with 変化させるing 力／強力にする 生産（高）s of 125bhp and 153bhp. The latter comes with the choice of a 7-速度(を上げる） 自動車 gearbox, which is what we drove during our week-long 査定／評価

Is it 急速な／放蕩な??

In a word, no.

公式に, Ford tells me it can 攻撃する，衝突する 60mph from a 行き詰まり in 9.6 seconds - that's the same time it took Usain Bolt in 2009 to run 100 metres in a world 記録，記録的な／記録する time that still stands today.

Is it quick enough for UK roads? Undoubtedly.

It's punchy in town when 運動ing becomes a stop-start 演習 and you're reliant on low revs. And it adequately gathers pace on a slip road when 加速するing from 30mph to 70mph to 合併する into 小道／航路 one at the same 速度(を上げる） as the flow of traffic.

In both 都市の and 主要道路 シナリオs, its exceptionally smooth, though there is more than a hint of road rumble 生成するd by the enormous 19-インチ alloy wheels fitted to our 実験（する） car (more on this later) at motorway 速度(を上げる）s - and a 乗客 in the 支援する 保証するs me it's noisier than 存在 sat in the 後部 of a VW T-Cross.?

?

Ford has managed to build a crossover that 扱うs like a 井戸／弁護士席-honed hatchback. How it changes direction and 持つ／拘留するs a corner is like nothing else you'll experience in this segment

But where it gazumps 競争相手s is the 扱うing - a trait that Ford has mastered for years. It's what made the Fiesta a class leader for as long as I can remember.

にもかかわらず the raised ride 高さ and boxy 割合s, the Puma is an enjoyably nimble car in the corners. It changes direction and turns on a sixpence - it's like a stocky 発射-putter spinning on the balls of their feet before 排除する／（飛行機などから）緊急脱出するing the metal sphere.

And the best part about it is that you get this sensation of agility at all times. Like when you're navigating 一連の会議、交渉／完成する parked cars in town centres, 小旅行するing a 商売／仕事 park, or whizzing around a small roundabout.

Ours, 配達するd in ST-Line 削減する, （機の）カム with the sporty 中断 始める，決める-up that helps it to change direction on a B-road like a sheepdog trying to 命令（する） its pack, while the connected feel through the chunky steering wheel 縁 is wonderfully 負わせるd.

The little 1.0-litre engine is punchy in town when 運動ing becomes a stop-start 演習 and you're reliant on low revs. And it adequately gathers pace when you need it to

Is the Ford Puma comfortable?

Given how 井戸／弁護士席 the Puma corners, maybe we shouldn't have been surprised by how 会社／堅い the ride is. But we still 推定する／予想するd more from a car in this segment.?

Our ST-Line model （機の）カム with both the harder 中断 始める，決める-up and the largest, 19-インチ, wheels. The combination makes for a 厳しい ride.

Fail to swerve a pothole and you will certainly know about it. However, even minor surface imperfections - such as cats 注目する，もくろむs dividing motorway 小道／航路s - are felt in the cabin when you clip one.

The road rumble from the larger 縁s is also audible inside, with the constant drone at the 国家の 速度(を上げる） 限界 強くたたくing into the ears of 乗客s in the 支援する more so than those up 前線.?

A VW T-Cross definitely 供給するs better ride 慰安 levels, though there are crashier compact crossovers, like Nissan's Juke, for instance.?

I'm sure that 削除するing the sport 中断 and 選ぶing for smaller 18 or even 17-インチ wheels would 除去する these ride 慰安 問題／発行するs.?

ーに関して／ーの点でs of the seats, the 厚い-支えるd sports 議長，司会を務めるs in our 実験（する） car 供給する lots of support and 慰安 for the driver and …を伴ってing 乗客, even on longer 旅行s. There's plenty of 調整 too, along with the steering wheel for 高さ and reach.

Unfortunately, the 後部 （法廷の）裁判 isn't as 融通するing, with short and inclined seat bases that can get uncomfortable after a while.

支援する seat 乗客s also have 限られた／立憲的な legroom - six footers are not welcome here - and there's a 制限する, almost cocooning sensation from the 狭くするing window でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れるs, which make it feel darker and more enclosed than it truly is.?

This also 衝撃s visibility for the driver, which にもかかわらず the raised ride 高さ is no better than a supermini hatchback. The letterbox-style 後部 window and those rising 後部-４半期/4分の1s make over-the-shoulder 小道／航路 change checks more difficult - though the wing mirrors are usefully large and square in 形態／調整.?

Our 実験（する） model also （機の）カム with the optional (£1,000) panoramic roof, which lowers the 天井 高さ somewhat - another 推論する／理由 why taller folk won't love 存在 in the 支援する.?

Practicalities and 緩和する of use

Let's start from the 前線 and move backwards, shall we?

If there is one thing Ford nails every time, it is 論理（学）の 支配（する）／統制する layout and functionality. It's no different with the Puma, with all the main switches, 計器s and stalks 正確に／まさに where you'd 推定する／予想する - and want - them.?

Every 削減する level comes with an eight-インチ touch 陳列する，発揮する infotainment system that houses the DAB 無線で通信する, Bluetooth, sat-nav. There's also compatibility with Android 自動車 and Apple CarPlay.?

It is by no means the most up-to-date operating system and いつかs takes a while to 答える／応じる after you've made a 選択 経由で the on-審査する menus, but it's an ample 始める，決める-up.

Every 削減する level comes with an eight-インチ touch 陳列する，発揮する infotainment system that houses the DAB 無線で通信する, Bluetooth, sat-nav. There's also compatibility with Android 自動車 and Apple CarPlay

The 内部の 質 across the dashboard, main touch points and centre console feel chunky, 強健な and tactile. If you were 推定する／予想するing a wash of flimsy hard plastics, you'll be very impressed with just how plush the Puma's cabin is.

その上の 支援する, every Puma comes with 60/40 分裂（する）-倍のing 後部 seats, though they didn't 減少（する） 完全に 紅潮／摘発する with the boot 床に打ち倒す in our 実験（する） car.

The boot itself is 極端に 融通するing.

解除する the tailgate and you'll 最初 wonder where the 引用するd?456 litres of space is. But the Puma's adjustable luggage 床に打ち倒す can be lowered 深い into the chassis so that you can easily fit a pair - maybe three - medium-size holiday スーツケースs in the 支援する.

Every Puma comes with 60/40 分裂（する）-倍のing 後部 seats, though they didn't d rop 完全に 紅潮／摘発する with the boot 床に打ち倒す in our 実験（する） car

The boot itself is 極端に 融通するing. 解除する the tailgate and you'll 最初 wonder where the 引用するd 456 litres of space is. But there's 負担s of extra space under the adjustable 床に打ち倒す

? Slide me ?

With the boot 床に打ち倒す dropped, you can 負担 to a very low point in the chassis. You can easily fit a pair - maybe three - medium-size holiday スーツケースs in the 支援する

It's also 価値（がある） について言及するing that にもかかわらず all Pumas coming with the modern preventative safety 援助（する）s you’d 推定する／予想する in a new モーター today - (a)自動的な／(n)自動拳銃 緊急 ブレーキing with 歩行者 （犯罪，病気などの）発見, 小道／航路-keeping 援助 and traffic-調印する 承認 - you do have to 支払う／賃金 extra for blind-位置／汚点／見つけ出す （犯罪，病気などの）発見 and steering 補助装置.

And while there is an assortment of?six airbags, Euro NCAP only awarded the Puma four out of five 星／主役にするs when it 衝突，墜落d 実験（する）d it in 2022.

Ford Puma: price and 維持費s?

Gone are the days of cheap Ford models.?

The Puma, now its smallest car in Britain, （犯罪の）一味s in from a whopping £25,640.

Our 実験（する） car, an ST-Line X 削減する with the seven-速度(を上げる） 自動車 gearbox, is £28,790 on the road, and kitted with a 割当 of 選択s it 一致するd to a barely-believable £33,515.

Given that a BMW 1 Series in M Sport spec costs £31,585, this feels 極端に 法外な on Ford's に代わって.?

Gone are the days of cheap Ford models. The Puma, now its smallest car in Britain, （犯罪の）一味s in from a whopping £25,640. But the one なぐさみ is that it should be cheap to run?

Fortunately, what you get with the Puma is a strong engine that's also affordable to run.

公式の／役人 燃料 economy is said to be 47.1mpg, and on a mixture of roads we still managed a respectable 45mpg.

The Puma also pumps out いっそう少なく CO2 than many of its 競争相手 small SUVs, meaning [比較して] low 乗り物 excise 義務 年次の 支払い（額）s.

The Puma's success will be 手段d by sales, and in 2023 Britons have 率d it as the number one four-wheeled 製品 利用できる in showrooms

Cars & モーターing 判決 on the Ford Puma

There's no 尋問 that the Puma is の中で the best compact crossovers on the market at this very moment.

Where it leads its 競争相手s is 運動ing 業績／成果 - it's probably the sweetest-手渡すing small SUV out there 権利 now. And while the 後部 of the cabin is more cramped than some of the 競争, the 柔軟性 of the boot is a real 最高潮の場面.

But where it loses big points is its washboard ride 慰安, which isn't as 許すing as its VW Group 競争相手s - nor is the 全体にわたる 質 of finish.

And starting at more than £25,500, it's undeniably pricey for a small SUV that - inside - 申し込む／申し出s little to no more space than a Fiesta hatchback.

Yet, no 事柄 our opinion, the success of any car is how it resonates with 顧客s. And the Puma has proven its success as a 製品 by the sheer 容積／容量 of Britons who have bought one in 2023.