Ford Puma ST - ABC Leasing

Car & Driving
The independent definitive Ford Puma ST video review
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    RETURN OF THE ST(some text hidden)

    By Jonathan Crouch


    Ten Second Review word count: 77

    Having made the standard version of its small Puma crossover pretty sporty to drive, Ford couldn't resist releasing this top ST version, complete with the livelier 1.5-litre EcoBoost turbo engine from the fiendish Fiesta ST hot hatch. A 170PS 1.0-litre unit's also available if you want auto transmission. In either case, what's delivered is a car the family driving enthusiast will find easier to justify. Few small SUVs could keep it in sight on a twisty road.


    Background word count: 124

    For Ford, 'ST' is an evocative badge - and one that enthusiasts have flocked to for decades with fast Fiesta and Focus hit hatches. But does it belong on an SUV? Well it belongs on this one. The Puma was always developed with this quick variant in mind and in ST form, the Ford Performance team have done a really thorough job in further evolving what were already very impressive drive dynamics. It doesn't just go faster than the standard model either. You can get the power down more easily too, thanks to a whole range of handling and suspension changes. Sounds promising. Small SUVs haven't to date been very engaging to drive. But we think that this one might just buck the trend.


    Driving Experience word count: 363

    Properly sporty versions of supermini-based small SUVs are surprising rare, especially when they're engineered as well as this one. As you'd expect, the top version of this car borrows much from its Fiesta ST showroom stablemate, including its lively 200PS 1.5-litre EcoBoost turbo engine, though that unit's been tweaked here for extra torque, so as to compensate for this little crossover's extra 100kgs of weight. As a result, the fastest Puma ST is able to match the Fiesta ST's 0-62mph time of 6.7s (which is just a second behind a Focus ST). The 1.5-litre manual model's top speed is 137mph and active exhaust valve technology amplifies the naturally sporty three-cylinder engine sound too. If you want your Puma ST as an automatic, you'll need to have it with Ford's three cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, which here appears in its fastest-ever form with 170PS, allied to 48V mild hybrid tech and paddlesift-operative 7-speed Powershift auto transmission. The rest to 62mph sprint with this variant is eagerly dispatched in 7.4s. Lots of Ford Performance engineering features have been incorporated with both Puma ST variants in a bid to give this fast small SUV some real handling credibility. An optimised chassis features bespoke twist-beam, anti-roll bar and damper configurations. Plus steering response is 25% faster and the brakes are 17% larger than the standard Puma. Specially-developed Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres also help deliver the most agile Ford SUV driving experience yet, plus thick front and rear anti-roll bars add to cornering stability. If you want to go further, you can specify an extra cost 'Performance Pack' which gives you a unique-in-segment limited-slip differential to help get the power down out of tight corners. Whatever your final choice of spec, you'll immediately notice how firmly this car rides the bumps - inevitably as the rear suspension has been stiffened by 50% - but you could live with it on the commute and at cruising speeds, this ST feels much like any normal Puma. Like any ordinary variant in this model line, the ST version features selectable Drive Modes, including a 'Sport' setting (accessible via this bespoke steering wheel button) and a special 'Race Track' option.


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    Scoring

    Category: Compact Car

    Performance
    80%
    Handling
    80%
    Comfort
    70%
    Space
    70%
    Styling
    70%
    Build
    60%
    Value
    50%
    Equipment
    70%
    Economy
    60%
    Depreciation
    70%
    Insurance
    70%
    Total
    68%
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