“I like the fact that cars such as the Puma ST exist, because they offer fun driving in a practical package and don’t mean compromises need to be made. It’s not quite as good as it once was, though, and these days a regular Puma is going to be just as much fun, maybe even more so with a manual gearbox.” – Dean Gibson, senior test editor
The ST gets extra standard safety kit when compared with the rest of the range
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There’s plenty of safety kit on board the Puma ST, and this includes the Driver Assistance Pack. It’s a £950 option across the rest of the range and features 360-degree cameras, adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assist, blind-spot detection and lane-change and centring assist.
The Puma was tested by Euro NCAP in 2019 and earned a full five-star crash safety rating. However, a reassessment at the end of 2022 saw the small SUV lose a star due to some poor results for adult occupant safety, causing its score in this category to fall from 94 to 75 per cent.
Ford is slowly climbing the best car manufacturer rankings, according to our data. The brand finished 23rd out of 31 manufacturers, up from its 2024 score of 30th out of 32 brands included. The Puma ranked 47th out of the 50 best cars to own, held back by poor quality and reliability. Owners had positive things to say about the handling, engine noise, and practicality, though.
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Best buy: Used Ford Puma ST 1.5 Ecoboost
If you must have a Puma ST, then we’d recommend browsing for a used 1.5 EcoBoost manual example via the Auto Express Buy A Car service. And if you want an automatic, then the standard automatic in ST-Line trim offers nine-tenths of the ST’s ability for less money.
Ford Puma alternatives
The Puma ST is a relatively unique proposition in the small SUV class, because there isn’t another front-wheel-drive performance model like it. The Audi SQ2 and Volkswagen T-Roc R have sporty driving in mind, but they are four-wheel drive and considerably more powerful and expensive.
If it’s performance that you’re after, then the pre-facelift Puma ST is worth seeking out, or even the Fiesta ST on which it’s based, while the Hyundai Kona N is another model that’s rapid, but is based on the previous-generation model.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s not as good as it once was, and it’s all down to the powertrain. The pre-facelift car is far more entertaining in 1.5 EcoBoost guise, and the 1.0-litre model lacks that car’s pizazz. That’s a shame, because the Puma ST still handles brilliantly, but then the standard car is almost as fun for less money.
