Ford Puma Titanium – 1.0L Ecoboost MHEV 6-speed Manual
I don’t know about you, but I remember the good old Ford classics from my younger days, such as the Escort RS1600i and the bonking mad Escort RS Turbo Mk1 & Mk2, writes Tony Yates.
When I was 21 years old, I bought a rather ‘well used’ Mk1 Escort Mexico which I then went on to own for about 23 years.
A few years ago, I sold it and I very much regret it, because no other car I have ever owned since has made me feel as alive at the wheel as that old Mk1 did – and, I doubt I will ever get the chance to own another one now because the prices – even for a banged-up Mk1 Mexico in need of restoration are now 10k plus.
Happily, though – Ford has lent me the new ‘Puma’ and I have to say that it’s probably the only car so far this year I have got really excited about. So, let’s give it the once over.
Power and Efficiency:
Powered by 1.0 Litre EcoBoost petrol engine with 210Nm of torque, 125PS of Ford Power and a 0-62 time of around 9.8 seconds. To finish off, the Puma will achieve a maximum top speed of around119mph.
If you do want to know about fuel economy, then the highest mpg you can expect to achieve is around 61.4 mpg (high end) and 43.5 (low end). Looking good then.
Also, I used the Puma as my vehicle for my summer holiday to Devon and let’s just say it was packed full to bursting with holiday gear and three children.
Even with all that, it still managed to return a steady 53.4mpg. CO2 Emissions were also g/km: 96
On the road:
The Puma feels fantastic to drive – and if I’m being honest, it has outstanding driving dynamics and a suspension setup that’s spot on.
This is something I have not felt in a while – especially from a vehicle of this type. Also, no matter what the road surface was doing – the Puma handled it very well.
Of course, the ride for some, may feel a tad soft, but for me, it felt stable and a real joy to take into the twisty bends around some of Devon’s more challenging roads.
Design & Technology:
As you can see from the image, the new Ford Puma is a great looking vehicle.
Also, while I was away, many people commented on the looks – and one gentleman even said he was looking for a new car and would be off to his nearest Ford dealer that very afternoon to take a test drive.
So, what do you get in the form of key features? Well, you get; 17” 10-Spoke Alloy Wheels, Projector Headlamps with LED Day Time Running lights, Cornering Lights & LED Rear Lamps, Ford MegaBox Extended Boot Space, Power-foldable Heated Door Mirrors, Electronic Ait Temperature Control (EATC) Ford SYNC 3 Navigation with B&O Premium Audio & 10 Speakers, Selectable Drive Modes – Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery & Trail. Plus; Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Pre-Collision Assist with Autonomous Emergency Braking, ESC, Hill Start Assist, Rear Parking Sensors, Thatcham Alarm and much more.
To sum up:
All in all, Ford have once again created a remarkable piece of engineering.
Hats off to the boys from Ford for making all my dreams come true once again.
If I was looking to buy a modern family vehicle right about now – then the Puma is the only one you need in your stable.
Maybe that’s why it just stole my heart.
Price: (from) £21,640 (standard vehicle – on the road)
