Is the Ford Puma reliable?

Not especially, as the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine has some well-known issues that are outlined in detail above.

Is the Ford Puma a hybrid?

Ford sells and markets the Puma as a hybrid , but it’s really only a mild-hybrid, so there’s a slightly beefed-up electrical system and a starter/generator in place of a more traditional alternator, which makes for a more efficient stop-start system around town, and a little bit of a power boost under acceleration. The Puma can’t drive under electric power alone, though.

Is the Ford Puma an SUV?

That’s debatable. It looks like a shrunk-down SUV right enough, but really it’s just a Fiesta with a taller roof and a bigger boot, and it has no off-road ability whatsoever.

Is the Ford Puma ULEZ-compliant?

Yes, the Ford Puma is a ULEZ-compliant car , and there has never been a diesel-engined version, which helps in that respect.

What is the top of the range Ford Puma?

The top of the range Ford Puma was originally the 200hp ST version, but that has now been supplanted by a 170hp version, using the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, with a standard automatic gearbox. The current top-spec model that’s not an overtly sporty ST is the ST-Line X.

Yes, it can. The Ford Puma can tow a maximum braked trailer load of 1,100kg, depending on the model.

Can you get a Ford Puma in automatic?

Yes, a seven-speed automatic gearbox is optional for the 1.0-litre 125hp and 155hp engines, and standard on the ST 170hp 1.0-litre version.

How big is the Ford Puma?

It’s quite a compact car, at 4,186mm long, 1,805mm wide, and 1,533mm tall.

Is the Ford Puma four-wheel drive?

No, there has never been a four-wheel drive version of the Puma.

What is the best Ford Puma to buy?

A basic 125hp 1.0-litre model will give you all the driving fun and boot space you might need, and will be economical to run (as long as you keep on top of the engine’s reliability issues). A 200hp 1.6-litre ST version is massively enjoyable to drive, but it’s very hard on its suspension, so far from a comfortable family car .

When did the Ford Puma first come out?

This generation of Ford Puma first went on sale in late 2019. The original Puma coupe was on sale from 1997 to 2001.

Where is the Ford Puma made?

The Ford Puma is built at Ford’s factory in Craiova, in Romania.

Used Ford Puma cars for sale

How buying a used car through carwow works

Find a car

Use carwow to browse and compare used vehicles, advertised by a network of trusted dealers. You can search by make and model, or apply filters to find the perfect car for you.

Contact the dealer

Once you’ve found a car you’d like to buy, you can contact the dealer to arrange the next steps, whether that’s asking a question or taking it for a test drive.

Buy the car

When you’re happy to buy, you can do so at a fixed price, safe in the knowledge all models sold through carwow are mechanically checked and come with a warranty.

Is a second hand Ford Puma a good car?

The Ford Puma is an alternative to the likes of the Skoda Kamiq, the Volkswagen T-Cross, and the Nissan Juke. It’s cuter and more expressive-looking than the Skoda or the VW, and a bit easier on the eye than the complicated-looking Nissan.

Like those cars, the Puma is a compact SUV, so you sit up a little higher, and there’s more space in the back than you’d find in the car it’s based on — the humble Ford Fiesta. Like the Fiesta, the Puma is also rather more fun to drive than most others in its class.

The name comes from the original Puma coupe of the 1990s, which was also based on the Fiesta, but this current version ditches the compromised practicality of the coupe in favour of a big boot and wannabe 4x4 styling. It’s like swapping a trendy clutch-purse for a more useful tote-bag.

Sadly, the Puma isn’t as nice inside as it is outside. The cabin, also lifted largely from the Fiesta, looks dark and dreary, with lots of cheap plastics. On the upside, the actual way it’s put together is very good, and while a Peugeot 2008’s cabin looks smarter, it’s not as well bolted together as the Puma’s.

The Puma’s cabin does score well on the tech front, with the option of some very handsome digital dials (initially only standard on sporty ST-Line versions, but they did trickle through to other models eventually) and Ford’s SYNC3 touchscreen. More recently, the Puma has been treated to a big-screen upgrade with SYNC4 software, but don’t count out the older system — it’s not as sophisticated, but it’s simple and easy to use, and it sticks with proper physical buttons for the air conditioning and heating. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections have always been standard too, while some models have a wireless phone charging pad — very posh.

If there’s a let-down in the Puma’s cabin, it’s that the back seats aren’t very spacious — if you need room for four adults, get a Skoda Kamiq instead.

The big boot does compensate for that, though. There’s a healthy 401 litres of luggage space, including the clever ‘MegaBox’ storage box under the boot floor, which is handy if you need to carry a tall, narrow item in the boot, or if you need somewhere to stash muddy, sweaty sports gear. The MegaBox can even be hosed out, but it does mean that there’s no spare wheel.

The Puma’s no off-roader, in spite of the mini-SUV looks, and it has only ever been available with front-wheel drive, and a choice of 1.0-litre ‘EcoBoost’ engines in 125hp or 155hp forms, or the more powerful 1.6-litre ST version with 200hp. More recently, there’s been a 170hp ST model with an automatic gearbox as standard, which isn’t as sporty to drive as the older 1.6 ST.

Not that that really matters, as even a basic 125hp Puma is a total hoot to drive, with sharp steering and hot hatch-like responses. There’s a down-side to that, though, as the Puma is very bouncy over bumps, and the poor rear visibility means in-town driving can be more of a chore than you’d expect.

What to look for when buying a used Ford Puma

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is a clever unit, and packs a lot of power for such a small engine, but it has some significant and well-documented reliability issues. The biggest of these is the ‘wet belt’ cambelt, which actually passes through the engine’s oil supply as it turns. Over time this can weaken the belt, causing premature failure, while plastic fragments from the belt can cause blockages in the oil system, again leading to engine failure. If you’re buying a 1.0-litre model, make sure that the cambelt has been changed to schedule, and consider changing it well ahead of schedule yourself, along with an annual oil change, to try and conserve the engine’s reliability.

The only engine which avoided this issue was the 200hp 1.6-litre ST version, which uses a timing chain instead of a belt.

In the most recent Driver Power ownership survey, Ford finished third from bottom, in 30th position, in the best brands to own list, although a not-unreasonable 20% of owners reported issues with their cars. The Puma itself finished in a much more credible 10th place overall in the top 50 models to own table, with an owners’ score of 89.55%.