Ford Puma ST Review 2024

Ford Puma ST At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The Ford Puma ST effectively replaces the much-loved Fiesta ST, so it has big shoes to fill. It largely measures up to the Fiesta as a driving experience, with the added bonus of being far more practical.

+Fun to drive, with family-friendly space and practicality. Loads of standard features and good value for money.

-Not quite as joyous to drive as a Ford Fiesta ST. Harsh ride at lower speeds.

By the end of 2023, the Ford Puma ST will be your only option if you want a small fast Ford, as the fabulous Fiesta ST will be killed off. The Puma ST, a rival to the Audi SQ2 and Hyundai Kona N, had better be very good indeed, then, if it’s to replace one of the all-time great hot hatchbacks in peoples’ hearts – and on their driveways.

The Ford Puma ST certainly looks the part. With a sporty bodykit, lowered suspension and 19-inch alloy wheels, it appears purposeful without being in-your-face. It’s a similar story inside, where oh-so-comfortable and supportive Recaro seats are complemented by a flat-bottomed steering wheel, aluminium gear knob and a few flashes of ST branding.

Does it drive the part, though? Well, the Ford Puma ST uses the same 200PS 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engine as the Fiesta ST. It delivers a surprisingly rapid turn of speed, and produces a great growl when accelerating, so things certainly look promising. It also has the Fiesta’s six-speed manual gearbox and limited-slip differential.

The Ford Puma ST is somewhat compromised in being a longer, taller and heavier car than the Ford Fiesta ST, but it’s still very good to drive. It’s not as eager and playful as the Fiesta, but you can have an extremely good time blatting along a country road.

The Puma is also happy pootling around town, very firm suspension notwithstanding. Fortunately, its ride smoothes out at higher speeds and it makes for a quiet and stable motorway cruiser. It’s certainly much easier and less tiring to drive day-to-day than the rather frantic Hyundai Kona N: the Ford’s main rival amongst the handful of small high-performance SUVs on the market.

As a driving experience, the Ford Puma ST can’t quite match the Ford Fiesta ST for sheer laugh-out-loud fun, but very few cars can. Judged on its own merits, the Ford Puma ST is still fantastic to drive. You will certainly enjoy it.

Now to more practical matters, and it’s good news because the ST is exactly the same as any other Ford Puma – i.e. one of the most practical small SUVs on sale.

There’s enough passenger space for the average family of four, even through the kids’ teenage years. The boot is one of the biggest you’ll find in this type of car, too. It’s roomy enough to cover the needs of the average family, though going on holiday will require careful packing.

The thing that really sets the Ford Puma apart is found beneath the boot floor. Ford’s ‘Megabox’ container can hold 80kg, provides useful extra depth to the boot and is made from plastic that can be hosed clean if you remove the plug from the bottom. It’s the ideal place to store wet and muddy stuff, so you don’t have to mess up the carpet.

Running costs should be pretty low. The Ford Puma ST can average well over 40mpg and servicing costs are reasonable for a high-performance car.

There’s just one model, which costs a smidge over £31,000 at the time of writing. That’s quite a lot more than a Ford Fiesta ST, but considerably less than many other sporty SUVs. Add in generous levels of standard equipment including sat-nav, air conditioning, cruise control and a Bang & Olufsen stereo system, and we reckon the Ford Puma ST offers strong value for money.

Vanishing profit margins mean superminis like the Ford Fiesta are a dying breed, and being replaced by small SUVs such as the Ford Puma. That inevitably means many fast small cars will become SUV-shaped. Some regard that as a grim prospect, but the Ford Puma ST gives them reason to feel positive. The Ford Puma is much more practical than the Ford Fiesta and, in ST form, it’s nearly as good to drive as the Ford Fiesta ST. It can still be an absolute hoot from behind the wheel.

All in all, the Ford Puma ST is a great car that has a lot to offer enthusiasts, along with people who simply want a family-friendly small car that can get a move on.

We lived with a Puma ST for six months - find out how we got on with it in our Ford Puma ST long term test.

Ask Honest John

Should we fit all-season tyres to our Ford Puma ST?

"My wife is getting a Ford Puma ST soon and currently switches between regular and winter tyres on her Polo GTI. Are we better off getting a set of all-season tyres for the Puma or will that compromise the handling and we’d be better to stick to switching from winter to regular tyres and back again? If you suggest the latter, would a smaller wheel size with a higher profile be preferable?"
Unless you live in a rural area that's affected by harsh winters, I'd recommend using all-season tyres, which will improve grip and comfort, due to the softer rubber compound and deeper profile of the tyre. Michelin Cross Climates and e Continental AllSeasonContacts are rated highly by our readers.
Answered by Dan Powell
More Questions

What does a Ford Puma ST cost?