UK Drive: Ford’s Puma Gen-E electrifies this crossover’s character

What is it?

The Puma has been a rousing success for Ford. There was some dismay when the Fiesta was discontinued, leaving the Puma as the Blue Oval’s sole compact model, but since then this crossover has only gone from strength to strength.

There was just one thing missing, and a particularly pertinent thing in the current climate – an electric Puma. That has all been addressed with this car – the Puma Gen-E – but is it a little too late? We’ve been finding out.

What’s new?

From the outside, you’d be hard-pressed to tell that anything has changed at all. Aside from the smoothed-off front grille, it all appears to be standard ‘Puma’, but this could be a good thing for drivers who want an EV which doesn’t shout too much about its electric powertrain.

No, all of those changes have come underneath. The interior also benefits from all of the features that were recently introduced to the updated Puma, meaning a large central touchscreen and an oddly large steering wheel come equipped as standard on all models.

What’s under the bonnet?

Gone are the Puma’s compact petrol engines, instead replaced by a single electric motor with 166bhp and 290Nm of torque. That equates to a zero to 60mph time of 7.8 seconds, which is actually only slightly slower than the acceleration time of the go-faster Puma ST with a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

In terms of range, Ford claims up to 233 miles and thanks to a 100kW maximum charge speed, the Puma’s 43kWh battery can be taken from 10 to 80 per cent in around 23 minutes. In terms of rivals, Kia’s EV3 is available with a larger battery pack which can return well over 300 miles, while Vauxhall’s Mokka Electric can manage around 252 miles.

What’s it like to drive?

We’re already big fans of the way the standard Puma drives, so it’s quite refreshing that those solid dynamics have been carried over to this electric version. Naturally, there’s an absence of sound or any real vibration, so it does feel a little more refined than its petrol-powered sibling. As with the ‘regular’ Puma, the Gen-E has a slightly firm edge to the ride, however.

The good news is that the Gen-E only suffers a weight penalty of around 195kg, which is remarkable when you consider it now has a full electric powertrain underneath. As a result, the Gen-E feels just as happy to corner as the petrol-powered version and, because of the instant delivery of power, actually feels far more sprightly during usual driving.

How does it look?

As we’ve touched upon, the Gen-E doesn’t look all that different to the standard Puma. The front end is smoother – the Gen-E doesn’t require as much cooling as the petrol-powered version, but does need the aerodynamic gains that a rounded front end brings – but from all angles, this is standard Puma.

There’s a great range of exterior colours to choose from, with brighter shades such as Electric Yellow and Digital Aqua Blue providing a refreshing change to the rather drab options we’ve seen from many of the Puma Gen-E’s rivals.

What’s it like inside?

There’s the great packaging that you get from the standard Puma’s interior here in the Gen-E, too. Reasonably solid materials combine with a good level of build quality to create a cabin which feels built to last. The large central screen dominates the interior, but it’s clear and easy to navigate.

Practicality-wise, the Puma Gen-E does very well. Thanks to a clever ‘MegaBox’ storage area at the back, the Gen-E can offer up to 574 litres of boot space when loaded to the roof, or an impressive 1,283 litres with the rear seats folded flat. It’s more space than you get in the standard Puma, in fact, and that practicality is boosted by a handy ‘frunk’ where you can store the charging cables.

What’s the spec like?

Prices for the Puma Gen-E start from £28,495, which is only slightly higher than the £26,580 you’d pay for a standard petrol-powered version. If you’re able to take advantage of cheap home electricity rates, then that difference will be quickly saved, too. Equipment levels are great, too, with all cars getting 17-inch alloy wheels, a rear view camera and rear parking sensors as standard.

You can step up to the Premium-grade Puma Gen-E, which brings Matrix LED headlights and power-folding wing mirrors among other features, but at £30,495, it ramps this car’s price up a little too high.

Verdict

The Puma makes a great deal of sense as an electric vehicle. This Gen-E offers a great driving experience, a practical interior and a lot of equipment for the money, bundled together in a car which still looks relatively ‘normal’.

Some rivals do offer more range for the money, mind you, but if you stick to the entry-level Puma Gen-E, this could be a great everyday electric car that won’t break the bank.