Ford Racing Puma VS Puma Crossover SUV

What we have here are two Ford Puma’s. One from the late nineties and the other from today’s world, and because of the world we live in, the new one has turned into a crossover SUV.

Let’s just get this clear, the new Puma is brilliant. Let me rephrase that, they’re both brilliant. Of course, an OAP who wants room and comfort may not agree with me. In the same way, a younger driver would rather have the sports car to wrap around a tree. I’ve driven both, and it’s fair to say that although the new Puma may look grown-up, it can be young and playful.

As you can imagine, the older, lower-down Puma, dedicated to people who didn’t care so much about room and comfort, works a treat on our British B-roads. It’s one of the best-handling and best-sounding naturally aspirated cars I’ve ever driven. The 1.7-litre Yamaha engine will happily rev, with all its excitement coming out the back of the exhaust. Now, even though it’s the pumped-up Racing Puma, which got an extra 30bhp on top of the 123bhp engine, don’t think it’s fast, it isn’t. It’s nippy.

In fact, both Puma’s feel nippy. Even though the new Puma’s bigger, Ford have still managed to give it as sense of fun. Under those body panels is a Fiesta chassis, so it gives the agile feeling you’d get from a Fiesta. Yes, it’s bulkier and higher up than a standard Fiesta, but it doesn’t feel as boat-ey as it might seem. It’s not sporty, no. But it gives you a sensation that you can enjoy the car on most UK roads.

Although the new Puma isn’t as fun to drive on the back roads as the old one, it’s practical, economical, and smart. It has a 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine available with mild-hybrid assistance, so the engine can shut down whenever you don’t need the power. It has the same amount of tech you’d find in most of its high spec’d rivals, at a good price. I also like what Ford have done with the design, and I’m not usually into SUV’s. You can see certain parts where the design overlaps the old one, like the headlights and the upper half of the body.

Inside, well…I’m comparing cars with 20 years between them. Tech and gizmos vs the basics. Screens rather than analogue dials. Heated seats opposed to buckets seats; you get the picture. Both interiors are like the models they’re both based on. Although the older Puma only came as a three-door body style and had two seats in the back, and the new Puma feels more like it has the room of a Focus. It also comes with a clever waterproof drainable box under the boot floor to carry your pet fish in.

It’s quite funny, because although they’re completely different cars, they have quite a few things in common. Apart from having the obvious petrol engine, manual gearbox and being front wheel drive, they’re both based on a Fiesta. They even produce the same amount of power. Both mild-hybrid engines in the new Puma get 123bhp and 153bhp, which is the same as the standard and modified engine by Tickford. Talk about coincidence.

Now, although the new Puma isn’t the reborn nineties Puma a lot of us would have wanted, Ford haven’t done a bad job replacing it. I’m not saying I’m glad it’s turned into an SUV, but you’ve got to remember that the world is growing up, and more people want bulkier and heavier SUV’s. Supercar and GT manufacturers Lamborghini and Aston Martin are making SUV’s. Even Ferrari are bringing out an SUV next summer. Who would have thought that eh? But they make them as they know they’ll sell.

I’m sure in another 20 years down the line, more electric cars will be on the road. Thankfully, we haven’t got to that stage yet. So, at least the new Puma is reasonably priced, has an actual engine and can put a smile on your face. Although you may not like the name Ford has given the new Puma, it’s currently one of Britain’s best-selling cars, and I’ve gotta say, I’m not surprised.