Ford has a long and storied history in South Africa, and fans of the true blue oval exist in all corners of the country. The Ford South Africa lineup became considerably thin in recent years, with the Focus, Figo, Kuga, Fusion, and even Fiesta, all falling by the wayside. At one point, Ford South Africa only had three passenger offerings, and none of them compact and overly convenient. Ford SA has addressed this by introducing the Puma to the local lineup.
Related: Is the new Ford Puma safe?
The local offerings currently only consist of two variants: the Titanium and ST-Line Vignale, both powered by the same engine and using the same drivetrain. While other markets get a choice of transmissions, displacements, and hybrid options, Ford SA has kept things simple, opting to go with the combinations that they feel best suit the local appetite and that come in at a respectable enough price to attract customers.
Ford Puma Performance
You can choose your trim but you don't get much in the way of engine or drivetrain choice. Both the Titanium and ST-Line Vignale versions are powered by the acclaimed 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine and are paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox to power the front wheels. This engine has thrice won the International Engine of the Year award and claimed the title of the the engine of the year in the sub-1-litre category no fewer than 5 times.
No manual, no hybrid, and no 1.5-litre turbo engine are made available locally, but the performance from the singular 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is admirable and more than up to the task. This compact 3-cylinder unit benefits from direct injection and turbocharging to provide a great blend of power and economy.
Ford South Africa doesn't publish performance figures on this engine, but the same configuration abroad claims that the Ford Puma can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in under 10 seconds, with overseas sources reporting 9.8 and 9.9 seconds for the sprint to a ton. These same outlets report that the top speed is in the region of 186 km/h.
