The Ford Puma arrived on local shores late in 2023, and we are starting to see more of them out on the road. The model is available in two trims, namely the Titanium and the ST-Line Vignale. While the latter has a more sporty appearance from the outside, both variants come with a 92 kW and 170 Nm, 1.0-litre, turbocharged, 3-cylinder petrol engine.
But you might wonder if the crossover model will suit your needs as a new driver on our local road. Well, before we jump into the discussion, remember that you can sell a used car on our website here, and you can search for new or used Ford Puma models on AutoTrader here.
Related: Is the new Ford Puma safe?
Ford Puma size
The Puma is the most compact model in the current Ford range locally. It is based on the Ford Fiesta; however, it is slightly raised off the ground for better clearance. While the Titanium guise measures 4 186 mm in length, the ST-Line Vignale comes in at 4 207 mm due to the sportier bumpers at the front and rear.
Both are 1 930 mm wide and 1 537 mm tall, resulting in them being quite compact. Despite these measurements, the Puma has a 456-litre boot and will carry five occupants comfortably while remaining compact to make driving and parking very easy.
Ford Puma safety
In the article, "Is the new Ford Puma safe?", Ané Albertse lists all the standard and optional safety equipment for the Ford Puma. She also tells us about the Puma's EuroNCAP Crash & Safety Test, in which she concludes that the Puma is indeed a very safe vehicle. So for new drivers, the Ford Puma, especially those fitted with the optional Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go and Lane Centering package, will be a very safe option.
Ford Puma performance
As mentioned earlier, both variants have a 92 kW and 170 Nm 1.0-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder petrol engine. This is enough to propel the Puma from 0-100 km/h in around 9.0 seconds. You can expect the model to reach a top speed of around 191 km/h. Thus, the Puma isn't really that fast but packs enough punch to quickly and effectively overtake on a national route or conquer some of South Africa's steeper passes.
Ford Puma cost of ownership
The Ford Puma is sold with a 4-year / 120 000 km warranty; however, service plans remain optional.
| Ford Puma 1.0T Titanium | from R 570 400 |
| Ford Puma 1.0T ST-Line Vignale | from R 614 400 |
*Note that this pricing was correct at the time of writing this article; however, it can change at any time and without notice.
Ford Puma service plan cost
According to the Jaffes Ford Worcester website here, the Ford Protect Service Plan must be sold within 30 days or 500 km from WAC, whichever comes first. The available options quoted below are for total extended coverage and not additional terms or kilometres.
Verdict
While typically, new drivers are young individuals with limited budgets, the biggest hurdle they might face is the cost of a Ford Puma. However, in every other aspect, the Ford Puma seems to be a very good car for new drivers, and after driving our long-term test unit, I can wholeheartedly recommend it.
