Should you buy one?

If you’re an existing Ford owner looking to make the step across into something electric, we think you’ll like the Puma Gen-E. Its design is different enough to set it apart from the standard Puma, but familiar enough for it to be recognisable and easy to adjust to. 

If you want a small electric SUV with an entertaining driving experience, it’s your best option outside of something sportier like an Abarth 600e or Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce, both of which are considerably more expensive. The boot is also huge and very versatile. 

But we don’t rate it as one of the best small electric SUVs. Its interior massively lets the side down and, though it’s very efficient, the on-paper electric range means it’ll be easily overlooked next to more impressive and rounded rivals, principally the excellent Kia EV3.

What we like

The Puma Gen-E’s boot is massive because of its underfloor storage, and makes it very useful indeed. It also drives a lot like a regular Puma, which means it’s one of the best small SUVs to drive. Though the Gen-E’s range isn’t great, it’s very efficient and should be one of the more affordable EVs to run, aided further by Ford’s current offer of complimentary home charging wallbox and free servicing. 

What we don’t like

The Puma’s interior is a real letdown. It looks cheap and like an afterthought and the touchscreen-centric layout means it’s not as usable as the pre-facelift Puma. The ride is also on the firm side and the electric range just not competitive enough next to many rivals that can do more miles from a charge, albeit with a larger battery.