Should you buy one?

If this was the old one, it would be a wholehearted yes. The world needs more small, affordable and fun-to-drive cars – and the old Puma delivered that in spades. But, with its poorly updated interior and lesser powertrain, it’s lost its edge both as a hot hatch and crossover. This is the way the small fast Ford ends, not with a bang but with a whimper.

It’s still enjoyable to drive and suitably rowdy when you want it to be, just with the added practicality a small crossover offers. If you have a hankering for an old-school hot hatch but need an extra serving of practicality, a used manual Puma ST would probably serve your needs better.

It’s far nicer to drive than the bulk of small crossovers it rubs door mirrors with. But that’s the case with the stock version, and rivals like the Skoda Kamiq and Renault Captur are hot on the Puma’s heels as a family car. Its sporting competition, the Cupra Formentor, and Volkswagen T-Roc R, are far more polished, but considerably more expensive.

What we like

The Puma excels as a small family car, the boot remains a standout feature. It also retains a finely setup chassis and wonderful steering.  

What we don’t like

It’s lost the engine, manual gearbox and charisma of the old Puma. It’s now warm rather than hot. The dashboard is also a massive step backwards.