Ford Puma ST Powershift 2023 first drive

If you look astatine it successful a definite way, choosing the caller mild-hybrid mentation of the fashionable Ford Puma ST athletics crossover alternatively of the archetypal pure-petrol mentation volition outgo you precisely a tenner.

Deciding betwixt the archetypal pure-petrol car (with a six-speed manual gearbox) and the caller MHEV 1 (with a seven-speed automatic) whitethorn truthful look a elemental decision: usage little substance and emit little CO2 for a tiny other outlay. But it’s obscurity adjacent that simple.

The Puma ST’s petrol-manual powertrain is the acquainted 198bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo set-up that we each cognize and respect from the now-departed Fiesta ST. It returns a combined 42.8mpg connected WLTP trial cycle, emits 149g/km of CO2 and gives the car a decent 0-62mph sprint clip of 6.7sec.

However, the Puma ST Hybrid uses the smaller, 1.0-litre turbo triple arsenic its main powerplant, linked to an integrated 48V starter-generator that tin cod humble amounts of electrical vigor erstwhile the car is slowing and deploy it again erstwhile the car accelerates.

Compared with much effective, much frugal hybrids (Toyota’s, for example) this strategy is comparatively elemental to technologist and, well, a spot token. Its main assertion to fame is that it equips those who don’t privation to displacement their ain gears with a useful dual-clutch unit, implicit with easy-to-use displacement paddles discreetly mounted down the steering wheel’s horizontal spokes.

However, the mild-hybrid’s improvements successful emissions and substance system are humble indeed. Its combined fig is 44.8mpg – up by little than 5% – and its CO2 output declines by little than 3%.

To get that, you’re choosing an motor that delivers 168bhp alternatively of 198bhp, truthful 15% less; and a exemplary that’s 0.7sec slower from 0-62mph, a comparatively easy detectable margin.

What are the upsides? One is that if your preoccupation is to bargain a self-shifting blistery hatchback, the Puma ST doesn’t necessitate you to fork retired the accustomed automatic borderline – often up to £1500.

Another vantage is this car’s awesome throttle effect astatine precise debased speeds – delicate manoeuvring successful traffic, for instance. Here, the short-term involution of the ISG is astatine its astir effective: the car responds keenly to the lightest accelerator inputs, albeit with a low-speed grumble from the otherwise-excellent triple, which tin dependable a spot similar a distant coffee-grinder.

As a full entity, this electrified powertrain fits the Puma ST envelope perfectly well. Were it not for the availability of the much almighty Ecoboost one, we would astir apt person fewer complaints.

With the 1.0-litre motor successful its nose, the Puma ST’s acquainted look of a neat-looking, well-equipped and reasonably compact crossover is conscionable astir bully arsenic ever.

If you’ve not been successful a sporty Ford for a while, it takes a portion to get acclimatised again to the chassis look of tautness, steadfast thrust and a quick-geared steering strategy that offers a funny premix of pin-accuracy, reasonably dense rim effort and mild feeling of deadness until you’re truly going for it.

Your respect for the Puma ST increases erstwhile you commencement to commencement driving it briskly and decisively. At that point, it strikes you arsenic somewhat ironic that a car built to specified a suburban format should beryllium specified an evident B-roads specialist. But this ST is meant to suit owners who request a applicable car that they volition besides earnestly bask punting briskly, and successful immoderate case, it’s an perfect choice.