The UK’s best-selling car, the Ford Puma, has been fully electrified to offer 234 miles of range for under £30,000.
Joining Ford’s growing electric car line-up alongside the Mustang Mach-E, Capri and Explorer, the Puma Gen-E will compete against the likes of the Mini Aceman and Peugeot e-2008 in the fast-growing electric crossover segment.
The Gen-E looks almost identical to its combustion sibling. Its differences take the form of a tweaked front end, which mirrors the Mustang Mach-E’s, and the absence of tailpipes.
Ford hopes the Gen-E will build on the popularity of the ICE version (42,465 UK sales so far in 2024) and to smooth the transition to electric for current Puma owners rather than lose them to rivals.
Underneath, the Gen-E uses an adapted version of the combustion model’s B-car platform – like the new Ford E-Transit Courier van – to accommodate a 43kWh floor-mounted battery. This makes it 5mm taller and 28mm longer than the ICE Puma.
Its lithium ion battery provides up to 234 miles of WLTP range in the standard Select model and 226 miles in Premium trim. Both can be charged at speeds of up to 100kW, with a 10-80% charge taking 23 minutes.
For comparison, the e-2008 has a 50kWh battery and can cover 212 miles per charge, which illustrates the efficiency of the Puma’s set-up.
In both Gen-E trims, power comes from a front-mounted single motor – produced at Ford’s Halewood site – that puts out 166bhp and 214lb ft. This enables them to hit 62mph in eight seconds and on to a governed 99mph top speed.
The Gen-E also introduces Ford’s new Gigabox to the range as standard. This underfloor storage increases seats-up boot space from 456 litres to a class-leading 523 litres – 223 litres more than the Aceman. The Gen-E has a 43-litre ‘frunk’, too.
Inside, it’s very similar to the combustion Puma, with a 12.0in infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.8in digital instrument display and sports seats.
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The new interior is hideous and the range on this EV is lacklustre for the price. A shame really because whilst the Puma is no looker it drives nicely, is spacious for its size and has superb seats. However, once depreciation has dropped the price in half after a couple of years, it could make more sense.
Compared to what for this size of car and using the official WLPT figures.
I'll go against the usual 'lets bash everything' mob by saying I expected the price to be higher. £32k for the top trim level?
Interior is std Ford affair. If current Puma is best selling car then it ain't going to offend their buyers. Same with exterior albeit, the biggest change is at the front. Some may like it, I think it's pig ugly compared to the current ICE car but hey, when you look at the price and compare it to other cars, I could live with it, especially given the EV retains the Puma's underfloor box.
See no reason why it shouldn't sell well.