Ford Puma ST-line Ecoboost Hybrid – long-term review

Time for the puma to be deployed on a lengthy roadtrip. Purely for the purposes of long-term testing, you understand...

What with the many and varied restrictions that 2020 thrust upon us, and the last-minute nature of the rule changes, my first choice destination had to be in England... but north... a long way north.

Almost as far north as you can get before you cross the border. Destination: Northumberland, specifically Hadrian’s Wall. A week’s break requires a lot of stuff. Walking boots, wellies, clothes, waterproofs, bedding, snacks, more snacks... would it all fit in the diminutive form of Ford’s baby crossover? Hell, yeah.

Putting the bootfloor to its lowest level increases usable space to a greater degree. Plus, the huge, gaping hole under the bootfloor is ideal for accommodating the inevitable muddy boots/wellies. For a small car, there’s a very generous amount of storage – a big thumbs up.

The journey up could have taken many routes, but to give the Puma the most complete workout, I chose a mixture of motorways, A-roads and B-roads. We already know the Puma is great on fast roads – no news there – but how would it work out on the twisty, undulating roads that Northumberland revels in? Well, as a driver, it’s a fantastic experience – the Puma is pointy and responsive.

However, as a passenger, the selfsame things that make it fabulous to drive make it less enjoyable to be driven in. Put simply, enthusiastic driving results in queasy passengers. Not so ideal.

Best to temper the Driving God. And, if you can control your inner Schumacher, you’ll notice the benefit at the fuel pumps. With judicious driving, the economy of the Puma gently crept ever upwards, peaking at a frankly astonishing 46.2mpg. Pretty darned impressive, eh?