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Battery size: 44kWh
Miles per kWh: 5.0
E-Rating™: A+
Max charge rate: 100 kW
Range: 233 miles 
Ford Puma Gen-E - Introduction
It’s been a long time coming, the electric Ford Puma. We’ve known about it for years, and have been waiting for this extravagant new electric take on the Puma which is – let’s not downplay the importance, here – the best-selling car in the UK. This is a really critical car for Ford.
Styling and dimensions
So, I guess on the one hand it’s great that this looks just like the Puma that we know and love. Don’t fix it if it ain’t broken, and all that. But on the other hand, it’s disappointing that it’s taken so flipping long to get us an electric Puma that looks, well just like the Puma but with this flush grille-less fascia. What’s taken so long, Ford? ‘Cause it’s not the design!
The Ford Puma is 4.2-metres long, 1.9-metres wide (with the mirrors) and is 1.55m tall, which means that it splits the difference between smaller cars like the Citroen e-C3 and family cars like the Citroen e-C4. Obviously, it’s technically a small SUV as it’s got that swoopy, chunky SUV-ish styling, although it feels more hatchback-like when you sit in it. A Jeep Avenger feels more upright and SUV-ish, if that’s important to you.
Interior
Well, no surprises that it’s, er, very much like a Ford Puma in the Gen-E. That means decent space for a couple of average-sized adults or bulky car seats, although I reckon you’ll have better headroom in the Kona or Skoda Elroq. Up front the Gen-E does get some changes. A new two-tone interior adds bit more interest, not to mention the nice digital display behind the wheel which looks very similar to the one in the Explorer – and I actually like that, as it’s very simple and you can just have it showing your speed rather than a million different things.
The driving position is good, and if you go for the posh Ford Puma Gen-E Premium, and you even get a Bang and Olufsen sound system. Fancy!
The new 12.3-inch touchscreen and SYNC-4 software is one of the big upgrades, and includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s even Amazon Alexa voice control and over-the-air software updates. We didn’t have loads of time, but it certainly seems to respond quickly and is reasonably straightforward use, although the nav graphics do look a bit old-school next to the fancy OLED systems that we’re seeing from Mini and a few other brands.
Boot space
Boot space is one of the Puma’s party tricks. It’s huge! Don’t forget that the Puma is smaller than the VW ID.3, which gets a 385-litre boot, yet the Ford has a whopping 523 litres! BUT there is a caveat here, as 145 of those litres are in what Ford calls the ‘Gigabox’, and what the rest of us call ‘underfloor space’. Even so, well done, Ford - that really is a useful boot and easily one of the biggest of its direct rivals – only the Skoda Elroq gets close, and that’s a slightly bigger car.
It's worth noting that the Ford Puma Gen-E can tow up to 750kg, and can obviously be configured with a factory-fit tow bar, which is very useful for rear-mounted bike carriers as well as for towing a light trailer.
Battery, charging and efficiency
Underneath this new Puma Gen-E is a 43kWh lithium-ion battery that’s good for an official range of up to 233 miles. That suggests great efficiency for the Puma. For some context, the Puma’s direct rival – the Jeep Avenger – manages a 248 mile range from a substantially bigger 51kWh battery.
You also get 100kW DC rapid charging, so the Puma can manage a 10-80% top-up in under 25 minutes, which is on a par with other compact electric SUVs that are a similar size to the 4.2-metre long Puma – that’d include the Jeep Avenger that I just mentioned, but there’s also the Hyundai Kona, MG4, Smart 1, Volvo EX-30 – there are even some more hatchbacky alternatives like the Renault 5 and Citroen e-C3, so it’s got loads of competition, the Puma.
Price and equipment
The electric Puma will start at around £30,000, while the top-spec Premium will cost around £2,000 more. We’d go for the Premium, which gets keyless entry and the Bang and Olufsen audio, and then it could be worth adding the panoramic roof if you can stretch to it. Even the entry-level Puma Gen-E gets adjustable lumbar support for the driver, Alexa voice control, heated door mirrors, auto lights and wipers, and wireless phone charging, so it’s not badly equipped. Annoyingly, you have to add a Winter Pack to get heated seats on either of the Puma Gen-E models.
The electric Ford Puma Gen-E gets 165bhp, front-wheel drive and can do 0-62mph in 8.0 seconds, which suggests decent enough performance. We haven’t driven it yet, so watch this space and we’ll update you with a full drive review in early 2025.
Ford Puma Gen-E - Verdict
D’you know what, I think the Puma Gen-E is just what Ford needs – a sensible, versatile, efficient small electric car that people feel familiar with. It's not groundbreaking, but I reckon it’ll do really well – IF, and it’s a big if – they get the finance deals right. It’s got loads of competition from small SUVs like the Volvo EX-30 and Hyundai Kona, to hatchbacks like the MG4, and the forthcoming Renault 4 is spot on to steal sales from the Puma.
So yes, I like the Puma. It’s straightforward and if it’s anything like the standard Puma to drive, it’ll be great. But it needs to be good value on monthly finance. If Ford can get it down to £250- to £300 per month, they’re onto a winner.
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