Wednesday 7th February 2024

Updated Ford Puma ditches ST manual

Ford's big seller gets new look and more tech, plus an EV soon - but the firecracker ST is no more

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Thank goodness for the new Mustang. It’s been the only bit of good news for UK Ford enthusiasts in a long time. With the Fiesta ST gone and no more Focus RS either, things were looking bleak; now the situation is even worse, as the revised Puma has given up its flagship ST model. The 200hp tearaway was proof that Ford really could make anything fun, and now the hottest Puma will be the 170hp ST with the Powershift auto. A car that we suggested ‘does nothing to alleviate the idea that in Europe at least, any lingering interest its maker had in making petrol-powered performance derivatives is fading fast.’

That was only October last year, and here we are without a manual Ford ST hatchback available for the first time in what, more than 20 years? Told you to be grateful for that Mustang. The rest of the update is as might be expected. Compared to the previous version, this Puma now has the FordPass Connect with 5G (where it used 4G before), Sync 4 infotainment (where it was 3 before), a 12-inch centre touchscreen in place of an eight-incher, wireless CarPlay for the first time and even built-in Alexa. All the useful stuff for a family-friendly crossover, basically. Almost like that’s Ford’s focus for this car rather than making a niche hot hatch hero…

There’s a whole heap more driving assistance tech on top that the Puma has never had before, including ‘enhanced’ blind spot warning, Reverse Brake Assist, a 360-degree surround-view camera and an evolution of the adaptive cruise that now features Lane Centring. Ford says the tech ‘makes journeys more enjoyable and relaxing’, the latter never really a word associated with the old manual ST. A large part of why it was so likeable, of course, though also an easy one to get rid of if ease of use is the aim. 

The Puma’s look has been tweaked ever so slightly, too, with new lights up front with a ‘distinctive signature’ that can be upgraded to Matrix LED with Predictive Dynamic Bending Light. Bumpers, grilles and wheels have also been freshened up, with Cactus Grey joining the colour chart. The model lineup remains unchanged otherwise, with Titanium, ST-Line and ST-Line X all powered by a 1.0-litre, 155hp, mild hybrid triple, with the ST Powershift at the top of the range. Its seven-speed dual-clutch is available on the lesser models. 

Ford has also confirmed with this update that an electric Puma will be joining the 1.0-litre cars; the ‘Gen-E’ will be revealed later this year. Which is moderately interesting, given the Mustang Mach-E undoubtedly has a character all of its own and has already spawned intriguing variants like the Rally. There may yet be another proper flagship for the Puma, just a battery-powered one.

As for the lovable rogue that was the manual ST, its days are done. Says a lot about the popularity of a Ford that was three pedal only, quite firm riding and more than the equivalent five-door Fiesta that plenty sold, with more than 60 in the PH classifieds. Prices kick off at £18k for an early, 2021 car; at something like £22k there are low mileage models with the Performance Pack available, which will be a hoot. In the green too, of course.

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• 2023 Ford Puma ST Powershift | PH Review
• Focus ST Track Pack vs. Civic Type R vs. Golf GTI

 

[rwindmill]

Compared to the previous version, this Puma now has the FordPass Connect with 5G (where it used 4G before), Sync 4 infotainment (where it was 3 before), a 12-inch centre touchscreen in place of an eight-incher, wireless CarPlay for the first time and even built-in Alexa.

New cars are just becoming mobile phones on wheels...............

[Abacus21]

This car like a fit bird that was slim and hot now putting on weight and cellulite on the legs.

[captain.scarlet]

Abacus21 said:

This car like a fit bird that was slim and hot now putting on weight and cellulite on the legs.

That is a good way of describing it.

A far cry from the original Puma. It had its place.

This now morphing into a replacement for the Fiesta rather than a Fiesta coupe like the original just does not seem right, nor does the removal of the joy of a simple manual gearbox as BMW did with its more recent M cars.

Future motoring will end up being like go-karting.

[J4CKO]

Abacus21 said:

This car like a fit bird that was slim and hot now putting on weight and cellulite on the legs.

Have we gone back to 1974 and nobody told us ?

[ChrisCh86]

Abacus21 said:

This car like a fit bird that was slim and hot now putting on weight and cellulite on the legs.

Personally I think the Puma looks like an ugly frog (especially in green).

The Fiesta (RIP) was certainly the more attractive one!

[Sport_220]

Really like our Puma, perfect sized car, not sure about them moving the controls to the center screen, that's a silly and dangerous decision for a car in this sector (obviously cost driven).

But what is going on with the Allegro style steering wheel

[Trevor555]

Sport_220 said:

Really like our Puma, perfect sized car, not sure about them moving the controls to the center screen, that's a silly and dangerous decision for a car in this sector (obviously cost driven).

I totally agree, you spend far too much time looking at the screen for the buttons.

Wasn't this also one of the major gripes of the Golf?

And the dashboard designs of newer cars?

Oh, let's just stick a couple of ipads on the dash.

[Mead]

And the removal of the Ford Performance Seats it would appear in the photos; no mention of that in the blurb!

[Justin-ow582]

It seems a little odd that Ford have retained the clunky old Drive/Rev/Neutral stick and not moved to a more modern trio of buttons... or do additional buttons need a stronger business case in a world dominated by touch screens?

[dunnoreally]

Built in Alexa?! Good grief, it's like they're paying someone to dissuade me from buying one.

[cib24]

Despite people’s issues with the name due to heritage, you can’t deny it’s a good ass car. Ford still makes really good small to medium sized vehicles that drive better than most of their competition and come with all the gadgets you’d need. Shame they are killing off the fiesta. The latest version with the hybrid assistance is quite refined to drive and gets great economy while dynamically being engaging enough to enjoy on your commute. The Puma isn’t a far cry away from the same concept just jacked up to cover the latest trend with cars.

[British Beef]

Ford used to rule hot hatches and small coupes.
Now Toyota are kicking their arse with offerings and Ford look to have given up.


Ironically from the maker of the worlds dullest car the Prius, we now have some of the most exciting cars out there:
Yaris GR,
GR86,
Supra GR
and
the brilliant Lexus V8 offerings....

[HazzaT]

Mad how things can change. 2 years ago you could get a car from Ford with a manual, 200hp, an LSD, really nice recaros, and it would make every drive a complete hoot. It had all the tech you could ever need and even made stupid farty noises when you wanted it to. If you stumped up a bit more cash you could get it with KW V3s.

What the fk happened?

[RacerMike]

Real shame they’ve dropped the 1.5. Clearly it was too popular and hurting their fleet emissions. The 1.0L weirdly has nowhere near the character of the Dragon engine given its close relationship in terms of design. It’s the only 3 pot I’ve driven (and owned) that doesn’t sound like a sewing machine and performs like a ‘proper’ engine.

Facelift interior and newer infotainment are a real step forward, but it’ unfortunately does seem to signal the direction in which hot hatches are going… the choice is basically going to a GR Yaris or a £50k Civic Type R before too long.

[AlphaDelta]

So customers will now pay the same price as the current Puma ST with performance pack for less power, no manual option, no performance pack and more controls in the touch screen. It doesn’t feel like progress, or an offering that will make current owners keen to chop in their existing PST for a new one.

Are there any other examples where a newer performance model of a car has been released with less power?

[Bobtherallyfan]

cib24 said:

Despite people’s issues with the name due to heritage, you can’t deny it’s a good ass car. Ford still makes really good small to medium sized vehicles that drive better than most of their competition and come with all the gadgets you’d need. Shame they are killing off the fiesta. The latest version with the hybrid assistance is quite refined to drive and gets great economy while dynamically being engaging enough to enjoy on your commute. The Puma isn’t a far cry away from the same concept just jacked up to cover the latest trend with cars.

When my wife went to look at one a couple of years ago, the internal door handle came off in her hand when she pulled the door shut and the handbrake handle was in the passenger footwell. The salesman wasn’t even surprised by the shoddy build quality.

[Lovey1]

HazzaT said:

Mad how things can change. 2 years ago you could get a car from Ford with a manual, 200hp, an LSD, really nice recaros, and it would make every drive a complete hoot. It had all the tech you could ever need and even made stupid farty noises when you wanted it to. If you stumped up a bit more cash you could get it with KW V3s.

What the fk happened?

Did you buy one? Probably not. Hardly anyone else did either.

[Trevor555]

Bobtherallyfan said:

When my wife went to look at one a couple of years ago, the internal door handle came off in her hand when she pulled the door shut and the handbrake handle was in the passenger footwell. The salesman wasn’t even surprised by the shoddy build quality.

Strange

We're nearly three years in on ours and it hasn't missed a beat, nothing's fallen off.

[BenS94]

That steering wheel looks awful, concealed exhaust on all models bar ST, and no manual ST... very very poor, Ford.

[David87]

Ford PR guys right now: