Ford Puma Gen-E Review

Introduction

When Ford announced a model that would eventually replace the highly-popular and hugely successful Fiesta, it sent shockwaves through the industry. The car to take over the mantle was the Puma, a five-door compact crossover SUV. And the Blue Oval company was spot on with its predictions as the Puma has gone on to be a multi-award winning model that appeals to a mass audience of buyers. In fact, it is currently Ford’s best-selling car in Europe.

It was back in 2019 that the Puma was launched and it is currently sold powered by a 1.0-litre mild hybrid EcoBoost engine in trim levels called Titanium, ST-Line and ST-Line X with a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission.

But it was just a matter of time before the fully electrified version hit the streets and, like most manufacturers, Ford has now introduced its Puma Gen-E model complete with fast charging capabilities, advanced technology and three grades called Select, Premium and Sound Edition to choose from. All versions have a driving range between charges of up to 233 miles.

We opted for the mid-grade Puma Gen-E Premium model for a test drive to see if it actually lives up to all the hype, and whether or not the £30k-plus price-tag is justified in an era where so many Chinese manufacturers are flooding the market with very tempting models at bargain basement prices.

At a glance

The Ford Puma Gen-E is a neatly styled five-door compact crossover that boasts eye-catching good looks when approached from any angle. There are distinctive front light clusters with signature daytime running lights and glare-free Matrix LED headlights, LED rear lamps, 18-inch alloy wheels (17-inch on entry-level Select models), along with rear privacy glass.

From the side profile, it looks very similar to the standard Puma, but there are key features that make this car stand out as an EV. For example, the front grille is blanked out as there is no engine to cool down, and there are model-specific front and rear bumpers plus a new-look spoiler that have all been designed to improve the car’s aerodynamics.

Key features

Just like its petrol-powered sibling, the Puma Gen-E is offered in three trim levels.

Entry-level Select features a 12-inch landscape infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker audio, connected navigation, a rearview camera with parking sensors, cruise control with intelligent speed limiter, lane keep assist with lane departure warning and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Step up to mid-grade Premium, as tested, and you can expect an upgraded 10-speaker B&O sound system, keyless entry and power start button, front door scuffs with logo, premium upholstery, glare-free Matrix lighting, larger wheels and a powered tailgate.

The range-topping Sound Edition adds an even better audio system, synthetic leather upholstered seats with grey stitching, power-folding door mirrors with puddle lamps and an advanced driver assistance pack that includes adaptive cruise control, pre-collision assist, a rear-view camera and a lane-keeping assist system. There is also a Winter Pack as standard that introduces heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

Range and batteries

All versions of the Ford Puma Gen-E feature a 53kWh lithium-ion battery (43kWh usable) with a combined driving range of up to 226 miles. If used predominantly for longer motorway trips, that range drops to a somewhat limited 167 miles. Need to know more about EV range? Check out our guide explaining electric car range.

Performance and drive

The front-wheel drive Ford Puma Gen-E features a 53kWh battery and electric motor delivering 168PS and 290Nm of torque. That equates to decent enough performance stats with a 0-62mph sprint time of 8.0 seconds and maximum speed of 99mph.

The acceleration out the starting blocks, like most EVs, is swift and this is a car that will sit comfortably at 70mph.

The square shaped steering wheel takes a little getting used to, but it is generally well-weighted and offers ample driver feedback, which is essential when fizzing through twisting B roads.

Drive modes called Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery and Trail alter the dynamics quite considerably. For example, select Sport for a more spirited and engaging driving experience, while the Slippery mode will reduce the acceleration response to optimise stability over wet surfaces.

In busier traffic, the car’s agility impresses and parking the 4.2-metre long vehicle is made easier thanks to rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera. As well as the drive modes, there is an ‘L’ setting that increases the strength of the regenerative braking, plus an i-Pedal Drive which allows you to drive in stop-and-go traffic using just the accelerator.

The Puma Gen-E is heavier than its petrol sibling and, at times, it does feel a little cumbersome, but it corners well and offers confident levels of grip through tight bends.

The cabin is well protected against outside noise and you can get a ‘real’ driving experience by switching on the Propulsion Sound which mimics the sound of an internal combustion engine.

Refinement-wise, the suspension does a good enough job of taking the sting out of all but the most severe bumps and dips along the way, but I would say the ride is on the firmer side. So, if you do hit a pothole, you will feel the full force shudder through the car.

Charging

With a capacity for 100kW rapid charging, the 53kWh battery can be boosted from 10 to 80 per cent in just 23 minutes. To keep costs down, charging from a 7kW home wallbox will be more economical and this will take about eight hours for a full charge.

The vehicle comes with a Type 2 Mode 3 charging cable as standard for use at any AC public charging points. Additionally, DC charging points have their own cables for added convenience. Want to know more about EV charging? Be sure to check out our guide to charging an electric car.

Running costs and emissions

As the Ford Puma Gen-E is purely electric there are no fuel efficiency or carbon emissions figures to take into account. And that is very good news for any business drivers out there as it will attract the most attractive Benefit in Kind tax rates.

Although 2025 has seen a tightening up on the benefits afforded to EV owners, there are still financial incentives to be claimed. For example, the first-year road tax is just £10 and as the car is well below the £40,000 Expensive Car Supplement figure, there will be no further surcharges there either.

Additionally, the Government recently announced the re-introduction of its EV car grant scheme worth £650m. Cars will be split into two bands with vehicles qualifying for either a £3,750 or £1,500 grant. It is only available on models costing less than £37,000 and not all manufacturers will be eligible.

At present Ford is not included in the Government list, but more companies are being added along the way, and many are introducing their own individual discounting schemes.

Interior and tech

The inside of almost every Ford is practical, well designed and easy on the eye without being flashy or garish in any way. And the Puma Gen-E follows that same trend with a bright, spacious cockpit featuring high-end and attractive furnishings, along with plenty of on-board tech.

The four-way manually-adjustable seats feature premium Sensico upholstery (Ford’s alternative to leather) with Synthetic Suede inserts and grey stitching. There are a few hard plastic surfaces around the cabin which may prove prone to scratching over time, but there are also many soft-touch finishes too, most notably the cream-coloured dashboard and door trims.

The steering wheel has a square-ish shape which takes a little getting used to initially, but has a nice feel and there is plenty of tech to explore.

The main nerve centre is a 12-inch landscape touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. This is the access point to the upgraded 10-speaker B&O sound system, Ford SYNC set-up with connected navigation, rearview camera and lots more besides.

Climate control settings are adjusted at the bottom of the touchscreen, which can be fiddly, and a clear driver display screen shows the vital data such as speed, battery charge levels and remaining range.

A wireless charging pad is always a bonus feature on any modern day car, especially as you have to duck down and stretch forward to connect any cables to the USB ports on the Puma Gen-E, which is not ideal.

But that aside, everything else is driver-friendly, including the touchscreen with its fairly big icons. And the car has built-in Alexa to help with voice commands to control a variety of tasks too.

There are certainly better looking interiors around which may make the Puma Gen-E look quite dated in the next year or two. But it certainly covers all the essentials well. That said; we would like to see a few more physical controls, especially for the climate control settings.

Elsewhere, puddle lamps are a nice touch as they light up the ground when you open the door at night, so you can avoid stepping into any puddles.

Practicality and boot space

Finding a comfortable driving position is simple enough with ample manual seat and steering wheel adjustment, while some rivals make the process even easier with power adjustment.

With the slightly elevated seating position, the driver benefits from good all-round visibility and this raised seating is also beneficial for anybody with mobility issues or who requires access to a child seat in the back of the car, where there are two Isofix anchor points.

Front seat occupants are treated to plenty of leg, shoulder and head room, while the space in the back is fine for a trio of youngsters. In order to house the battery, the Gen-E version has a slightly raised floor compared to the standard Puma, so there is not as much leg room. That said; a couple of adults will be fine over a shorter journey provided the front seats are not pushed too far back.

However, Ford is really playing its joker when it comes to storage space. The boot is accessed via a powered tailgate and generously sized for a compact crossover. Anyone familiar with the petrol-powered Puma will be aware of the large storage area beneath the boot floor with a drainage plug known as the Megabox. This makes it ideal for transporting mucky boots or trays of plants as you can wash down the entire area after use.

The electrified Puma takes this a step further with its larger 145-litre Gigabox which takes the boot storage capacity up to 574 litres, increasing to 1,283 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat.

Additionally, there is a small storage area beneath the bonnet that can hold 43 litres of kit which is the perfect place to store charging cables.

Throughout the cabin, you will find a glovebox, wide door bins, front cup holders, trays, a compact central cubby bin, seat back pockets and a large storage area that has been created thanks to the newly designed two-tier centre console. This houses a couple of USB ports, although they are quite awkwardly positioned making them difficult to access. There are two more USB ports in the back for rear seat passengers to use.

Safety

Following a number of additional tests, the electrified Gen-E Puma shares the same four-star Euro NCAP safety rating as the petrol-driven model which was fully assessed in 2022.

The car was awarded a score of 75 per cent for adult occupant safety, 84 per cent for child occupant, 70 per cent for vulnerable road users and 69 per cent for safety assist.

The level of safety kit on the Puma Gen-E depends which trim level you opt for. The entry-level Select features, as standard, auto high beam lights, a rearview camera with parking sensors, pre-collision assist with autonomous emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, a driver impairment monitor and post collision braking. It has cruise control with an intelligent speed limiter, plus lane keeping aid with lane departure warning.

Step up to Premium, as tested, and it gets glare-free Matrix headlights with automatic high beam assist in addition to the features on the Puma Gen-E Select.

Finally, the Sound Edition adds an Advanced Driver Assistance Pack which introduces the likes of adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert, lane change warning with lane centring assist, a 360-degree camera, reverse brake assist, advanced speed sign recognition, collision mitigation using radar and camera, plus intelligent speed assist.

Options

There are a few optional extras and packs that buyers can add to their Ford Puma Gen-E. The Winter Pack adds heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. This is standard on the Sound Edition and a £350 option on the other trims.

The Advanced Driver Assistance Pack, that features a wealth of safety systems (listed above) costs £950 on Select and Premium grades, but is also standard on the Sound Edition.

A Comfort Pack introduces a powered tailgate, powered and heated mirrors and keyless entry and start. This is fitted as standard to all models apart from the Select trim, but can be added for an extra £650.

An opening panoramic sunroof is available on the Select and Premium versions at a cost of £1,100, while a Black Painted Roof is also on offer on those models for £500.

A detachable towbar is a £550 option across the entire range and this can carry up to 75kg – the equivalent of two e-bikes.

Finally, 19-inch alloys can be added to the Premium specification at a price of £500 and customers can also look at upgrading the car’s paintwork for an extra £800.

Rival cars

With more and more electric crossovers flooding the market, the Ford Puma Gen-E is competing in a very busy sector.

Main competitors would include the Jeep Avenger, Skoda Elroq, Volvo EX30, Renault 5 and Kia EV3. So, fair to say there are some big hitters vying for sales then.

Verdict and next steps

To sum up, the Ford Puma Gen-E is a fabulous piece of kit with plenty of appeal. But it’s not without its negative points – mainly the quite uninspiring driving range between charges. While the combined range of 226 miles will easily cope with the average daily commute, any longer trips could lead to expensive motorway charging. Ford claims the motorway driving range is 167 miles, but you can expect less if the car is driven ‘enthusiastically’.

That said; the vehicle is competitively priced within the sector and, if storage is key, few rivals can match the Ford with its superb Gigabox.

We have already mentioned the excellent sales success of the Puma with its combustion engine, but only time will tell if the EV variant can also live up to high expectations.

Where to next?

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Ford Puma Gen-E

**Correct as of 20/08/2025. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 24 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or £1,825.92 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.