- Ford Puma vs Renault Captur
- A comparison head-to-head
- Captur is slightly larger than the Puma
- Ford offers a more engaging ride
- Battle of the affordable compact crossovers
It’s the UK’s best-selling car - but how does the Ford Puma compare against one of its biggest rivals, the Renault Captur?
We recently revealed how the ever-popular Puma was the most registered new car of 2025, securing the No.1 spot for the third year running.
But the fun-loving Ford isn’t without its competitors in the compact crossover market.
We could have picked from a host of alternatives for this head-to-head, including the likes of the Nissan Juke, VW T-Cross, Peugeot 2008 and the Toyota Yaris Cross.
We’ve gone with the Captur, though, with the Renault having performed well in our most recent review and with both cars occupying a similar leasing price point.
Ford Puma and Renault Captur pros and cons
Ford Puma Pros Ford Puma Cons: - Mild hybrid engine as standard - Rear seat bench doesn’t slide - Agile handling and sporty ride quality - More expensive starting point - Option of performance ST model - No full hybrid option
Ford Puma vs Renault Captur: How does the price compare?
For two cars so alike it’ll probably not surprise you that they’re similarly priced.
But it’s the Ford Puma that’s the more expensive of the pair, with prices beginning at £26,580 while the base Renault Captur starts at £22,495.
Those retail costs won’t necessarily correlate when it comes to leasing, however, with prices dictated by dedicated deals and residual values.
At the time of writing, the Ford Puma is actually cheaper to lease - from around £200 per month* - while the Renault Captur can be yours from around £243* per month.
Specific leasing prices change continually so keep checking our lease deals and special offers page for the latest updates.
Ford Puma vs Renault Captur: What equipment is fitted as standard?
A good place to begin this comparison is to look at the cheapest versions of both cars.
For the Ford Puma, it’s the Titanium trim. For the Renault Captur, it’s the Evolution grade.
Here’s a quick run-down of what you get with each.
Ford Puma Titanium trim
- 17-inch alloys
- 12-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 12.8-inch driver display
- LED headlights with auto high beam
- Rear camera with rear parking sensors
- Cloth trim in black
- Pre-Collision Assist with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Pedestrian/Cyclist Detection.
- Lane Keeping Aid and Lane Departure Warning
- Cruise Control with Intelligent Speed Assist
Renault Captur Evolution trim
- 17-inch alloys
- 10.4-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 7-inch digital driver display
- Automatic headlights and rain sensitive front wipers
- Rear view camera with rear parking sensors
- Black and grey cloth trim
- Active emergency braking system - urban and pedestrian/cyclist
- Front & rear detection with emergency lane keep assist
- Cruise control and speed limiter
(Renault Captur interior. above)
As you can see, pound for pound, they offer similar bang for the buck.
(Ford Puma interior, above)
The Ford Puma edges it when it comes to screen size and you’ll need to move up to the Techno grade of the Renault Captur to unlock the infotainment system that has Google services built in.
The Renault Captur has wireless phone charging as standard, the Puma features that tech but only on models higher up the grade ladder.
Ford Puma vs Renault Captur: What do they drive like and how does the performance compare?
To offer up a concise summary here, the Ford Puma is the sportier of the two cars and offers a greater power output with the base engine, while the Renault Captur is built with everyday comfort at the forefront of minds.
The entry-level engine for the Renault Captur is now the ‘TCE 115’, with the lesser-powered ‘TCE 90’ being phased out.
As the name suggests, with the 1.2-litre 115 you get power of 115 PS and it’ll take you a leisurely 12.1 seconds to accelerate from 0-62mph.
The Ford Puma ups the ante on pace.
The base powertrain is a 1.0-litre Ford EcoBoost engine supported by mild hybrid tech and which gets more power than the Captur, at 125 PS, and a quicker acceleration time, at 9.8 seconds.
You feel that difference out on the road and like a lot of compact Fords, the Puma offers a spirited ride quality where the Captur enjoys a more relaxed style.
What’s unique about the Captur, though, is its full hybrid powertrain option - the E-Tech 160 - which is supported by a 1.8-litre engine. Power rises to 160hp, it’ll sprint from 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds and will return up to 64.2 mpg.
The glaring omissions in the Captur line-up is a full-on performance model. There’s no equivalent for the rapid Puma ST (0-62mph in 7.4 secs) in the Captur offering.
Both the Ford Puma and the Renault Captur give you the choice of either a manual or automatic gearbox and both are front-wheel drive.
With the Renault Captur, however, an auto gearbox is only available with the full hybrid powertrain while the Ford Puma offers automatic gear changes across all of its engines.
The ST-Line grade for the Ford Puma also unlocks firmer sports suspension for more enthusiastic driving.
Ford Puma vs Renault Captur: How do the running costs compare?
Ford Puma engine MPG CO2 emissions 1.0-litre EcoBoost mHEV 49.6 mpg (auto)/52.3 mpg (manual) 121 g/km mHEV 155 49.6 mpg 121 g/km mHEV ST 47.9 mpg 135 g/km
Renault Captur engine MPG CO2 emissions TCE 115 49.6 mpg 130 g/km E-Tech full hybrid 65.7 mpg 97 g/km
As you can see from this list, the Renault wins it when it comes to fuel economy if you choose the full hybrid powertrain.
Low CO2 emissions of 97 g/km also nudges the Captur into a lower first year tax rate, saving you about £90. Though it’s important to remember here that when you lease, your VED is automatically included.
All in all, then, the two cars are pretty much on a par - unless you go for the Renault hybrid. And the good news here is that Renault’s E-Tech engine is available on the entry-level Evolution trim, too.
Ford Puma vs Renault Captur: Are they practical and how does the interior and space differ?
The Ford Puma and the Renault Captur have their own particular party pieces when it comes to practicality.
With the Ford, you get the brilliant ‘MegaBox’, an extended area of boot space that’s hidden underneath the luggage compartment floor.
With the MegaBox factored in, there’s a whopping 536 litres of practical storage space (456 litres with regular boot, 80 litres extra with the megabox).
Whichever way you look at it, that’s strong for the class and trumps most rivals.
But the Renault Captur has its own take on the practicality problem. The Captur gets a sliding rear bench of seats; slip them forward for maximum boot space, slide it back if your passengers need space to let their knees breathe.
With the rear seats slid forwards, Renault quotes a boot space that measures 616 litres - with the obvious caveat that there will be limited amounts of space in the back for sitting in.
Ford Puma vs Renault Captur: How do they compare when it comes to safety?
Both the Ford Puma and Renault Captur have scored 4 stars out of 5 in the most recent crash tests from industry safety assessors Euro NCAP.
The Captur gets an adult occupant score of 76% and a child occupant score of 80%.
The Ford Puma achieved 75% for adult occupant protection and 84% for child protection.
Both rivals also come with a suite of driver assistance and safety features as standard, including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keep assist, and rear parking sensors.
What are some other alternatives to the Ford Puma and Renault Captur?
As we’ve explained above, the compact crossover market is a crowded one and you have no shortage of leasing options.
The Nissan Juke is a stylish alternative that offers a full hybrid powertrain, like the Renault Captur.
The VW T-Cross is mild-mannered, well priced and offers power of up to 150 PS.
The Peugeot 2008 and Vauxhall Mokka are closely related (thanks to parent company Stellantis), with the Peugeot offering a more premium feel while boasting the firm’s popular and driver-centric ‘i-Cockpit’ layout.
Meanwhile the Toyota Yaris Cross is an efficient hybrid that’ll return close to 60 miles to the gallon while also throwing in the option of all-wheel drive.
If you need more space, check out the Dacia Duster.
Ford Puma vs Renault Capture verdict: Which one should you lease?
Whether you choose to lease the Ford Puma or the Renault Captur, you’re highly unlikely to be disappointed.
For us, the Renault Captur actually shades it when it comes to the styling and road presence when set against the curvier Ford Puma, though beauty will always be in the eye of the beholder.
If you want a relaxing, comforting ride and the option of a full hybrid powertrain, the Captur is the compact crossover for you.
If you’ve enjoyed sporty Fords in the past and want some more of that excitement during the school run, the Puma offers more in the way of driver engagement, particularly models higher up the grade list that boast sports suspension.
The Puma’s MegaBox is also something of a winner when it comes to practicality, giving you the chance to throw dirty football boots and wet dog leads into the back without fear of them ruining your carpets.
*Prices include VAT. Credit is Subject to Status, Ts and Cs and Arrangement Fees apply. Excess mileage may apply. Stock levels and prices correct as of 22/01/26.
Enjoyed this? Read our latest news
- Kia K4 Sportswagon is your new practical estate!
- Mitsubishi L200 set for UK comeback as 2026 launch confirmed
- Top 5 cars from the Brussels Motor Show 2026
- Top 10 best car lease deals this week!
- Could new Zeekr 7GT outmuscle Porsche and BMW?
Where To Next?
What is car leasing? Read our car leasing explainer.
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to our newsletter.
Looking for a great leasing deal? Check out our incredible range of special offers.
Read our latest reviews and find the right model for you.
Want to know more about leasing? Take a look at our comprehensive leasing guides.
Interested in everything motoring? Why not catch up on all the latest car leasing news.
