Ford Puma small SUV priced from $29,990

FORD Australia has locked in pricing for its crucial all-new Puma range, with the compact crossover set to kick off from $29,990 plus on-road costs.

Due for release in the second half of the year, the Euro-bred Puma replaces the slow-selling EcoSport as Ford’s smallest SUV and will be offered in a three-variant line-up at launch, starting with the sub-$30,000 ‘Puma’ and rising to $32,340 plus on-roads for the mid-range ST-Line before topping out at $35,540 for the ST-Line V.

Power across the range comes courtesy of a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine producing 92kW of power and 170Nm of torque, driving the front wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission only.

No manual gearbox or four-wheel-drive options are available, although five electronic driving modes – Normal, Sport, Eco, Slippery and Trail – assist with versatility.

Claimed fuel economy is rated at 6.3 litres per 100km for the combined cycle.

Standard equipment on the base Puma includes the Ford Pass Connect embedded modem and FordPass app compatibility, Sync3 infotainment system with voice-activated satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, wireless smartphone charging, DAB+ digital radio, Bluetooth-enabled audio streaming, 8.0-inch full-colour touchscreen and 180-degree split-view reversing camera.

Other features of note include 17-inch alloy wheels (machined-finished in Pearl Grey), push-button start, cruise control and a leather-clad multifunction steering wheel with fingertip control for the voice-activated sat-nav and smartphone mirroring commands.

On the safety front, Ford has not skimped on standard equipment which even on the base model includes six airbags (dual front, front-seat side and side curtain) as well as high-level driver-assist systems such as autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, driver impairment monitor, rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring and emergency assistance.

A $1500 ‘Park Package’ is also available across the range, adding adaptive cruise control with stop and go and lane centring, active park assist with front, side and rear sensors, front parking sensors and blind-spot detection.

Prestige paint requires a further $650 outlay, while other options include a power-opening panoramic roof ($2000), roof rails ($250) and black-painted roof ($500).

Next to its entry-level sibling, the ST-Line is distinguished by sportier front and rear aprons, black mesh grille, unique foglight surrounds, five-spoke alloy wheels, ST-Line side skirts, slightly lower ride height, rear spoiler and extra body sculpting.

It also comes with sports suspension, a 12.3-inch full-colour digital instrument cluster, flat-bottomed leather-clad steering wheel, transmission paddle-shifters, ST-Line sports seats, red interior stitching and metallic sports pedals.

At the top of the range, the ST-Line V (for ‘Vignale’) has a host of extra features that set it apart.

Exterior-wise, the V-rated variant rolls on 18-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels, adds privacy glass and brandishes chrome on the grille, foglight bezels, window surrounds and rear bumper details.

Things take a step up inside, too, with smart keyless entry, leather-accented seats with metal-grey stitching, automatic climate-control air-conditioning, premium B&O Play 10-speaker audio with subwoofer.

The ST-Line V also includes a hands-free powered tailgate, which is a $750 option on the lower-tiered variants.

Sitting on a 2588mm wheelbase, the Puma seats five and offers 410 litres of cargo space with the 60/40 split-fold rear seats upright – or up to 1170L when folded flat.

Ford Australia and New Zealand president and CEO Kay Hart said Puma would bring “life-changing innovations to customers”, referencing features such as the Ford Pass Connect embedded modem shared with the latest version of the bigger Escape.

“The Puma and Escape both show the desire for charismatic, innovative models with a high level of standard equipment, from safety and driver-assist technology, for discerning customers who demand both style and substance,” she said.

Ford sold only 481 examples of the EcoSport last year, less than half the number it shifted in the previous year and a result that made it almost invisible in the highly competitive, hot-selling market segment.

It is a similar story so far this year, with only 22 new registrations recorded in the first two months of trading.

2020 Ford Puma pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs