We drive the flagship version of Drive’s Best Light SUV for 2023.
2023 Ford Puma ST-Line V
We loved the Ford Puma range when it first arrived in Australia almost three years ago now.
In a segment full of boring and relatively expensive vehicles, the Puma stood out as something fresh. It drove with an edge, looked the part, and even the base model was loaded with safety gear and technology – which wasn’t necessarily the case for all light SUVs at the time.
Some of them were cheap and not-so-cheerful, especially at the lower end of the model range. However, in the time since, the compact Ford SUV has failed to find buyers. By the end of 2022, it sat in seventh position in the light SUV segment and was comfortably outsold by SUVs like the Kia Stonic and Toyota Yaris Cross.
So far in 2023, the results look to be the same and not much has changed. Although this isn’t the first time that a car the motoring media recommends doesn’t sell well, we do ask ourselves why?
Has the competition caught up swiftly, or are there simply better cars out there?
Let’s take a look at the top-of-the-range Ford Puma to find out.
How much does the Ford Puma cost in Australia?
The 2023 Ford Puma comes in three different versions and starts from $30,840 before on-roads, or around $35,200 drive-away in NSW.
That’s for the entry-level model called Ford Puma. Standard kit for the money includes auto emergency braking, traffic sign recognition, wireless phone charging and an 8.0-inch touchscreen with digital radio and smartphone connectivity.
Next in the three-car range is the 2023 Ford Puma ST-Line. As a sports-inspired model it gets stiffer suspension, red stitching to the interior and a racy exterior styling treatment. It costs $33,190 before on-roads, or $37,630 drive-away in NSW.
Up last in the range as the flagship is our test car – the 2023 Ford Puma ST-Line V. It’s basically a more luxurious version of the ST-Line, and comes with a 10-speaker B&O Play stereo, hands-free power tailgate, and keyless start on top of keyless entry.
It starts from $36,390 before on-roads, or $40,926 drive-away in NSW. White paint comes for free, whereas extra colours including two-tone options cost anywhere from $700 to $1200 extra. A sunroof adds another $2000, whereas a park pack with some safety gear is another $990.
Our test car was finished in Grey Matter paint ($700) with a panoramic glass roof ($2200) and the park/safety pack ($990) that makes it worth $44,727 drive-away in NSW.
All three Ford Pumas in the range are powered by the same 92kW/170Nm 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, feature the same seven-speed dual-clutch auto, and all send power to the front wheels, with no all-wheel drive available.
Although well equipped, others in the segment do offer more compelling value. Mazda’s well-equipped CX-3 sTouring starts in the low $30K range, and larger-but-same-segment cars like the Volkswagen T-Cross are priced line-ball, if not cheaper, depending on the version.
There’s more to cars than shopping on paper, however, so make sure you read the driving section too.
| Key details | 2023 Ford Puma ST-Line V |
| Price | $36,390 plus on-road costs |
| Colour of test car | Grey Matter |
| Options | Parking pack – $990 Grey Matter paint – $700 Sunroof – $2200 |
| Price as tested | $40,280, plus on-road costs |
| Drive-away price | $44,727 drive-away |
| Rivals | Mazda CX-3 | Volkswagen T-Cross | Kia Stonic |
How much space does the Ford Puma have inside?
It’s a compact car, and it certainly feels that way when you get inside.
A reminder of this is how close you sit to your front passenger. The centre armrest is quite narrow and not one you’d share with your front guest, which again shows that the cabin is on the smaller side even for a light SUV.
The seats are great in our ST-Line V model. They’re manually adjustable, but feature a massage function that rolls the lumbar area of the seat up and down your back to prevent fatigue.
It’s a nice luxury touch for what is a little compact grocery-getter. They’re comfy and large enough to suit most body types, but taller people will have to slide the seat all the way back in order to fit. Storage in the first row is okay, too, with a pair of medium-sized cupholders, a phone tub with wireless charging under the air-con controls, and a pair of stingy door pockets on either side.
The rest of the front cabin presents well enough, with a nice selection of textural and quality-looking materials helping lift the perceived quality of the cabin. However, look a little closer and the infotainment screen does begin to look small, and we did detect a small trim rattle in our test car with over 15,000km on the clock.
Over in the back row, space is pretty limited. Sitting behind my own driving position (I’m 183cm tall) I had practically no room. My legs were squashed either side of the front seat, and I was sitting too close to the front seat to ever get comfortable.
A shorter driver in the front would alleviate the issue, so would having less lanky guests, but if you do plan to use the car with adults it may be a bit too small.
For young kids that sit by themselves it cuts the mustard, but again for kids still in convertible or booster seats, it may be too small. The install of a rearward-facing child seat will cause the front passenger seat to be moved forward, and a tall booster seat may foul on the rear roof lining depending on the model.
In the second row, there are no air vents, no power outlets, no cupholders, and quite a small pair of door pockets. There are others in the segment that offer better amenities at this price point.
Boot space is a decent 410L, and it’s also clever in that the space is divided in half by the boot floor itself. It means you can store your smelly gym bag under the boot floor and lock it away from the cabin.
Even though the boot is big and the car is small, Ford still managed to get a space-saving spare wheel underneath the boot floor.
| 2023 Ford Puma ST-Line V | |
| Seats | Five |
| Boot volume | 410L seats up 1170L seats folded |
| Length | 4207mm |
| Width | 1805mm |
| Height | 1548mm |
| Wheelbase | 2588mm |
Does the Ford Puma have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
The Ford Puma features an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, DAB+ radio and a wireless phone charging pad.
The whole shebang is run by Ford’s Sync 3 software package, which is beginning to look a bit old-fashioned. It ran Apple CarPlay fine and didn’t error or glitch during usage, but interactions with it, and its general graphics, do feel like yesterday’s system.
The 8.0-inch touchscreen also looks small compared to today’s standards and others in the same segment. A benefit of walking up to the Puma ST-Line V model is to earn yourself a Bang and Olufsen-branded B&O Play 10-speaker stereo.
Our test car’s centre speaker was damaged and rattled at higher volumes, but at lower volumes the system sounded fair for the money. Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s fifth album sounded warm, large and particularly crystalline when rendering synth and the album’s more twinkly sections. I would love to hear it with the centre speaker fixed!
Is the Ford Puma a safe car?
The Ford Puma was awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating after being tested back in 2019, and scored decently for adult occupant protection (94 per cent) and good for child occupant protection (86 per cent).
However, its performance for pedestrian protection (77 per cent) and safety assist systems (74 per cent) could be better. Some of these issues could be solved by making the optional safety package standard on higher-grade models.
| 2023 Ford Puma ST-Line V | |
| ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2019) |
| Safety report | Link to ANCAP report |
What safety technology does the Ford Puma have?
The 2023 Ford Puma ST-Line V comes standard with autonomous emergency braking (forward), lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, a 180-degree reverse camera with front and rear parking sensors, and traffic sign recognition.
Sadly, the brand makes you pay more for safety gear that it clouds under an inappropriately named ‘parking pack’. This optional $990 package adds adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assistance, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic braking.
This safety kit should be standard and not extra on the top-spec model.
How much does the Ford Puma cost to maintain?
Ford expects that you service the Puma every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. The first three years of servicing cost $335, $385 and $335, or $1055 in total.
Years four and five cost $610 and $335 on top, taking five years and 75,000km worth of maintenance out to $2275. Although more expensive than Toyota, its service pricing is fair and reasonable against the rest of the competition and considering the 15,000km interval.
Insurance costs are decent too, with a yearly policy costing $1064 based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver, living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.
| At a glance | 2023 Ford Puma ST-Line V |
| Warranty | Five years, unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Servicing costs | $1055 (3 years) $2000 (5 years) |
Is the Ford Puma fuel-efficient?
Ford claims the Puma’s 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine uses 5.3L/100km on a combined driving cycle.
On test we recorded a final fuel-efficiency figure of 6.4L/100km – some 1.1L over the claim – but still a good result relatively. The only cars we test that land in the 5L/100km realm are hybrid vehicles, so getting close to that figure would be a hard effort.
The figure we recorded (6.4L/100km) means a full tank (45L) of fuel will go 650km and cost approximately $92 at $2.05 a litre.
Fuel Consumption – brought to you by bp
| Fuel Usage | Fuel Stats |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 5.3L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 6.4L/100km |
| Fuel type | 95-octane premium unleaded |
| Fuel tank size | 45L |
What is the Ford Puma like to drive?
If you enjoy a car that feels immediate, sharp and direct to drive, then the Ford Puma is your sort of car.
After a few corners or a roundabout, you’ll notice the quick steering. Not only is it short, lock-to-lock, but there’s a nice urgency off-centre that complements the car’s firm suspension.
Around town we found the ST-Line sports suspension tolerable overall, but there were some times in rural environments where it felt a bit too much. Sometimes compliance is what you need depending on the conditions you drive, and it’s fair to say the Ford Puma prefers smoother patches of road like you find in town.
But when the road turns relatively smooth and also flowing, the Puma actually becomes enjoyable to drive. It’s a tiny SUV that feels more mature than it looks, making it an ideal car for popping between rural suburbs. It handles nicely and feels confident on a faster country road, and there’s a good amount of grip and control.
You could ask for a bit more performance from the 1.0-litre engine, but luckily it doesn’t mind being tasked. It makes a great and gruff sound, and doesn’t feel strained when you bury the pedal and use all its power – say on the motorway on-ramp entering a 110km/h zone or when overtaking legally on the right side of the road.
It will use more fuel than the claim if you’re not puttering around level ground in 50km/h zones, however. The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is calibrated well, but reversing up a steep driveway does require patience with the throttle pedal.
You do learn how to drive around how it engages drive and takes off, but there’s no denying a regular fluid coupling and torque-converter-equipped auto would make it better.
Overall, the driveline is satisfactory for the package, but it would be nice to see more performance offered in this local flagship offering. Cabin noise is good in that it’s low and generally vibration-free at speed, so those commuting via the freeway will enjoy that fact too.
| Key details | 2023 Ford Puma ST-Line V |
| Engine | 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol |
| Power | 92kW @ 6000rpm petrol |
| Torque | 170Nm @ 1400–4500rpm |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 72kW/t |
| Weight (kerb) | 1291kg |
| Spare tyre type | Space-saver |
| Turning circle | 10.4m |
Should I buy a Ford Puma?
There are cheaper cars in the segment that do similar things, but the Ford Puma will suit someone after something edgy and semi-sporty.
It’s a genuinely fun car to drive courtesy of Ford’s ST-Line sports suspension, yet it still remains frugal with its characterful three-cylinder engine. Consider it a fun choice that won’t require you to pay-to-play with an expensive fuel bill and overpriced insurance to match.
The styling is great, too, and the interior is loaded full of nice luxury touchpoints like front massaging seats. It’s a shame the second row is a bit pokey and lacks amenities, however, and also in top-spec guise with all the options it does feel expensive.
The cost-extra safety pack misleadingly named ‘parking pack’ should also be standard at this sort of price. Although a great car, you get 90 per cent of what makes a Ford Puma good in the entry-level car, let alone ST-Line models.
Although the bells and whistles are nice, there’s better value elsewhere in the Ford Puma range – especially when compared to cheaper options on the market.
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