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Ford Puma 2020 review

SUV Petrol

Ford Puma 2020 — front three-quarter view

Overview

The 2020 Ford Puma marked the return of a beloved Ford nameplate in a very different guise: instead of the beloved 1990s coupe, it was a Fiesta-based small crossover built in Romania and pitched squarely at Britain's best-selling segment. Going on sale in the UK in January 2020 with on-the-road prices from £20,845, it arrived just as Ford axed the Fiesta from most European factories' plans and positioned the Puma as the brand's volume family car. The launch range comprised Titanium, ST-Line and ST-Line X trims (plus short-lived First Edition models), and the timing could not have been better judged: the Puma went on to be crowned What Car? Car of the Year for 2020, beating the Skoda Scala, Range Rover Evoque and Tesla Model 3 to the overall title.

Under the bonnet, Ford kept things refreshingly simple. Launch cars offered a 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost petrol in three guises: a non-mild-hybrid 125PS, a 125PS mild-hybrid (mHEV) and a 155PS mHEV, all driving the front wheels through a sweet-shifting six-speed manual. The 155PS mHEV is the pick of the bunch, reaching 62mph in 8.9 seconds with a 124mph top speed, while WLTP economy stretches to 51.4mpg with CO2 as low as 124g/km on some trims. The 48-volt mild-hybrid hardware adds torque infill rather than electric-only running, so it behaves like a normal petrol with a slightly healthier mid-range. The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and the 200PS 1.5-litre Puma ST arrived later, so every 2020-built car is a manual.

Practicality is where the Puma scored its cleverest hit. The 456-litre boot is competitive for the class, but the hidden party trick is the MegaBox: a deep 80-litre washable compartment under the boot floor with its own drain plug, big enough to swallow wellies, a pushchair or items up to 115cm tall. Rear legroom is snug for taller passengers, a common complaint, but up front the cabin is pure Fiesta - raised driving position, 8-inch SYNC 3 touchscreen, and lumbar massage seats standard on Titanium that Ford claimed as a segment first. Safety is a genuine strength: Euro NCAP awarded the Puma five stars in December 2019, with 94 per cent for adult occupants and 84 per cent for children, and every car gets autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping aid and post-collision braking as standard.

As a used buy, the 2020 Puma is one of the smartest small-crossover choices in Britain, with typical prices now running from roughly £8,000 to £16,000 depending on trim, mileage and engine. Insurance groups sit in the low-to-mid teens (group 12E for the 125PS Titanium, group 14-15 for most 155PS cars), keeping premiums sensible. Buyers should check the DVSA recall history: early cars were covered by recalls for driver airbag retention springs (R/2020/045), 48-volt hybrid battery connections on mHEV models (R/2020/248 and R/2021/008), and a later engine oil separator issue (R/2022/171) - a main dealer can confirm all work is done. Because the Puma shares its platform and most mechanical parts with the Fiesta, service parts are cheap and plentiful, and any independent garage will know the 1.0 EcoBoost inside out.

UK price from: £20,845

Related buying guides:
Best small SUVs UK

Specifications

Engine	999cc 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol with 48V mild hybrid (mHEV)
Power	155PS (153bhp) at 6,000rpm
Torque	240Nm at 1,600-4,000rpm
0-62 mph	8.9 seconds
Top speed	124mph
Transmission	6-speed manual
Drive	Front-wheel drive
Fuel economy	51.4mpg (WLTP combined)
CO2 emissions	124-127g/km (WLTP)
Boot space	456 litres including 80-litre MegaBox
Kerb weight	1,280kg
Warranty	3 years / 60,000 miles (as sold new)

Features

8-inch SYNC 3 touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth and satellite navigation
12.3-inch digital instrument cluster on ST-Line and ST-Line X (analogue dials on Titanium)
Lumbar massage front seats standard on Titanium - claimed segment first
B&O 10-speaker premium audio and 18-inch alloys on ST-Line X; hands-free power tailgate on First Editions
Selectable drive modes: Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery and Trail
Quickclear heated windscreen and wireless phone charging on higher trims
Full LED headlamps, privacy glass and sports suspension on ST-Line X
Ford Co-Pilot360 safety kit standard: pre-collision assist with autonomous emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping aid and intelligent speed limiter

Common parts & prices

Part	Price (GBP)	Notes
Front brake pads (set)	£38	Shared with Mk8 Fiesta; pattern parts widely available
Front brake discs (pair)	£72	280mm vented; check whether 15in or 16in wheels fitted
Oil filter	£9	Annual service item; use Ford-spec 5W-20 oil for 1.0 EcoBoost
Cabin pollen filter	£14	Behind glovebox; 10-minute DIY job on all trims
Front wiper blades (pair)	£18	Flat-blade type; measure before ordering
48V mild-hybrid auxiliary battery	£165	mHEV only; main 12V battery is a standard AGM type around £95

Prices are typical UK aftermarket/OEM guide prices and may vary by supplier.

Pros

Class-leading fun-to-drive handling with a slick six-speed manual gearbox
Clever MegaBox boot adds a washable 80-litre hidden compartment
Frugal 1.0 EcoBoost mild-hybrid engines with up to 51.4mpg WLTP
Five-star Euro NCAP rating with generous standard safety kit
What Car? Car of the Year 2020 - strong residuals and easy resale

Cons

Rear legroom is snug for taller adults behind taller drivers
Cabin materials feel plain for the price in lower trims
No automatic option on 2020 models - the 7-speed DCT came later
Real-world economy of the 155PS version rarely matches the headline figure

Frequently asked questions

What is the Ford Puma MegaBox?

The MegaBox is an 80-litre compartment hidden under the boot floor, included in the 456-litre total. It has a washable waterproof lining and a drain plug, so you can hose it out after carrying muddy boots or wet sports kit, and it takes items up to 115cm tall with the parcel shelf removed.

Which 2020 Puma engine should I buy: 125PS or 155PS?

Both use the same 1.0 EcoBoost mild-hybrid engine with a six-speed manual. The 155PS is the better all-rounder: it is 0.8 seconds quicker to 62mph (8.9s vs 9.8s) yet costs little more at the pumps, returning up to 51.4mpg. The 125PS non-hybrid base car is the cheapest to buy but is the slowest and least efficient of the range.

Was the Puma ST available in 2020?

No. Every 2020-registered Puma is a 1.0-litre EcoBoost with a six-speed manual. The 200PS 1.5-litre Puma ST hot crossover was announced late in 2020 but did not reach UK showrooms until early 2021, and the seven-speed automatic arrived around the same time.

What recalls affect the 2020 Ford Puma?

Four DVSA recalls are relevant: R/2020/045 (driver airbag retention springs on cars built Nov 2019-Jan 2020), R/2020/248 and R/2021/008 (48V mild-hybrid battery connections not torqued to specification on mHEV cars built Nov 2019-Oct 2020), and R/2022/171 (engine oil separator on cars built Jun 2020-May 2022). Ask a Ford dealer to confirm all have been completed before you buy.

Is a used 2020 Ford Puma a good buy?

Yes - it is one of the strongest used small-crossover buys in the UK. It combines five-star safety, genuinely enjoyable handling, cheap Fiesta-shared parts and insurance groups in the low-to-mid teens. Target a 155PS mHEV ST-Line with full Ford service history, check all recalls are cleared, and expect to pay roughly £8,000-£16,000 depending on trim and mileage.