2021 Ford Puma ST revealed: price, specs and release date
September 24, 2020 by
The new Ford Puma ST has been revealed. It’s the first truly sporty compact SUV and should prove a hoot to drive thanks to its Fiesta-ST-derived engine.
- 1.5-litre petrol engine
- 200hp & 320Nm of torque
- six-speed manual ‘box
- 0-60 in 6.7 seconds
- Optional launch control
- Interior upgrades
- On sale late ’20/early ’21
- Expected to cost from £25,500
The new Ford Puma ST has been revealed. It’s Ford’s first compact SUV to wear the ST badge and comes with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with 200hp.
2021 Ford Puma ST design
You’ll have a hard time spotting the cosmetic upgrades fitted to the new Ford Puma ST. The front bumper looks almost identical to a standard Puma ST-Line, with only a subtle ST badge, black-painted trims beneath the foglights and a thin black splitter extension marking out the more exciting model.
It’s a similar story from the side, where the Puma ST comes with 19-inch alloy wheels instead of the standard Puma ST-Line’s 17-inch rims, but that’s about it. The differences are more obvious at the back, where the new Ford Puma ST gets twin exhaust tips (just like the Fiesta ST) and a black lower bumper trim instead of the ST-Line’s body-coloured piece.
2021 Ford Puma ST engine and performance
More exciting than how it looks is what’s going on under the new Ford Puma ST’s bonnet. It gets the same 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine as the rorty Fiesta ST, so it produces 200hp and 320Nm of torque.
This power is sent through the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. Nail every gear change and it’ll do 0-60 in less than 6.7 seconds – that’s 0.2 seconds slower than the Fiesta ST but still rapid for a small SUV. Ford says the Puma will reach a 137mph top speed and return around 40mpg.
2021 Ford Puma ST suspension and driving
The Ford Puma ST gets suspension that’s firmer, lower and comes with thicker anti-roll bars than the standard Puma’s. The ST model also features a mechanical limited-slip differential that’ll help it muster up more grip when you accelerate hard out of a bend.
There are four driving modes to choose from, Eco, Normal, Sport and Track. As you progress through these modes the Puma ST’s throttle response is made more immediate and the electronic stability program allows the tyres to slip more before cutting the engine’s power or engaging the brakes.
The Puma ST will come with an optional launch control system. To use this, you put the car in first gear, press the clutch, floor the throttle and release the clutch. The car’s onboard systems then manage the traction control automatically to help you make the fastest getaway.
2021 Ford Puma ST interior and infotainment
The biggest upgrade you’ll spot in the new Ford Puma ST’s interior is the Recaro sports seats that are more supportive than the ones you get in the standard Puma. You also get a flat-bottomed ST-branded steering wheel, ST-branded gear knob and ST-branded door sill protectors. Have you spotted a theme yet?
The standard Puma’s infotainment system has been carried over unchanged, so you get a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display and an 8.0-inch central display with built-in sat-nav, Apple and Android smartphone mirroring and a wireless phone-charging pad. The Puma ST gets the same 456-litre boot as the standard Puma with the waterproof and drainable ‘Megabox’ underfloor storage area.
2021 Ford Puma ST price and release date
Ford hasn’t announced how much the new Puma ST will cost. But, considering the standard Puma is around £3,000 more expensive than a comparable Fiesta, it’s safe to assume the new Puma ST will carry the same premium over a five-door Fiesta ST. As a result, expect to pay from approximately £25,500 for the new Puma ST when it goes on sale in late 2020 or early 2021.
Check out the latest small SUV deals available through carwow or, if you’re not sure if a sporty SUV is for you, compare the best carwow offers on the best hot hatches currently on sale.
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