Ford locks in Puma small SUV for Australia

FORD Australia has confirmed the all-new Puma small SUV is on its way to Australian shores, more than six months after the little SUV first broke cover globally.

Set to touch down in local showrooms in the second half of the year, the Puma will replace the ageing EcoSport in Ford Australia’s line-up, a model that was never able to capitalise on the growing success of the small SUV segment.

First introduced to Australia in late 2013, the EcoSport had its best year in 2015 where it recorded 2453 sales, a number that has slipped to 481 units in 2019 – a 0.4 per cent share of the sub-$40,000 small SUV segment.

The Puma is based on the same architecture that underpins the new-generation Fiesta light hatch, and measures slightly larger than the EcoSport while sharing some design cues with the new Fiesta.

Ford Australia is yet to announce pricing or specification for the Puma, however it is likely to carry a small premium over the EcoSport, which ranges from $22,790 plus on-roads to $28,990.

Globally, a range of powertrains are available on the Puma, including a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol three-cylinder engine mated to an 11.5kW belt-driven starter/generator and 48-volt electrical system, with outputs measuring either 92kW or 114kW.

The 48V system can temporarily add up to 50Nm, down to 20Nm if the petrol engine is in its peak torque band.

A nine per cent fuel economy saving is achieved with the hybrid system, with an official consumption of 5.4 litres per 100km for the 92kW version while emitting 124 grams of CO2 per km, up to 5.6L/100km and 127g/km in the 114kW grade.

A 92kW petrol-only option is on offer, while a turbo-diesel engine option is also on the cards.

Aussie buyers can expect to score an 8.0-inch infotainment system with Ford’s Sync3 infotainment system including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a range of kit on higher grades such as partial leather upholstery, alloy pedals, front seats with lumbar massage functionality, a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging and a 10-speaker B&O sound system with a 150mm x 200mm subwoofer.

Standard safety equipment will extend to adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection, speed sign recognition, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, post-collision braking and a 180-degree rearview camera.

Luggage space stands at 456 litres with Ford’s MegaBox storage system that includes an extra 80L of space under the boot floor for taller items.

A range of variants can be expected Down Under, including the top-spec Titanium with chrome trim elements and metallic grey rear diffuser and skid plate as well as the ST-Line with matte-black trim and high-gloss foglight surrounds.

Alloy wheel designs will range from 17 to 19 inches in size.

Ford Australia president and CEO Kay Hart said the Puma will give Ford’s SUV line-up a shot in the arm, arriving around the same time as the new-generation Escape mid-sizer.

“Puma will appeal to customers looking for a fun-to-drive, stylish SUV that’s loaded with smart tech,” she said.

“The Puma is a great opportunity for us to connect with Australian customers in a new way, and we’re excited that it will arrive alongside the new-generation Escape in Australian showrooms in 2020.”

Pricing and specification will be announced closer to the Puma’s launch in the second half of the year.