Ford Puma review

At launch Ford offered just three trims and three engines. None of which were diesels. Now there are the same engines, but with topped-off trims that now come in four flavours: Titanium, ST-Line, ST-Line X and ST-Line Vignale. There's also the Puma ST hot hatch, which is a riot.

The 1.0-litre petrol was offered in 123bhp, 123bhp plus mild hybrid and 153bhp plus mild hybrid forms, although mild hybrid tech is now universal on the Puma engine line-up. The only exception is the full-fat ST, which uses that 1.5-litre petrol producing 197bhp. 

Titanium trim has black plastic arch extensions, whereas the ST-Line's outfit is entirely body colour.

An entry-level Titanium with the peppy 123bhp engine works out at around £285 per month on finance with £5k down. The same deposit on the full-fat Vignale with the ace 153bhp engine we'd go for across the range means a monthly outlay of £365 per month. If you can get your payments as close to £300pcm as possible, you're in the Puma value-for-money sweet spot.

Even the Titanium has 17-inchers, LED running lamps, the most important driver assist (good for insurance) and phone mirroring for its eight-inch touchscreen. ST-Line adds firmer suspension and new cosmetics but loses climate control.

ST-Line X brings back climate and adds navigation, B&O sound, partial leather and 18s plus some other cosmetic bits. And the other trim levels slot around those original specs with varying degrees of glitter. The entry level car feels a little sparse - but that’s solved by not sitting in a Vignale before you buy one…

Power tailgate, panoramic roof and LED headlights and a comprehensive driver-assist pack live among the options, but even so it's pretty well impossible to get to £30k - even with the Vignale - where the so-called premium rivals easily go.

WLTP economy betters 50mpg whichever of the mild-hybrid engines you choose. Warranty is 60,000 miles and three years. Ford dealers are of course all over the place.