Overview

The Ford Puma has been a success in the UK and across Europe, consistently topping sales charts thanks to its sharp looks, tidy handling and everyday usability. Now there’s an all-electric version, the Puma Gen-E, and it aims to bring that same crowd-pleasing formula into the EV era.

Starting from just under £30,000, it undercuts many rivals while still offering a decent level of equipment and a familiar, well-liked design. Ford sweetens the deal further with a free home charger and up to 10,000 miles’ worth of charging credit through its partnership with Octopus. There’s just one powertrain on offer, producing 166bhp and 214lb-ft of torque, and a 43kWh battery. On paper, it’s competitive. In reality, it’s a slightly more nuanced story.

Driving

The Puma Gen-E retains much of what makes the standard Puma so enjoyable. It feels light on its feet, with sharp steering and quick turn-in that makes it genuinely engaging on a twisty B-road. The low-mounted battery helps keep the centre of gravity down, so body roll is nicely controlled.

Acceleration is smooth and linear, with 0–62mph covered in around 8 seconds, so it’s brisk enough to feel lively, if not outright quick. Sport mode sharpens responses slightly, but the real charm lies in its agility rather than outright pace.

There’s a slightly quirky setup when it comes to regenerative braking. A stalk-mounted “L” mode increases regen but doesn’t quite deliver true one-pedal driving, as you have to dig into the touchscreen settings for that. Once activated, it is impressively effective however and stronger than many rivals.

There’s even a subtle artificial propulsion sound that mimics a petrol engine. It’s unobtrusive and I actually quite like it, adds a bit of character.

Range and running costs

The Puma Gen-E uses a 43kWh battery, offering an official range of up to 234 miles. In reality you can expect closer to 190–200 miles in mixed driving. That’s a noticeable drop, especially compared with some newer rivals pushing beyond 250 miles.

Charging is respectable rather than class-leading. At up to 100kW DC, it’ll go from 10–80 per cent in around 23 minutes, which is quick enough for a coffee stop top-up. A full charge on an 11kW home wallbox takes several hours, making overnight charging straightforward.

Design

Visually, the Puma Gen-E sticks closely to the familiar Puma formula, with a few EV-specific tweaks. The front grille is replaced by a smooth “shield” design inspired by Ford’s larger electric models, giving it a cleaner, more modern face.

Signature triple-stripe LED headlights and bold “Puma” lettering add a bit of flair. There are also some subtle aerodynamic tweaks, including unique alloy wheels and a rear spoiler, which help improve efficiency. It comes in some bright colours, which add to it's playful, almost cartoonish charm.

Inside the cabin feels modern and well thought out. A pair of high-definition screens dominate the dashboard, there’s one for the digital driver display, the other running Ford’s Sync 4 infotainment system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard, along with built-in Alexa and cloud-connected navigation. The system is slick and easy to use.

Material quality is however a mixed bag. There are some nice touches, like Alcantara seats and contrast stitching. Although there are also plenty of scratchy plastics, particularly in the rear. Still, the overall design feels contemporary and functional.

Comfort and practicality

Up front, the Puma Gen-E is comfortable enough, with a good driving position for most people. I’m nearly 6ft and it feels perfectly fine, although my husband is 6ft 3 and found the adjustment in the seat and steering wheel limiting and the rear-view mirror obstructed his view.

Rear space is the biggest weakness. Legroom and headroom are both tight, and getting in and out can be awkward thanks to doors that don’t open particularly wide. Fitting a child seat is doable, but not easy, especially if you’re doing it regularly.

Where the Puma really shines is storage practicality. The “GigaBox” boot is genuinely impressive, offering up to 574 litres of space, more than many larger SUVs. There’s also a clever waterproof storage section with a drain plug, ideal for muddy boots or even chilling drinks on a day out. Up front, there’s a small 43-litre frunk for charging cables.

Verdict

The Ford Puma Gen-E is an appealing and accessible electric crossover that builds on the strengths of a hugely popular car. It’s fun to drive, well equipped and impressively practical, especially when it comes to boot space.

However, it’s not without compromises. Rear passenger space is tight, and the real-world range feels a little underwhelming in an increasingly competitive segment. Still, for drivers already considering a Puma, or those looking for a reasonably priced, easy-to-live-with EV, it makes a lot of sense. It’s not class-leading, but it is likeable, capable and refreshingly down-to-earth.

Check out our video review here.

Key Specs

Ford Puma Gen-E

Price (RRP OTR): From £29,995
Top speed: 99mph
0–62mph: 8.0 seconds
Power: 124kW (166bhp)
Torque: 214lb-ft
Driving range (combined): Up to 234 miles
Charging time: ~6 hrs (11kW, 0–100%), 23 min (100kW, 10–80%)
Insurance group: 18–25
Vehicle warranty: 3 years / 60,000 miles
Battery warranty: 8 years / 100,000 miles