It was the UK’s best-selling car of 2024 – but can the Puma’s recent facelift keep it high in Al Suttie’s affections?

Ford Puma ST-Line X 1.0 Ecoboost 155 mHEV Auto

List price (BiK): £30,535 (30%)  CO2: 133g/km  Economy: 47.9mpg  Test efficiency: 38.0mpg

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Monday

It’s always a relief when a favourite model undergoes a facelift and comes out the other side still as good looking and able. That was my thinking with the recently updated Ford Puma, which arrived this morning looking resplendent in its Desert Island Blue. No need to pick eight songs here, but it does come with the luxury of bigger alloy wheels, Winter and Driver Assistance Packs, panoramic roof, and glare-free headlights.

Tuesday

There is something different about the Puma now and it’s taken a while to fathom what it is. Could be the new larger infotainment screen. The 12-inch touchscreen is more prominent than the smaller set-up in pre-facelift Pumas. It works well and even the on-screen heater controls are decent, which is a rarity. It’s also relatively easy and quick to disable the irritating speed warning bing.

Wednesday

This morning’s longer journey up to Perth affords some thinking time about what has changed with the Puma’s cabin. My pondering alights on the column stalk – note the singular. When Ford has stuck with the traditional automatic gear lever in the centre transmission tunnel, why use just one column stalk? You get used to it, but it was so much easier when the wipers had their own right-hand control.

Thursday

It’s clicked at last – the thing bothering me about the Puma’s cabin is the size of the steering wheel. Unlike the Explorer I had last week where it felt fine, the steering ‘squircle’ in the Puma feels massive compared to the just-so helm in pre-facelift models. It’s needed to give sufficient visual clearance for the large dash panel, which might add a techy air to the interior but not much else in my view.

Friday

A cross-country jaunt this morning shows the Puma has lost none of its appetite for entertainment. Despite that bus-like steering wheel, it gives good feel and the Ford has an incisive way of dealing with corners. There’s little lean, excellent control, even on these optional 19-inch alloy wheels, and fine comfort. The 155hp 1.0-litre engine is punchy, the transmission smooth, and refinement is also very good.

Saturday

Back in the swing of Saturday morning football matches with my son and the Puma makes it oh-so easy. After an away win of 5-6 for our team on a very soggy grass pitch, the Puma’s MegaBox boot cavern is ideal for stashing muddy studs and kit. Pop down the boot floor panel and there’s still ample space to chuck in bags and balls on our way for a celebratory burger.

Sunday

Ford claims 47.9mpg combined economy for this mild hybrid Puma. Even with my usually quite light right foot, this turns out to be 38.0mpg according to the car’s own dash display. It’s a bit disappointing and, along with what feel like changes for the sake of it to the steering wheel and dash display, means the Puma has slipped a (very small) fraction in my affections.