Yahoo News JOHN MURDOCH'S DRIVE TIME: We preview the popular Ford Puma and reveal how new Mazda SUV will arrive early next year
In this instalment of John Murdoch's Drive Time, John previews the very popular Ford Puma and reveals how a new Mazda SUV with three rows of seats will arrive early next year.
As well as being fun to drive, practical and economical, the Ford Puma has stylish looks and that has made it popular in the UK and the rest of Europe.
When the company stopped making Fiestas the Puma filled the gap and it is now Ford's best seller.
I have sampled just about every version of it since it arrived on the scene back in 2020 and it is still a car I like to spend time in.
It brought something new to the Crossover party when it was launched and it offers many innovative features.
It also has some neat touches like the pouncing Puma that appears in the dash when you press the starter button or as a puddle light in the dark.
The car is a family pleaser because there is plenty of room for four to travel in comfort and you can pack in five for shorter journeys.
A smart steering wheel houses the usual push-button controls while the dashboard layout is typical Ford with a central display screen for connectivity and sat-nav but it also comes fitted with a smart TFT instrument cluster and a huge amount of equipment.
The manual seats are very comfortable and fully adjustable and there is good all-round visibility.
As in all Fords, the switches and controls are clear and easy to read and use.
A Quickclear heated windscreen is ideal for this time of year and there is a decent sound system as well as Ford SYNC 3 navigation and full smart phone integration.
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On the practical side the Puma boasts impressive carrying capacity. The boot is large for a car of this size and comes complete with Ford’s MegaBox.
This is an 80-litre storage space which lies beneath the split level boot floor and is ideal for carrying wet sports equipment, muddy wellies or anything else that is liable to cause a mess.
It has a drain plug at the bottom and can be hosed out afterwards.
If you need even more space you can collapse the split-folding rear seats to get class-leading room.
This ST-Line X sporty version costs £31,350, and has a 1.0-litre EcoBoost three cylinder petrol engine linked to mild hybrid technology and is good for 155ps.
As a result, it takes just 8.7 seconds to tackle the sprint to 62mph before going on to a top speed of 124mph.
According to the official figures it is capable of as much as 56.5mpg and a combined average of 47.9mpg that I easily matched during mixed driving.
You get lots of advanced driver assistance aids like cruise control and pre-collision assist plus lane departure warning and handy drive modes for Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery and Trail conditions.
You also get autonomous emergency braking, pedestrian/cyclist detection and hill start assist
This model features exclusive 18-inch alloys, privacy glass, front fog lights, LED projector headlamps and LED rear lamps.
The kit list wants for nothing and you get a wireless charging pad, B&O sound system, Ford ST-Line body kit, special steering wheel, power tailgate, rear camera with parking sensor and synthetic leather seats with synthetic suede inserts and neat red stitching.
I liked this Puma and it was a fun car to drive with great handling and a comfortable ride.
It also had a Winter Pack at an additional £350 and a Panorama opening roof at an extra £1000. It came in Desert Island Blue which came in at £800.
Stylish, practical, economical and entertaining the Puma ticks all the boxes and it is also good value for money especially in the more modest versions.
FAST FACTS:
Price: £31,350.
Mechanical: 155ps, 998cc, 3cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 7 speed automatic gearbox.
Max speed: 124mph.
0-62mph: 8.7 seconds.
Combined MPG: 47.9.
Insurance group: 17.
CO2 emissions: 133g/km.
BiK rating: 32 per cent.
Warranty: Three years/60,000 miles.
Overall rating (out of 5): 4.5.
In further motoring developments, an all-new Mazda CX-80 three-row SUV will arrive here in February - and the Japanese company is also planning updates to its CX-60 model for 2025.
Arriving in the UK early summer next year, the 2025 Mazda CX-60 subtly enhances the award-winning model with refinements to its interior design combined with some technical revisions.
On sale from summer 2022, the current Mazda CX-60 has an engine line-up that includes Mazda’s first-plug in hybrid powertrain and an all-new 3.3-litre inline six-cylinder diesel.
Meanwhile customers can now benefit from an enhanced £1200 Finance Deposit Contribution when financing on both zero per cent PCP (50 per cent minimum customer deposit required) on vehicles ordered by December 31, 2024, and registered by March 31, 2025.
In addition, a half price Solo 7kw universal home charger is offered with PHEV models.
When the 2025 Mazda CX-60 arrives in the UK in early summer next year, updates include interior changes to the Homura grade that replicate the cabin of the CX-80 Homura.
This includes new black Nappa leather seats and a revised dash panel. The roof and pillars feature black lining, while cabin panels have been revised to a matt black and metal-like finish.
At the top of the range, the Takumi grade retains an unchanged interior that embodies Mazda’s commitment to Japanese aesthetics and craftsmanship with high-quality materials such as real maple wood and Japanese textiles in perfect harmony with Nappa leather and a light cabin ambiance.
Technical updates to the 2025 are equally subtle, with the powertrain line-up remaining unchanged and a chassis set-up that continues to provide a refined driving experience.
Revisions include rear suspension set-up changes to enhance comfort and stability, an example being softer rear spring and firmer shock absorber settings that are aligned with recalibrated stability systems to improve overall handling and comfort balance in line with Mazda’s Jinba Ittai ethos.
Another update to the 2025 Mazda CX-60 is the introduction of the Zircon Sand metallic paint colour, which is currently offered on the 2025 Mazda CX-30, Mazda MX-3 ss0 and 2025 Mazda3.
Mazda Motors UK managing director, Jeremy Thomson, said: “The Mazda CX-60 is a standout model in our SUV range in the UK and with this new finance package its now an even more tempting proposition for retail customers.
"I’m delighted that as we look forward to the 2025 Mazda CX-60, the current car has one of the most competitive finance packages in the sector.”
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