Ford stuck to a wide range of vans for a long time, but customers didn’t thank the brand for it. For some time now, the SUV wave has been spilling over into the Ford range on a large scale. Ford Puma names the latest contribution. We were traveling with the 125 – PS mild hybrid, which the authors of the leaflet seriously praised as “entry into the world of electromobility”.

Load distribution That seems a bit bold considering the effort involved. The belt-driven 40 – Volt starter generator controls maximum 03, 5 kW added, which is still a little more than, for example, BMW uses. The battery has an energy content of 480 watt hours, i.e. 0, 48 kWh. That is enough for a boost, but above all for a load point shift, which can use its – manageable – potential especially when the speed is slow and changeable. The combustion engine can be operated more frequently in the range of its best efficiency with comparatively little effort.

If the current load requirement of the engine is slightly above this range, will drawn from the battery. The starter generator works as an electric motor and thus slightly relieves the combustion engine. The battery is charged in the reverse load condition: If this is slightly below the combustion engine’s best point, the storage tank is refilled, which of course also happens during recuperation. This is very noticeable in the Puma, because the car doesn’t roll very far.

Plus 40 Nm Distinctive are the different driving modes: In eco mode more recuperation is achieved, in sport mode – and only there – the starter generator controls up to 40 Nm at. Then there are a maximum of 210 Nm, because the one-liter three-cylinder offers 170 Nm. Ford trusts the electrical work so much that they screw the one-liter engine in conjunction with the mild hybrid with a larger turbocharger than the version without a starter generator. The latter is only available with a seven-speed automatic in the Puma. The electrical work should compensate for a possible delayed response of the larger charger.

Ford Puma outside (7 pictures) One viewer said that the headlights were a bit like a Porsche. Well …

This works only to a limited extent, because under 1300 / min, little happens, the machine only works really freely above 2000 / min. She’ll be forgiven for that, after all we’re still talking about a very small engine that draws its power from supercharging and not from a huge displacement. The driving modes also play a decisive role in terms of the driving impression: In the first part of the test, I consistently drove for a few days in Eco mode, in which the start is more restrained than in Sport mode.

The possible driving performance is satisfactory, i.e. within the framework of what one can expect from 125 PS and 191 Nm in connection with an empty weight of around 1300 kg can be expected. Ford states 9.8 seconds for the sprint on 100 km / h, maximum are 191 km / h in it. On the highway it gets noticeably tougher from speed 150. In the city and in rural areas, the driver has to shift gears diligently, then you really have more than just enough care.

Roar The lively switching suggests the machine anyway. Because below 1900 / min the drive hums so strongly that you think you have it too much committed to low speeds and high loads. Above this mark, the running behavior becomes so much smoother that most drivers feel between 2000 and 2800 / min. The gearshift indicator warns you to lower the engine speed, but the boom will not affect itself in the long run. In general, the Puma is not a particularly carefully insulated car, a certain acoustic background is always retained.

Economical The drive is relatively economical. In my pendulum mode over just under 48 km of country road and some city traffic, I came to 4.9 liters when driving cautiously in Eco mode / 100 km – the on-board computer even indicated 4.7 liters. With less reluctance, it was 5.6 liters. Fortunately, in our small editorial team we also have the alternative to my way of driving, so we can deliver a certain range. In Christian’s dedicated hands the little machine smuggled everyone 100 km 7 liters through the combustion chambers. In the long-term memory over 3675 km there were 6.5 liters in the on-board computer. In the WLTP, Ford mentions 5.6 liters.

By the way, it should be noted once again: I can contribute a Ford experience to the accusation that consumption has not changed in the past few years. Until some time ago he stayed 100 -Mondeo with 90 PS in front of my Door. In the same scenario – rolling gently across the country – it could hardly be obtained under 7 liters. In comparison, the Puma drives like a sports car and consumes two liters less. The oldie was so sluggish that a longer use is suggested to all those who think that a current 110 – PS-Golf or even the Puma is somehow weak on the chest. They are not, only the general expectations have shifted.