Our 2023 Sports SUV of the Year is a hoot to drive and far more affordable than most rivals On sale Now Price from £31,070
THINK OF THE Ford Puma ST as the jalapeño of the sports SUV world: it may not be the hottest, but that just means you can enjoy its spiciness more of the time.
You see, while most cars in this class are so powerful that they’ll hit the speed limit before you know it, you can rev the turbocharged 1.5-litre engine in the Puma ST hard through the gears without ever putting your driving licence at risk. Besides, 0-62mph in 6.7sec isn’t remotely slow, and the Puma has sharper accelerator response than its closest rival, the Hyundai Kona N.
Its handling is more playful, too. If you back off the accelerator mid-corner, the Puma ST will pivot progressively around its front wheels, allowing you to position it perfectly to exit the corner. Plus, if you go for the optional Performance Pack, you get a limited-slip differential that gives you extra traction out of corners.
Not that the Puma ST only impresses when you drive it like your hair’s on fire; it also has no trouble taking on regular SUV duties.
Being based on the regular Puma – our overall Car of the Year in 2020 and impressively practical for a car of this size – means there’s space for six carry-on suitcases in the main boot, plus two more underneath, thanks to an 80-litre storage box hidden below the floor.
True, the Volkswagen T-Roc R gives rear seat occupants a bit more space, but most folk will be fine on the Puma ST’s rear bench.
Perhaps the best thing of all about the Puma ST, though, is that it gives you all of this for a bargain price. Even the Kona N, which seems well priced by the standards of the class, will costs you around £6000 more.
Our pick 1.5 Ecoboost 200 Performance Pack List price £32,410 Target Price £30,509 Target PCP £307 MPG 42.8 CO2 149g/km For Hugely entertaining handling; tuneful and punchy engine; relatively cheap to buy and run Against Occasionally bouncy ride;T-Roc R is roomier; infotainment system could be slicker WHAT CAR? SAYS
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio
Our pick 2.9 V6 Bi-Turbo 510 Q4 List price £79,859 Target Price £78,330 Target PCP £963 MPG 23.9 CO2 267g/km For Scorching performance; more thrilling to driv
