Ford Puma vs. Ford Focus: which is better?
The Focus may have a bit more mileage behind it, but does that mean it’s better than the more recent Puma? Read our Ford car comparison guide to find out
)
If you’re after a reliable, well-built and affordable family car, you’ll have the choice of a traditional hatchback or a crossover.
The Ford Focus and Ford Puma are two excellent examples of these types of cars, with the Focus proving to be a staple for decades and the Puma often topping new car sales charts.
If you’re struggling to pick between these two excellent models, let us outline their key differences as well as highlight the successes they share in order for you to make a more informed decision.
Ford Focus vs. Ford Puma: which has more style?
)
First introduced in 1998, the Ford Focus has gone on to earn itself a position as one of Britain’s favourite hatchbacks, and the latest iteration, introduced in 2018, adds even more appeal.
Ford has announced plans to stop selling the Focus, not because it’s a bad car, but because so many buyers want crossovers and SUVs, but that didn’t stop it from facelifting the car in 2022 near to the end of its time on sale.
Whether you go for a pre- or post-facelift model, you’ll notice that it has an up-to-date, modern design with plenty of curves and creases in the right place. Its inoffensive design actually helps it to have an almost timeless look, which we think will age well.
The Ford Puma, introduced as a crossover in 2019, is clearly part of the same family, and you can tell that the two share the same design language, but it has a slightly stronger look.
For example, the front end is characterised by large, bubble-like headlights, and the bonnet is more sculpted.
What is it like to drive a Ford Focus vs. Puma?
)
Ford’s cars are known for offering an engaging drive, and the Puma shares a lot of parts with the Fiesta – a small hatchback celebrated for its excellent driving experience.
The Puma’s steering is confidence-inspiring, and its suspension is taught enough that you can feel what’s going on under the car’s wheels without it feeling too firm and uncomfortable.
Because the Focus is designed more as a family hatch, it has a slightly softer ride, but it’s just as engaging and enjoyable to drive.
Both are available with variants of the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, which is a joy to use. Over the years, 100hp, 125hp, 140hp and 155hp variants have been available, with and without emission-reducing mild hybrid technology.
That’s the only option for the Puma, but the Focus also has a 1.5-litre petrol option with 150hp or 182hp.
Long-distance drivers may also appreciate the greater fuel economy potential of the 120hp 1.5-litre diesel and 150hp 2.0-litre diesel engines in the Focus, whereas the Puma has never been available with diesel power.
What is the technology in the Ford Puma and Focus?
)
Neither car is short on in-car technology, and there’s really no bad pick, but it’s worth noting that some of the older entry-level Focus models do go without some car tech essentials.
Most Focus cars built after 2018 and earlier Puma models come with Ford’s SYNC 3 touchscreen infotainment system, which is very easy to use. More importantly, it comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.
It’s a seriously good system, but facelifted Focus models (2022-onward) and facelifted Puma models (2024-onward) get an even better SYNC 4 touchscreen. It has the same smartphone connectivity options, but even more of the car’s systems can be controlled from it and it’s a lot bigger (12 inches in the Puma and 13.2 inches in the Focus).
Optional extras like adaptive cruise control, a heated steering wheel, self-parking and a reversing camera are pretty widely available, and you can customise these two models to similar specifications.
Ford Puma vs. Focus size & dimensions
)
Although it’s based on the Fiesta, the Ford Puma is noticeably larger. It’s 4,207mm long and 1,537mm tall, however, its 1,930mm width makes it a reasonably narrow car that’s well suited to tighter cities and towns.
The Focus is a larger car, at 4,378mm long and 1,979mm wide, though it’s lower (1,471mm) because it’s a hatchback, not a crossover.
It’s worth mentioning that there’s a Focus Estate, too, which is 29cm longer than the hatchback. It’s slightly taller, but the same width.
Ford Puma vs Focus boot space
Compared with many of its small crossover rivals, the Puma’s boot is on the upper end of average, measuring 456 litres. Its party trick is its 68-litre storage area under the boot floor, which has a drainage plug. It’s great for storing messy kit and washing down afterwards.
However, the boot in the Focus is slightly smaller than you get in other family hatchbacks. Still, at 341 litres, it’s a very usable space.
If you need more space, the Focus Estate has a 575-litre boot. It’s about average for this class of car, and you can fit items longer than a metre in it, even with the rear seats up.
Puma vs. Focus: which is more reliable?
Ford has built itself a reputation for building reliable, dependable and long-lasting models. The Puma and the Focus are both important mainstream models for the brand, so there’s a lot of data to back up their impressive scores.
If something were to go wrong, many drivers tend to find that replacement parts can be cheaper than many other rivals, and they’re generally reasonably readily available, too.
Ford Puma ST vs Focus ST
)
Ford uses the ST brand to sell performance versions of some of its cars, and there are hot versions of the Puma and Focus.
The Puma gets the same 200hp 1.5-litre petrol engine as the Fiesta ST, which propels it to 62mph in 6.7 seconds. There’s also a 1.0-litre mild hybrid Puma ST – it has 170hp, an automatic gearbox, and a 0-62mph time of 7.4 seconds.
The 280hp 2.3-litre petrol engine in the Focus ST is far more fitting for a larger model. It’s good for 0-62mph in a pretty impressive 6.0 seconds.
If you fancy a perky diesel option, you can also get a Focus ST with a 190hp 2.0-litre diesel. It’s slower, with a 0-62mph time of 7.7 seconds, but it offers a similar proposition to the Volkswagen Golf GTD (which has a 0-62mph time of 7.1 seconds).
Used Ford Focus vs used Ford Puma: which should I buy?
In terms of the equipment both cars offer, there’s not a lot to separate the Focus and the Puma, but the differences come in the fact that the Focus belongs to a class above the Puma, which shares its parts with the smaller Fiesta.
For example, you can get more powerful engines and a generally more comfortable feel in a Focus, with the Puma emphasising its fun character and agile nature.