Why is everyone buying the Ford Puma? 

There’s no denying that SUVs are hugely popular in the UK. They make up seven of the 10 best-selling cars of 2026, and topping the charts is the Ford Puma.

More than 24,000 of these dinky SUVs have found homes so far in 2026, and it was also the best-selling car of 2025 with almost 55,500 sold. So what makes the Ford Puma so popular? Well, there are a few reasons.

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1. It’s basically the new Fiesta

One of the main reasons the Puma sells so well is the demise of the Ford Fiesta. The brand discontinued the small hatchback back in 2024, leaving the Puma as the smallest car it sells.

The Fiesta is the biggest-selling car in UK history, with over 4.1 million of them sold over its near 50-year production run. It was also the best-selling used car in 2025 according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

So where did all of those customers go when the Fiesta got the axe? They bought Ford Pumas instead. Under the skin it’s basically the same as the old Fiesta, just in a more trendy SUV body.

2. It’s brilliant to drive

One of the Fiesta’s biggest selling points was its handling, because even in basic form it was a hoot to drive on a twisty road. Given that the Puma shares its suspension, it’s no different.

Okay, so being slightly taller than the Fiesta makes it a bit less agile, but the steering is still quick and accurate, and you hardly get any body roll through the corners. When you’re not hooning around the countryside, the Puma is also pretty comfy over bumps and quiet on the motorway.

3. Practicality is really good

For such a small car, the Ford Puma has a massive boot. At 456 litres, it’s larger than a Volkswagen Golf and a Honda Civic, both of which are bigger cars than the Ford.

This is mostly thanks to the massive storage space under the floor, which Ford dubs the “Megabox”. It’s got a drain plug so you can fill it with ice to keep your drinks cool, or even chuck soggy clothes or boots in without worrying about getting the boot wet.

What’s the catch?

The Ford Puma is by no means perfect, and just because it’s popular doesn’t mean you should just go right ahead and buy one.

For starters, it’s not as good-value as it once was thanks to new Chinese entrants. With prices starting at just over £27,000, it’s more than £7,000 more expensive than a Chery Tiggo 4, and it’s not any better-equipped either.

The interior also feels quite cheap. There are a lot of hard, flimsy plastics on the dashboard, and if you’re after a more interesting-looking cabin then a Peugeot 2008 is a better choice.

Despite these drawbacks, the Ford Puma is still a good small SUV with plenty of character, and the familiarity of that blue oval badge will be enough to keep a lot of buyers coming back. We can see why it’s so popular, especially with the Fiesta being no more.

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