With Brit buyers looking to save money amid rising costs and economic uncertainty, the Ford Puma remains the UK's best-selling car, in no small part due to its economical running costs.
Eight months into 2025, the Puma is continuing its strong run. 30,764 units have already been registered so far this year, marking a major milestone for Ford and holding onto the top spot the manufacturer first seized in 2024.
Showing strong sales month after month, the Puma's appeal lies in its enjoyable driving experience, reasonable running costs and attractive pricing — especially in a market where UK consumers are increasingly looking for budget-friendly vehicles. It comes after news anyone buying fuel next week given '£15 charge' warning by The AA.
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But the broader new car market isn't so positive, with July ushering in the the end of two months of solid market growth and car registrations down five per cent year-on-year to 140,154 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). This means it is the weakest July performance since 2022 and almost 11 per cent below pre-pandemic levels.
Private and fleet demand both fell, with only small segments — such as mini and luxury saloon models — showing any signs of growth. While the year-to-date market is still up by 2.4 per cent on 2024, volatile sales, cost-of-living pressures and ongoing uncertainty all add up to buyers are being extra cautious and prioritising value.
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This trend is reflected in the Ford Puma's popularity, with many buyers prioritising reasonable upfront costs and efficiency over premium features and performance. Running costs are a big part of the Puma's appeal, with the newly launched Puma Gen-E electric vehicle (EV) offering real-world range of up to 233 miles on a single charge, competitive pricing and fast charging from 10 to 80 per cent in just 23 minutes.
With government grants making EVs more accessible, the Gen-E is expected to attract even more budget-conscious buyers eager to reduce running costs.
Despite all the positives, the Ford Puma isn't without its detractors, with one commenter on AutoTrader saying: "While the Puma's handling is still leagues ahead of its competition, the amount of standard equipment is not generous, and the interior falls behind rivals like the Renault Captur and Peugeot 2008.
"As a result, the Puma's uninterrupted reign over other compact crossovers no longer feels guaranteed, and it risks getting lost in the ever-growing jungle of small family SUVs."
So Ford's focus — pun intended — on keeping costs to a minimum means the Puma maintains its spot as the UK's best-selling car, for now at least.
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