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Ford Puma Gen-E Select 47kWh

List price (BiK) excluding Electric Car Grant: £31,880 (3%)  Economy: 259 miles   Test efficiency: 173 miles

Monday

Any Ford Puma has always been welcomed with open arms at my house. While the original coupé model is now a distant but pleasant memory, the SUV model is just as welcome. Fun to drive, well packaged and just the right level of kit for the money, it’s always struck a chord. Now we have the all-electric Puma Gen-E as another iteration of Ford’s compact SUV to see if it’s as good.

Tuesday

First task for the Puma Gen-E is collecting my daughter from school for an appointment, which is a round trip of around 30 miles on a mix of roads. Ideal work for the Puma, which has 80% charge when I leave home and shows around 130 miles of range. That’s a slight disappointment, but not as much as getting home with only 40% showing and a range of 60 miles.

Wednesday

Charging up the Puma this morning is mercifully quick, which underlines this car’s small battery pack. It also points out this car was not designed from the ground up as an EV like many of its rivals that have larger batteries and driving ranges. A small win for the Ford is the underbonnet cubby for stashing the charging cable so it’s not sloshing around the boot.

Thursday

A brisk start this morning as the weather has turned Siberian again highlights the Select trim of Puma Gen-E does not have heated seats. Call me a softy, but it’s now something I consider an essential for any car used all year round. The heated windscreen, though, takes seconds to clear and the electric Puma is as stable and confidence-inspiring as its petrol siblings on frosty lanes.

Friday

One hundred miles of local running and the Puma is hooked back up to the grid for more electricity. Yes, it takes a short while to top it back up, especially on a faster charger like the one used this morning, but it’s becoming a chore to constantly think about range and where to recharge. It’s a sign this EV has already fallen behind the opposition by some margin.

Saturday

Driving range issues aside, the Puma Gen-E is easily one of the most enjoyable electric cars to drive. Ford has worked its magic on the ride and handling balance, keeping the battery’s weight under control so the Puma turns into corners with a keenness few can match. It handles, steers and rides with the sort of comportment most can only aspire to.

Sunday

As the first car to qualify for the full EV grant, it’s a temptingly affordable fleet prospect. In Select trim as here, it’s at its most cost-conscious, so for some business users it will make a lot of sense. There is still that question mark over its useful driving range that means more frequent charging stops, which will not suit those who cover more miles in their usual routine.