Ford's Puma Crossover Leaving Australia for Good To Make Room for Other Models

According to the Blue Oval, the last copies of the Puma will arrive in the Pacific country in May, and local dealers have enough examples in stock to fulfill all customer orders. But why drop the ICE-powered Puma? Because it is the upcoming Puma Gen-E, aka the battery-electric version, which will serve as its replacement. The EV is a couple of months away and should launch before the year's end.

Besides the Puma Gen-E, Ford will remain committed to its performance lineup, comprising the new-gen Mustang, the Mustang Mach-E electric crossover, and the Ranger Raptor. The Everest, Ranger, F-150, and Tourneo will also live on, and on top of these, the brand's local branch will also put the spotlight on light commercial vehicles (besides the Ranger and F-150), with Ford Australia's President and CEO, Andrew Birkic, mentioning the Transit and E-Transit family.

The ICE-powered Puma is still listed on the company's local website in three flavors. The base one starts at AU$35,708 (US$23,230) drive-away, and for the mid-range ST-Line, the one pictured in the gallery above, customers will have to fork out at least AU$38,159 (US$24,825). The top-of-the-line ST-Line V has a recommended retail price of AU$41,494 (US$26,995). All of them feature a 1.0L EcoBoost with a 7sp auto 'box and front-wheel drive, and they're equipped with multiple gizmos, with the most interesting ones being reserved for the upper spec.

Unveiled in 2019 and facelifted recently, the Ford Puma crossover uses the same moniker as the front-engine and front-wheel drive coupe made from 1997 to 2002. Production takes place at the automaker's factory in Craiova, Romania, and beneath the skin lies the same platform used on the demised Fiesta, EcoSport, B-Max, Ka+/Figo, and old Transit Courier. The high-riding Puma comes with an assortment of powertrains that vary depending on where it is sold, and there is no all-wheel drive system on deck.

Ford isn't offering the Puma in the New World, where their most affordable crossover is the larger Escape. The compact high-rider, which is marketed as the Kuga in the Old Continent, shares its nuts and bolts with the fourth-gen Focus and with the Bronco Sport, Maverick, and Lincoln Corsair. It has been around since 2019 and comes in six trim levels stateside, including the Active, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, Platinum, and Plug-in Hybrid. Pricing starts at just under the $30,000 mark for the base flavor and exceeds $40,000 for the electrified model before destination and dealer fees.