Ford Puma vs Nissan Juke

For many years now, the award-winning Nissan Juke has remained a popular choice in its class. However, in 2019, Ford introduced the new Ford Puma SUV crossover as a key rival to the Juke. Ford took this leap as the demand for SUVs continued to grow and so far, the Ford Puma is proving a huge success. That said, GB Vehicle Leasing have decided to review both the Puma and Juke to decide which one ultimately comes out on top.

A Brief History

The Ford Puma's history dates back to the late 1990s when Ford introduced a small sports coupe with the same name. However, the original Puma was a two-door coupe based on the Ford Fiesta platform and had a relatively short production run. In 2019, Ford reused the Puma name but in a completely different form, as a crossover SUV. The modern Ford Puma made its debut as a 2020 model, featuring a stylish design and a focus on practicality.

The Nissan Juke, introduced in 2010, is often credited with pioneering the subcompact crossover SUV segment. Its distinctive, bold design challenged traditional notions of what an SUV should look like. In 2019, Nissan launched the second-generation Juke with a more refined and modern design, improved interior quality, and advanced tech features. It retained its compact footprint while offering a more comfortable and connected driving experience.

Design, interior and technology

The Nissan Juke has now been around for over 10 years, winning numerous awards during this time. The latest Juke has been refined to provide more space, higher tech and greater practicality. In terms of the exterior design, we like the sporty looks and bold headlights of the Nissan Juke. Size wise, the Juke is slightly bigger than the Puma, although not by much. Furthermore, inside the Nissan Juke, it has a sporty five seat interior with a high-quality finish which will appeal to many drivers. Meanwhile, the Ford Puma has a bold design and offers plenty clever features to appeal to the modern-day driver. Although, its interior doesn’t feel as spacious as rivals like the Volkswagen Taigo and the rear legroom is slightly disappointing.

Pricing for the Ford Puma starts from £23,885 (OTR) for the entry-level Puma Titanium. Key features include selectable drive modes, rear parking sensors and a Quickclear heated windscreen. Whereas, Nissan Juke pricing starts quite a bit lower at £20,420 for the entry-level ‘Visia’ trim. This comes with cruise control, DAB radio, Bluetooth® and LED headlamps. We feel the Ford Puma is slightly better equipped as standard, although it really depends on what you look for on a car. For example, the Ford Puma features a touchscreen infotainment system and alloy wheels on the base model, whereas the Nissan Juke doesn’t. For a sportier version, you could select the Puma ST-Line which is priced from £24,835 (OTR). This comes with projector headlamps, the ST-Line body styling kit and sport suspension. The Puma ST-Line has a top speed of 119mph and offers 125bhp.

Practicality and safety

We feel both the Ford Puma and Nissan Juke are practical cars with plenty to offer. Firstly, let’s talk about the storage space in these cars. The Nissan Juke offers a generous 422-litre boot size, although this doesn’t quite match the 456-litre boot of the Ford Puma. Plus, we feel the storage space of the Puma has been well designed with its adjustable floor. That said, the Nissan Juke has been built for comfortable journeys thanks to its comfortable seating.

Another important point to consider is the safety and security of these cars. In terms of safety, both the Puma and Juke have received high safety ratings from organisations such as Euro NCAP. As standard, the Nissan Juke has the following safety features; lane departure warning, hill start assist, vehicle dynamic control, active ride control and active trace control. However, we feel it’s worth upgrading to a higher spec for extra safety features such as rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot intervention and moving object detection. As for the Puma, this comes well equipped with safety features as standard, including lane-keeping aid, traction control, pre-collision assist and emergency brake warning. Both vehicles are equipped with six airbags and have an Isofix child-seat anchoring system as standard.

Overall, both the Ford Puma and Nissan Juke are solid choices for those looking for a practical and safe compact SUV. The Puma offers slightly more cargo space and additional driver assistance features, while the Juke has a smaller turning radius that makes it more maneuverable in tight spaces.

Engine size and performance

The Ford Puma is available with a 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine; however, you can choose between two versions - 125hp and 155hp. All models feature Ford's mild-hybrid tech for improved fuel-efficiency. As expected, the 155hp version is slightly quicker with a 0-62mph time of around 9 seconds. Alternatively, you could opt for the Ford Puma ST which has a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine. Based on the smaller Fiesta ST, this is the quickest version of the Puma and has added power. Producing 200hp, the Ford Puma ST engine has a 0-62mph time of 6.7 seconds. Reportedly, this Ford car offers a smooth drive and handles the roads well, making it an appealing option.

Similarly, the engine choices for the Nissan Juke are rather simple – choose either a 1.0-litre petrol or a 1.6-litre hybrid. However, the Juke’s engines are not as powerful or responsive as the Puma. Performance wise, the 1.0-litre petrol Juke produces 114ps and has a 0-62mph time of over 10 seconds. That said, this engine does perform well around town and there’s manual or automatic options. If you’d prefer a hybrid car lease, your only option is the 1.6-litre hybrid Juke. This was introduced in 2022 as a rival for the hybrid Toyota Yaris Cross. This hybrid car is reasonable economical, as well as slightly quicker than the petrol Nissan Juke.

Reliability

Reliability is a critical factor for many car drivers, as it directly influences the ownership experience and long-term costs. The Ford Puma has already shown promising signs of reliability. Ford, as a brand, has made significant strides in improving the dependability of its vehicles over the years. The Puma benefits from sharing its platform with the Ford Fiesta, a well-established and dependable model. However, it's essential to note that the Puma is a relatively new model, and long-term reliability data may not be as abundant as for older vehicles.

In comparison, the Nissan Juke has been in production for longer and so offers a more extensive track record for reliability evaluation. The Juke has generally received mixed reviews in terms of dependability. While some owners have reported trouble-free experiences, others have mentioned issues related to reliability, such as electrical glitches. Keep in mind that, as with any vehicle, reliability can vary based on factors like model year, maintenance, and individual driving habits. With regular maintenance, a Nissan Juke can still have the potential for long-term reliability, like the Ford Puma.

Our Verdict

It's difficult to say which car is better between the Ford Puma and the Nissan Juke as it ultimately comes down to personal preference. Both cars are compact SUVs with similar levels of practicality and safety features. The Nissan Juke is particularly liked for its bold design and sporty looks. However, the Ford Puma has more powerful engine options and offers a more comfortable ride. Overall, the Ford Puma is reportedly better to drive than the Juke.

If you enjoyed reading this blog, click here for more of our latest news and reviews. Also, get in touch with us for more information about car leasing. At GB Vehicle Leasing we strive to provide the best customer service possible. Here’s our latest genuine reviews from our lovely customers.