2021 Ford Puma v Toyota Yaris Cross GX 2WD Hybrid comparison
How does Ford's all-new baby SUV stack up against the latest little hybrid from Australia's favourite brand? Glenn Butler and Tom Fraser find out.
Australians love SUVs in all shapes and sizes, especially at the smallest end of the market where the Yaris Cross and Ford Puma play. This market is running hot, moving almost three times as many cars in 2021 as it did in 2020. Part of that could be the Covid effect, but the light SUV segment is also well ahead of pre-Covid 2019 figures, so clearly these cars deliver what more Australians want.
We were keen to put two of the newest offerings in this segment together to see how they stack up. So we grabbed the Ford Puma - $29,990 in base form – and the Toyota Yaris Cross GX AWD and hit the road. Toyota could only provide us with a slightly more expensive hybrid-powered Yaris Cross, but given that more Aussies are going hybrid, and that the Yaris Cross Hybrid’s price is comparable to the Puma, we think it’s still a fair fight.
Ding, ding, ding. Let the bout begin.
Introduction
Ford Puma
The Ford Puma is the smallest SUV the brand offers and starts off from a $29,990 list price for the eponymous base-level Puma specification.
Our tester came fitted with the $1500 optional parking pack, which allows the car to park itself (among other tricks including adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring), and the $2000 optional panoramic sunroof.
The base-level Ford Puma is pricier than many of its light-SUV rivals, such as the Mazda CX-3, Hyundai Venue, Nissan Juke and Volkswagen T-Cross, but it does come with some neat features as standard.
You do feel as if you’re getting a valuable deal with features such as native satellite navigation, wireless phone charging, auto high beam, rain-sensing wipers, LED ambient interior lighting, digital radio, and some nifty LED puddle lamps that display a puma cat.
There are also 17-inch alloy wheels, an 8.0-inch SYNC 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as massage seats – certainly an oddity at this price point.
The entire Puma range is powered by a 92kW/170Nm 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Power is sent to the front wheels.
Toyota Yaris Cross
The Toyota Yaris Cross is the first light SUV from Australia’s top-selling brand, Toyota. It is the smallest SUV in Toyota’s range, and sits below the popular RAV4 and C-HR in size, price and features. Its nearest rival is the Mazda CX-3, followed by the Volkswagen T-Cross, Kia Stonic, Hyundai Venue and Ford Puma.
There are three equipment levels in the Yaris Cross range – GX, GXL and Urban – and all are available with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Power comes from a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). A petrol-electric hybrid powertrain is optional on 2WD variants and standard on AWD variants.
Prices start from $26,990 for the Yaris Cross GX 2WD petrol and top out at $37,990 for the Yaris Cross Urban AWD Hybrid. The model we’re testing here is the GX 2WD Hybrid priced at $28,990.
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The GX grade gets halogen headlights, whereas the GXL and Urban get higher-quality LED headlights. The GX gets LED tail-lights, daytime running lights (DRLs) and rear LED foglamps, auto-folding electric mirrors, 16-inch alloy wheels and remote central locking.
Interior Comfort
Ford Puma
The interior space of the new Ford Puma is a modern, functional space with a suite of neat features and cool tech. Cloth upholstery adorns the seats, which feels robust and built to last the distance (not to mention features a cool design), while the seats themselves are firm and supportive – especially around the shoulders.
Though it’s a $2000 option, the panoramic sunroof works to lift in-cabin ambience and fills it with light and the sense that it’s a larger space than it actually is. There’s a good amount of space to get comfortable with in the front row, and the seats have a good level of adjustment to provide the driver with a good perch to see clearly out of the cabin.
Ford has employed a series of soft-touch fabrics to cover most touchpoints, which is a point of difference for the segment, as many rivals tend to make do with hard plastics on the door cards and dash tops, for example.
The plush leather-covered steering wheel is nice to hold and contains a series of button shortcuts to operate different infotainment functions. The touchscreen is just a short reach away and placed at the forefront of the dash for easy-access operation.
Back seat passengers will have no trouble getting in and out of the second row thanks to a large door aperture, and once inside, the space on offer is commendable for the segment. Small to average-sized passengers should have no trouble folding their legs in behind the seats, while there’s a good amount of shoulder and foot room too. Headroom isn’t fantastic for taller occupants – we’d be curious to try a Puma without the sunroof to see if it’s any better.
Storage-wise, there’s a small cubby behind the centre console for rear passengers to use, as well as two map pockets and door bins. There are no rear air vents, though that’s par for the course in this light-SUV segment.
The Puma has deep and wide door pockets to store a number of items, as well as a slot in front of the shifter for wireless phone charging and keys, for example. There’s a couple of cupholders next to the shifter, though storage between the seats is limited.
Ford says the Puma’s boot capacity is rated at 410L. It’s a respectable size for a small SUV, and a very useable space thanks to a false floor that allows for easy loading, a sneaky plastic-lined sub-floor cavity over the space-saver spare wheel, and a wide aperture to shove in bigger items. The cargo blind is also a neat unit that connects to the hatch rather than the back seats, which means the back seats can be folded down (60:40 split) without having to remove the blind.
A manual handbrake features in the front row - just a sole aberration from an otherwise technologically focused space.
Toyota Yaris Cross
The Toyota Yaris Cross is 240mm longer, 70mm wider and 85mm taller than the Yaris hatchback, which means it is a lot roomier inside. The hip point is also 20mm higher, which makes getting in and out easier, although the back doors are narrow enough to make exiting a challenge for less flexible members of society.
The driving position is good thanks to a multi-adjustable seat and steering wheel combination. The leather steering wheel itself is quite small – some may call it sporty – and has the usual array of buttons for adjusting the cruise control and audio system. The tactility of these buttons is not great unless you push them dead centre.
Driver vision is also good forward and to the side, though some might find the smallish rear window like looking through a postbox.
The GX grade gets fabric seats, vanity mirror on the driver’s sunvisor only (not illuminated), a digital instrument cluster with 4.2-inch multi-information display in the instrument binnacle, a 7.0-inch colour touchscreen infotainment display mounted centrally on the dashboard, climate control air-conditioning, push-button start, electric windows with one-touch up and down on the driver’s side, Bluetooth connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and DAB digital radio.
The 7.0-inch colour touchscreen houses sound system controls, as well as buttons for interacting with the car’s trip computer and efficiency meters and connected mobile phones. There are a number of other buttons around the cabin, including six blanks to remind you that you’re missing features fitted to other Yaris Cross grades.
One handy little feature is the small storage tray immediately under the touchscreen, which is ideal for phones, sunglasses, parking cards, house keys and the like.
The back seats are capable of accommodating three kids or two adults with good legroom behind the front seats and decent foot space underneath. Headroom is also not an issue for six-footers. The middle-seat backrest folds down to be a central armrest when needed and has two cupholders to complement the cupholders and pockets in each back door. The front passenger seat also has a seat-back map pocket.
There are no air vents or USB sockets for back seat passengers. There are three baby seat tethers plus ISOFIX anchors on the two outboard back seats.
Boot space is 390L with the back seats in place, which is 120L more than the Yaris hatchback, 126L more than the Mazda CX-3, but 20L less than the Ford Puma. In its standard configuration, there’s only 314L because an additional 76L hides in a 12cm-deep basement below a split-lifting false floor. This is unique to the 2WD.
Below that basement floor hides a space-saver spare tyre.
The cargo blind is flimsy like a sun-shade, so it’s fine for hiding what’s in your boot but useless as a cargo shelf for anything heavier than a scarf. It can be folded up and stored when not in use.
Closing the boot requires a bit of effort, which is not always easy to apply using the built-in handholds, especially on cold mornings.
At a glance | 2021 Ford Puma | 2021 Toyota Yaris Cross GX 2WD Hybrid |
Seats | Five | Five |
Boot volume | 410L | 390L |
Length | 4186mm | 4180mm |
Width | 1805mm | 1765mm |
Height | 1550mm | 1590mm |
Wheelbase | 2588mm | 2560mm |
Turning circle | 10.4m | 10.6m |
Infotainment and Connectivity
Ford Puma
Ford’s tried-and-tested SYNC 3 infotainment system features in the Puma. It’s a simple system to become acquainted with, featuring a series of shortcut buttons along the bottom, and its clear and concise mapping is easy to get used to.
For those who prefer it, smartphone mirroring is on offer with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto services covered.
FordPass is available on the Puma, which allows an owner to check various car systems via a simple mobile phone application. It can tell you where your vehicle is, unlock the car, check the health of the vehicle and display live traffic feeds.
The Puma has one USB-C port in the centre console, one USB-A port next to the shifter, and a 12-volt outlet for charging various devices.
Toyota Yaris Cross
The Yaris Cross has a basic level of infotainment features, mostly accessible through the centrally mounted 7.0-inch touchscreen. Digital radio is standard playing through a six-speaker sound system.
There is a single USB connection in the centre stack, along with a 12V DC port. Phones can be connected via USB or Bluetooth and operated independently or through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto when plugged in to the USB.
Satellite navigation is not fitted to the GX grade. It’s on GXL and Urban grades only.
Safety
Ford Puma
The Australian New Car Assessment Program ruled that the Ford Puma deserves a five-star safety rating in late 2019. It managed a 94 per cent result for adult occupant protection, 86 per cent for child occupant protection, 77 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 74 per cent for safety assist.
All Puma variants come standard with six airbags, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, a driver-impairment monitor, rear parking sensors and a tyre pressure monitor.
The $1500 Park Pack fitted to our tester also adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality and lane-centring capabilities, plus active park assist with front, side and rear sensors and blind-spot detection.
Toyota Yaris Cross
The Yaris Cross has not been tested by ANCAP yet, so it does not have a star rating. We would expect it to earn five stars given that every Toyota tested since 2011 has earned that rating.
All Yaris Cross grades have eight airbags, including a first-in-class front centre airbag that guards against lateral contact between the driver and front passenger in a crash.
Active safety features – what Toyota calls Toyota Safety Sense – includes a pre-collision safety system that includes autonomous emergency braking with day/night pedestrian and daytime cyclist detection, lane-trace assist, emergency steering assist, lane-departure alert, daytime intersection turn assist, road sign assist and adaptive radar cruise control.
The GX does not get blind-spot monitoring or rear cross-traffic alert, both of which are reserved for GXL and Urban grades.
The Yaris Cross GX has the Toyota Connected Services facility, which automatically places an emergency call in a serious collision.
At a glance | 2021 Ford Puma | 2021 Toyota Yaris Cross |
ANCAP rating | Five stars | Five stars |
Year tested | 2019 | 2020 |
Safety report | LINK to ANCAP | Link to ANCAP |
Value for Money
Ford Puma
Starting from $29,990, the Ford Puma finds itself at the pricier end of the light-SUV market. That said, the level of standard equipment on offer – regardless of optional packs – is high.
From an ownership perspective, the Puma is covered by Ford’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. Ford also throws in seven years of roadside assistance as long as you service your vehicle regularly at approved service centres.
Each service must be completed at 15,000km or 12-month intervals, with the first five visits setting buyers back $1516.
Toyota Yaris Cross
This is an easy one. The Yaris Cross is currently the only hybrid in Australia’s light-SUV market, which makes it unbeatable value for money if that’s what you’re after.
Many will no doubt see the benefit in buying a hybrid costing $2000 more than a purely petrol equivalent to reduce their fuel bill by $450 per year and reduce emissions.
The Yaris Cross comes with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. This is extended to seven years if the first five years’ servicing is done on time at an approved Toyota service centre. The hybrid battery has a 10-year warranty.
The service schedule is every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Servicing costs are capped at a very affordable $205 for each of the first five services.
At a glance | 2021 Ford Puma | 2021 Toyota Yaris Cross GX 2WD Hybrid |
MSRP | $29,990 | $28,990 |
Options as tested | Park Pack ($1500), panoramic roof ($2000) | None |
Warranty | Five years/unlimited km | Five years/unlimited km |
Servicing costs | $1010 (3yr)/$1516 (5yr) | $615 (3yr)/$1025 (5yr) |
Driver Technology
Ford Puma
The Ford Puma we tested features the $1500 Park Pack, which allows the car to semi-autonomously park itself. In practice, the system works very accurately and is swift at picking out suitable spots to plonk itself.
It also features start/stop technology, a radar-based adaptive cruise-control system, and a TFT display within the instrument cluster. While not a fully digital display, the small insert screen still allows the driver to view a digital speedo, control phone functions, change music and fiddle with the car’s functions.
Also of note is a rear-view camera with parking sensors, traffic sign recognition, hill hold and launch assist, as well as an emergency assistant that will automatically phone up emergency services if the vehicle detects a crash.
Toyota Yaris Cross
The Yaris Cross has a number of active safety features listed above that help the driver stay safe and in their lane while driving. It also reads speed signs and will beep at you if you exceed the posted speed limit, although this does not actively influence the radar cruise control’s speed setting.
The Yaris Cross GX has auto high beam, rain-sensing wipers and a reversing camera with guidelines.
Powertrain and Performance
Ford Puma
The Puma’s 92kW/170Nm outputs might not sound too hot on paper, but the 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine of the Puma is a punchy and spritely unit. Peak outputs occur at 6000rpm (power) and between 1500–4500rpm (torque), which is perfect for around-town duties.
It only has to shift 1264kg (tare) – which is a pretty standard weight for its class – but the pairing between seven-speed gearbox and turbocharged motor works in harmony to make for a pleasant little drive.
There’s a sense of hesitation when taking off from a set of lights, but it only takes a fraction of a second for the Puma to figure out what it’s doing and then snap into action. Once on the move, gearshifts are effectively unnoticeable, and the car responds diligently to sudden throttle inputs.
Not only is the Puma’s powertrain competent, but it’s also a quiet operator. Engine noise levels are kept to a minimum, while road and wind noise are also subdued.
Toyota Yaris Cross
Press the start button and the Yaris Cross Hybrid starts silently, leveraging its electric power to get you out of your driveway. The petrol engine kicks in from time to time to keep itself lubricated and jumps in quickly once you’re on the road to provide a decent amount of acceleration for this 1215kg mini-SUV.
The 1.5-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine produces 67kW and 120Nm. A pair of electric motors make for a combined output of 85kW said to propel the Yaris Cross from rest to 100km/h in 11.2 seconds.
The hybrid system is smart and seamless in how it shifts from electric to petrol to hybrid modes, but it’s always noticeable because the petrol engine is not that quiet or refined. It is a three-cylinder unit, so no surprise it can be thrummy and you will feel the vibrations inside – soft but perceptible. Some may like this character, while some may find it unrefined.
Overall, the CVT/hybrid powertrain is competent but uninspiring. If you prefer the sound of engine revs changing and gearchanges, then make sure you buy a petrol 2WD or hybrid AWD, instead of the hybrid 2WD, which have paddles on the steering wheel to give you access to 10 set ratios to mimic gears. Or maybe we should just get over our love of engine sounds in preparation for the silent electric future?
Key details | 2021 Ford Puma | 2021 Toyota Yaris Cross GX 2WD Hybrid |
Engine | 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol | 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol hybrid |
Power | 92kW @ 6000rpm | 85kW @ 5500rpm |
Torque | 170Nm @ 1500-4500rpm | 120Nm @ 3800-4800pm |
Weight (tare) | 1264kg | 1215kg |
Drive type | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
Transmission | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic | CVT |
Tow rating | 750kg (braked) | 400kg/400kg |
Power to weight ratio | 72.8kW/t | 70kW/t |
Energy Efficiency
Ford Puma
Fuel use in the Ford Puma is claimed to be 5.3L/100km (combined), though our testing indicated a more realistic 6.6L/100km should be expected. Being a small-capacity turbocharged unit, you can expect the Puma to use less fuel than larger-engined alternatives such as the Mazda CX-3.
The Ford Puma does ask to be filled with a minimum of 95-octane fuel, which will eat into owners’ budgets.
Toyota Yaris Cross
There are four drive modes – Power, Eco, Normal and EV mode. The first three adjust throttle sensitivity and CVT ratio selection to prioritise efficiency or performance. The fourth – EV mode – uses electricity to move the car until battery charge drops too low or the driver’s throttle pressure exceeds the electric motor’s ability to deliver.
Fuel economy during our time together saw a best of 3.9L/100km and a worst of 4.3L/100km. That’s pretty close to Toyota’s claim of 3.8L/100km.
The Yaris Cross Hybrid runs on 91RON unleaded fuel and has a 36L tank.
The 4.2-inch multi-information display in the instrument cluster has an ECO driving score page to keep you focused on minimising fuel use and maximising mileage. It also has the usual array of trip computers, audio settings and energy monitor.
At a glance | 2021 Ford Puma | 2021 Toyota Yaris Cross GX 2WD Hybrid |
Fuel consumption (claimed combined) | 5.3L/100km | 3.8L/100km |
Fuel consumption (on test) | 6.6L/100km | 4.1L/100km |
Fuel tank size | 42L | 36L |
Ride and Handling
Ford Puma
The base Ford Puma on test goes without the sports-tuned suspension of its more expensive alternative variants. The steering is nice and direct – a trademark of European-designed Ford products – which makes for an entertaining drive, as well as being accurate when manoeuvring about suburbia. It’s a well-weighted system that strikes a nice balance between being feelsome and not being overly heavy.
It rides nicely over mid-town bumps and potholes, while even larger speedhumps can be attempted at speed without upsetting the car’s composure. Even on the open road, the Ford Puma is positively fun to pedal through tight switchback corners. Its small frame is agile and eager to get involved in sporty driving.
Toyota Yaris Cross
I’ll admit, I was surprised at how well the Yaris Cross handles itself. This is no hot hatch, not even a warm one, but it is light-footed and enjoyable to drive. The electric steering is light but has substance, and the 16-inch Bridgestone Turanzas provide decent grip in the dry and the wet. The Yaris Cross’s 10mm-longer wheelbase and 35mm-wider front and rear track give it a tangibly bigger footprint than the Yaris hatch too.
The Yaris Cross’s suspension keeps body roll under control in bends. The trade-off for this is a more reactive suspension tune that doesn’t glide over the road’s imperfections, rather it rides them out. So you feel pretty much everything, especially sharper ridges that can crash noisily through. It’s a busier ride than expected from 65-series tyres.
The Yaris Cross’s 10.6m turning circle is on par with rivals like the Mazda CX-3 (10.6m) and Ford Puma (10.4m).
Fit for Purpose
Ford Puma
As a small-car ownership package, the Ford Puma presents a strong showing. It may cost a little more than some rivals on initial outlay, but its servicing costs, warranty, and included roadside assistance package will all help make that extra outlay easier to stomach.
For a light SUV it’s well equipped, the cabin features a comfortable amount of space, and materials quality is high.
Toyota Yaris Cross
You’ll get no arguments here. The Toyota Yaris Cross GX Hybrid delivers on its promise very well. We have a few minor quibbles, such as key active safety features being reserved for higher grades, but nothing to stop us giving the Yaris Cross the thumbs-up.
Conclusion
One thousand dollars' price difference may not sound like much, but it’s a fair bit when you’re shopping at the most affordable end of the SUV market. Comparing the Puma and Yaris Cross on spec reveals how close this fight is, although for our money the Puma edges slightly ahead, especially if you like satnav, wireless phone charging and seat massagers.
Cabin space and practicality are too close to call, with both carrying four adults in comfort and having practical, accommodating boots.
Safety is also close, but here the Yaris sneaks ahead. Both are five-star cars with a good selection of active safety features, though neither offers blind-spot warning. The Yaris does have active cruise control and a front centre airbag, whereas the Puma doesn’t, but the Puma has rear parking sensors while the Yaris doesn’t.
When it comes to value for money, the Yaris sneaks further ahead with cheaper servicing costs over the first five years and a considerable fuel economy advantage (4.1 v 6.6L/100km).
It’s in the driving that the differences are most obvious. Whereas the Yaris uses its hybrid powertrain to deliver economy and efficiency, the Puma’s quieter and more powerful engine and gearbox combo make it a more accomplished performer. Then we come to ride and handling, and the Puma’s more polished ride edges it ahead, though both are just as much fun to drive.
The Ford Puma wins this comparison, but only just, riding its longer equipment list and driving refinement across the finish line first. For some, though, the Yaris will be the better choice if more affordable, safer motoring is the priority.