* Ford Pumas of ‘Design’ grade were not equipped with the front camera and therefore lacked the performance needed in autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane keeping aid (LKA) needed for the 2019 5-star rating. These vehicles were manufactured in July 2021 in response to the shortage of semiconductors brought about by the Covid pandemic and have VINs ending with the last six digits in the range 57776 to 64112, although only ‘Design’ grade was affected. Vehicles of other trim levels/grades were unaffected and the 5-star rating applies.
The passenger compartment of the Puma remained stable in the frontal offset test. Dummy readings indicated good protection of the knees and femurs of the driver and passenger. Ford showed that a similar level of protection would be provided to occupants of different sizes and to those sitting in different positions. Protection of the driver’s chest was rated as marginal. In the full-width rigid barrier test, protection of all critical body areas was good or adequate for both the driver and rear passenger. In both the side barrier and the more severe side pole tests, protection of all critical body areas was good and the car scored full points in both of these tests. Tests on the front seats and head restraints demonstrated good protection against whiplash injuries in the event of a rear-end collision. A geometric assessment of the rear seats also indicated good whiplash protection. The standard-fit autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system performed well in tests of its functionality at the low speeds at which many whiplash injuries occur, with collisions avoided or mitigated in all test scenarios.
In both the frontal and side barrier tests, protection of all critical body areas was good or adequate for both dummies. The front passenger airbag can be disabled to allow a rearward-facing child restraint to be used in that seating position. Clear information is provided to the driver regarding the status of the airbag and the system was rewarded. All restraints types for the which the Puma is designed could be properly installed and accommodated.
The bonnet generally provided good or adequate protection to the head of a struck pedestrian, but poor results were recorded on the stiff windscreen pillars and along the windscreen base. The bumper provided good protection to pedestrians’ legs and protection of the pelvis was also good at all test locations. The Puma’s AEB system can detect vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists, as well as other vehicles. In tests, the system’s response to both was good, with collisions avoided or mitigated in most cases.
The Puma has a seatbelt reminder system for the front and rear seats. The AEB system performed well in tests of its response to other vehicles at highway speeds. A lane support system helps prevent inadvertent drifting out of lane. A speed assistance system uses a camera to determine the local speed limit. This information is presented to the driver who can then set the limiter to the appropriate speed.