Choosing a Puma Gen-E is straightforward enough: there’s just the one battery and power choice. Under the floor you will find a 43.6kWh battery that teams up with a 166bhp motor to power the front wheels. The WLTP range figure depends slightly on which spec you choose, because wheel size makes a difference.
I’ve gone for boggo Select trim for two reasons: first, it offers the longest official range, at 234 miles; second, it’s the specification found on those super-cheap leasing deals. And do you know what? It’s lovely. Everything I want and nothing I don’t. All the connectivity, 17in wheels, one of the clearest parking cameras in the game.
Cruise control, too, and not the adaptive kind, is a win for me, because I think these systems (from legacy manufacturers at least) are progressively getting worse in their functionality, less reliable and more prone to not working.
The next spec up, Premium, has 18in wheels, a better sound system and faux leather – none of which I am bothered about. The spec above that, Sound Edition, gets different 18in wheels and an even more banging sound system. Again, not bothered.
But I have optioned the Winter Pack, for its heated steering wheel and front seats, as well as the Comfort Pack, with an electric tailgate, keyless entry and puddle lights with the Puma logo.
That last of which is proper naff. Could this Gen-E be peak daily driver? Let’s find out.
Update 2
If you have a scientific background, please look away now. For those of you who are still here, I’m about to deploy some man maths.
In my first report, I posited that the Puma Gen-E, currently available from as little as £132 per month with £1800-ish down, might just make fantastic financial sense. Its cost-effectiveness allows you to pump capital into other things. The best bet is probably an S&P 500 index tracker. But maybe you’ve got your eye on a new kitchen or that 2006 Aston Martin V8 Vantage you’ve been stalking on Autotrader.
And it struck me as I parked up at the supermarket the other day (while mentally preparing myself to spend £7 on 500ml of olive oil) that I was absolutely spot on with my assertion. Because staring back at me from the Gen-E’s instrument display was this figure: 6.9mpkWh. Nearly seven miles per kilowatt hour.
