Best in class Key Rival: Ford Puma


The fact that the Ford Puma has retained its honours in a sector with many new launches over the past four years, tells you how much we like this car, and it is our current ‘Best Compact SUV.’ Recently facelifted, Puma highlights remain the practical interior, an excellent drive, and the latest driver assistance and safety systems.


This Puma is in near-range-topping ST-Line X spec, with the second highest P11D figure here (£28,165), and


 Residual value: 42%  Depreciation: £16,440  Fuel costs: £8,177  SMR: £2,557


surprisingly it hasn’t affected its standing in this set. Its 30% BIK figure is equal best with the Seat, but the Nissan and Skoda are only just behind with 1% more. More impressive, considering the other models in this set, is the fact that at £11,700 and 42%, it has the highest


Ford Puma 1.0 Ecoboost 155 ST-Line X


P11D: £28,165 CO2 (tax): 125g/km (30%) BIK 20/40% a month: £140/£281 Fuel consumption: 50.4mpg National Insurance: £97 First year VED: £210 Subsequent VED: £165 Engine size/power: 999cc/155hp AFR: 13p


Key Rival: Nissan Juke CPM


45.81p


Nissan Juke 1.0 DiG-T Tekna+


original Juke’s sense of style, although this is toned down and has more capable underpinnings shared with the Renault Clio amongst others. Inside, because the second- generation Juke is bigger, there’s more space, better-quality trim and plastics, plus an improved infotainment system. Tekna + is the range-topping Juke, but all are well-equipped with standard DAB radio, plus Bluetooth, USB, and AUX connectivity, with a 4.2in screen, cruise


With its distinctive looks and raised stance, the original Nissan Juke helped define the compact SUV sector, attracting many


buyers out of their conventional superminis. The current, second-generation version has been with us since 2019 and follows the


 Residual value: 39%  Depreciation: £16,500  Fuel costs: £8,518  SMR: £2,472


P11D: £27,125 CO2 (tax): 134g/km (31%) BIK 20/40% a month: £140/£280 Fuel consumption: 47.9mpg National Insurance: £96 First year VED: £255 Subsequent VED: £165 Engine size/power: 999cc/114hp AFR: 13p


control with speed limiter, lane departure warning, and traffic sign recognition. The Juke’s closest rival in this set, is the winning Skoda Kamiq. It matches the Skoda with its 31% BiK figure and 134g/ km emissions. The reason for its last-place finish, is because it’s got the highest fuel figure (£8,518) along with the Nissan, and the second highest £2,472 SMR figure.


residuals. On top of this, the Puma has the lowest depreciation. Where the Ford falls down, though, is that it has the highest SMR figure, at £2,557, of the


four cars we’re reviewing. Despite this, the high residuals and low depreciation mean the Ford has the lowest cost per mile figure here.


45.29p CPM


Key Rival: Seat Arona


Seat was relatively early to launch a small SUV, in the form of the Arona back in 2017. It quickly established itself thanks to its decent drive yet was still practical and cheap to run. It was modestly facelifted at the end of 2021. Despite keener opposition in the form of our current compact SUV favourite,


Seat Arona 1.0TSI X


Xperience Lux P11D: £27,985 CO2 (tax): 126g/km (30%) BIK 20/40% a month: £145/£291 Fuel consumption: 51.4mpg National Insurance: £96 First year VED: £210 Subsequent VED: £165 Engine size/power: 999cc/110hp AFR: 13p


the Ford Puma, the Arona has kept in touch thanks to a tech and quality upgrade for the interior. Gone is the disappointing hard plastic dashboard, to


be replaced with a much-improved and higher-quality feel-soft one. At the top, there’s a much bigger 9.2in screen fitted to our Xperience Lux range-topper.


46.50p CPM


 Residual value: 36%  Depreciation: £17,860  Fuel costs: £8,017  SMR: £2,025


The 110hp 1.0 TSi petrol engine is the most popular fleet choice, with this offering a competitive 36% BIK rate, and up to 51.4mpg WLTP fuel consumption.


The Seat might not be the newest model in this set, but the Arona’s 51.4mpg figure is the best here, placed joint first for NI with the Nissan (£96). The Arona also scores top positions for SMR (£2,025), and fuel cost (£8,017). In fact, if it wasn’t for its depreciation and residual value figures, it would have taken the top spot here. Although not that far behind the others, its 46.50p figure is only good for last place.


www.businesscar.co.uk | March 2024 | 49


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