Ford E-Transit vs Ford Puma

What's the difference?

Long before Tesla EVs, there were electric golf buggies.

From the first half of last century, they began quietly ferrying birdie and eagle enthusiasts around their favourite courses.

For many, these have been their first (and only) experience of electric vehicles (EVs) at work.

Now, the blue-collared Blue Oval mob has this – the all-new E-Transit Custom.

Designed to take on other electric mid-sized vans such as the LDV eDeliver7, Peugeot E-Expert and the Mercedes-Benz Vito Electric, it is the brand’s second – and more affordable – foray into van electrification.

Does the E-Transit Custom score above par? Let’s dive straight in!

S FAR as makeovers go, Hollywood has nothing on the transformation of Ford's small SUV.

Based on the Fiesta supermini only sold here in sizzling ST form, but using a stretched and widened version of its platform with heavily reworked underpinnings, the strikingly styled Puma is as charming – beguiling even – as its EcoSport predecessor was awkward. And we're talking about capabilities that are more than merely skin deep here.

We're not alone in our admiration – one respected UK publication awarded the Ford a 'car of the year' gong – and after nearly a month with our range-topping ST-Line V (for Vignale), we can understand why.

But the German-engineered, Romanian-made Puma is also a complicated proposition in Australia that requires some context, because it is certainly not for everyone.