The UK’s best-selling car, the Ford Puma, has been fully electrified to offer 234 miles of range for under £30,000.

Joining Ford’s growing electric car line-up alongside the Mustang Mach-E, Capri and Explorer, the Puma Gen-E will compete against the likes of the Mini Aceman and Peugeot e-2008 in the fast-growing electric crossover segment.

The Gen-E looks almost identical to its combustion sibling. Its differences take the form of a tweaked front end, which mirrors the Mustang Mach-E’s, and the absence of tailpipes.

Ford hopes the Gen-E will build on the popularity of the ICE version (42,465 UK sales so far in 2024) and to smooth the transition to electric for current Puma owners rather than lose them to rivals.

Underneath, the Gen-E uses an adapted version of the combustion model’s B-car platform – like the new Ford E-Transit Courier van – to accommodate a 43kWh floor-mounted battery. This makes it 5mm taller and 28mm longer than the ICE Puma.

Its lithium ion battery provides up to 234 miles of WLTP range in the standard Select model and 226 miles in Premium trim. Both can be charged at speeds of up to 100kW, with a 10-80% charge taking 23 minutes.

For comparison, the e-2008 has a 50kWh battery and can cover 212 miles per charge, which illustrates the efficiency of the Puma’s set-up.

In both Gen-E trims, power comes from a front-mounted single motor – produced at Ford’s Halewood site – that puts out 166bhp and 214lb ft. This enables them to hit 62mph in eight seconds and on to a governed 99mph top speed.

The Gen-E also introduces Ford’s new Gigabox to the range as standard. This underfloor storage increases seats-up boot space from 456 litres to a class-leading 523 litres – 223 litres more than the Aceman. The Gen-E has a 43-litre ‘frunk’, too.

Inside, it’s very similar to the combustion Puma, with a 12.0in infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.8in digital instrument display and sports seats.

The cabin also gets physical buttons for the climate controls, heated seats and a new phone storage cubby with an integrated wireless charging pad.

Premium trim adds a Bang & Olufsen speaker system, keyless entry, hands-free boot access and 18in alloy wheels, with 19in versions optional. Other options include matrix LED headlights.

The Puma Gen-E starts from £29,995 – £3645 more than the equivalent ICE model. Top-rung Premium is £31,995. The Gen-E will enter production alongside the combustion Puma in Craiova, Romania.