I bought our Puma brand new in September 24. We’ve previously had Fiesta's which in our opinion were a much more pleasant drive in as much as the gearbox was smooth (unlike the bag of spanners we now have)The Fiesta suspension also actually damped the ride. Having committed to its purchase we’re stuck with it for one reason.

On the positive side the megabox has proved to be invaluable to us. I hadn’t expected to need to use it until that is my wife became ill and now needs to use a mobility scooter.

The scooter rear section and seat detach and the megabox is the perfect size for storing these sections. The scooter body fits lengthways in the boot with the rear seat folded so we can still have some capacity to carry stuff.

Apologies if this has been covered previously (I can’t believe it won’t have been) but why isn’t the megabox a feature of any other vehicle Ford or otherwise?

I ask because I’d like to change the car but to the best of my knowledge nothing else has the same feature?

Edited February 6Feb 6 by Gesanners

5 hours ago, Gesanners said:

why isn’t the megabox a feature of any other vehicle Ford or otherwise?

Hi Gerry,

Interesting point. My take on it would be that given spare wheels are rare these days, and in search of a USP, while modifying the Fiesta platform for the Puma, they put the Megabox where the spare wheel well would be. You can of course put a very skinny spacesaver in the Megabox if desired.

Thanks for your reply Eric, I’m sure you’re right. It’s a great shame that a really useful innovation hasn’t been incorporated in any other vehicle while so many unwelcome ‘advancements’ (IMO) have eg electronic handbrake - a very expensive repair, certain function buttons now only accessible from touch screen menu- annoying at best dangerous at worst.

The good news is manufacturers seem to be listening to consumer feedback -

While the Puma is the only Ford model equipped with the MegaBox, other Ford models also offer boot storage solutions.

The Focus MK4/MK4.5, for example, has been available with an optional underfloor storage system. With this system, the boot floor is raised, creating a considerable amount of additional storage space. If desired, the raised boot floor can also be easily lowered. Being optional, very few people actually ordered this option so it is quite rare.

Other manufacturers offer similar storage solutions as well. However, these are usually only available in somewhat larger vehicles.

Thanks JW, very true and more than enough bonus space for most I suppose.

In our case l use the Puma boot floor in the raised position which allows me just enough height to store the mobility scooter seat. I can only do so because of the depth of the megabox.

All reviews of the Puma that I have seen treat the megabox as nothing more than an interesting gimic….somewhere to store wet shoes or clothes or a champagne bucket (prats)

The megabox is so much more useful than suggested.

If you like the Megabox, the Gen-e goes one further, of course - though you may not like the rest of it!😀

https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/eur/en/articles/2025/what_automotive_experts_are_saying_about_the_puma_gen_es_gigabox

I'm a bit surprised about your general comments on Puma vs Fiesta though, and wonder if all is it should be with yours. Many on here have been happy with the transition.

I looked at the Puma, including a 24 hour test drive, and while it didn't float my boat, it did nothing to particularly offend. I still preferred the drive in the Fiesta, though, and not needing the extra space stuck with it for one last time (my first was in 1980!).

The gearbox is really clunky, that’s the only word for it. There is no such thing as smooth or silent up or down the box in gears 1-3. It’s been checked, Ford claim the change is as they would expect and gear oil is at max. My son has an identical Puma and there is a marked difference between the two. I’m going to have mine re-checked before the warranty expires. I’m not totally EV and will check the gen e version thanks😁

2 hours ago, Gesanners said:

I’m going to have mine re-checked before the warranty expire

Good idea. We have had a few reports on here of manual gearbox issues on the mild hybrid cars, mainly the 155ps versions, though. It is suspected that this is the reason the 155 became DCT auto only on late models.

I test drove both 125 and 155 versions and the change seemed ok by today's standards, though modern manuals are nowhere near as slick as Mk 1 and Mk 2 Escorts were!

Would you believe mine is 155 model and my sons 125🤔

I will search in that case, strangely I found nothing of use in the Pums owners site. Do you recall the outcome for those affected Eric?

1 hour ago, Gesanners said:

I will search in that case, strangely I found nothing of use in the Pums owners site.

Ford Puma Forum

Gearbox Issue - 2nd gear dead

Gearbox Issue - 2nd gear dead Faults and Technical chat for the Ford Puma - Ford Puma Forum

Thankyou👍