The Gen-E’s trump card from an interior perspective is an unusual one for electric cars: luggage space. If you include the Gigabox – a large, drainable recess beneath the adjustable-height boot floor – there’s 523 litres of capacity, which is nothing short of colossal for a car in this segment (and at the more compact end of it, at that). The Gen-E also benefits from a frunk, which is useful for cables, and the boot can be opened electrically, which feels pleasingly grown-up.
Inevitably, the driving position does feel perched, and the car’s raised floor poses greater problems in the back because Ford has neglected to add cut-outs for your feet, which can make it difficult to slip them under the seat in front (for your information, this tester wore New Balance trainers – hardly disco slippers but not chunky).
Head room is good, mind, although in general the Gen-E can’t touch the EV3, which remains the obvious choice if you regularly need to cart teenagers about in the back.Up front, the Gen-E sports the layout of the updated petrol Puma, which blends surprisingly plush trim with conspicuously cheap plastics and includes two large digital displays, the central one of which contains all the climate control commands, albeit in a fixed row along the bottom. It runs Ford’s Sync 4 software, although Android Auto and Apple CarPlay both connect wirelessly, even if the visual integration isn’t too slick.
In general, the Gen-E’s cockpit lacks the visual flair, build quality and tactility of the Renault 5’s, but it has a maturity about it as well as fundamentally good ergonomics (the steering column has huge reach adjustment) and plenty of oddment storage, including a split-level centre console with two USB ports on the lower deck, to hide cables.As for the driver, in some ways that higher hip-point detracts from the Gen-E experience to a greater extent than it might in a rival with no pretence of being ‘fun to drive’. The petrol Puma always felt inherently ‘right’ as soon as you slid into its neatly bolstered seats.
Even so, this is a good cockpit, with subtly dished, comfy seats. Moreoever, not only is there that adjustment in the steering column, but the relationship between the pedals and seat is also well judged and the slim, firm steering rim is satisfying to hold. It also allows a clear view of the digital display ahead of you, which is controlled via spoke-mounted buttons that have a nice feeling of solidity about them. The column stalks also feel more robust than you often find in this class, and using the right-hand arm as the gear selector comes naturally enough after a short while.
Elsewhere, with its optional Winter and Comfort packages, our entry-level Select test car didn’t feel at all bargain basement, although the Premium grade does add a Bang & Olufsen sound system as well as Sensico synthetic leather seat trim.
