Ford Figo Review

Small cars seem to be the in-thing lately, and to testify the fact we have plenty of local and foreign brands that are rolling out small wheels in this segment.

The auto market had never seen such a rise in demand for smaller vehicles like it has been witnessing now. Thanks to the new models influx, there is plenty of choice (to an extent confusion too) for prospective car buyers.



Early this year on March 10, 2010, Ford launched its much-awaited small car, the Figo. Chevrolet's Beat from General Motors was a little nervous of this launch, as it was expecting Figo to be one of its competitors, especially, as the price factor seemed to do some damage. And, the Ford Figo came up with such a tempting price tag to stay in the league with other brands including Tata, Hyundai and Maruti.

The Ford Motors, India has invested $500 million in India to double the manufacturing to about 200,000 units a year, which makes it clear that the company is pretty desperate to have its foothold strong in the hatchback segment in the country.

Figo's new features
Ford Figo is a compact car and the feature that sets this car aside from the rest in the market are the lane change indicators, rapid deceleration warning, speed- sensing volume control, smart central locking system, programmable remote key and 6-speed wiper and distance to empty. The comfort features include, height adjustable driver seat, MP3 player along with bluetooth connection and a spacious glove box. The safety features are the dual front air bags, antilock brake system, electronic brake-force distribution, belt tensioners and seat belt warning indicators are a few safety highlights of the car.

Interior and exterior styling
The interiors of the Ford Figo can easily accommodate five people, which includes the driver. The front portion of the car is comfortable and roomy, which has unique feature that is very useful for the driver; he/she can adjust the seat to suit their height. Apart from this the power steering bears three spokes and a cup holder is provided at the front seat. The music system is remote control operated and the air-conditioning offers the required luxury to the car. The foldable back seat can fit three passengers easily but for tall people the knee-space might seem a little congested. The Figo also features ample storage space for large luggage.

Talking of the exteriors of Figo, it seems to be one of the best creations from Ford. The front and the rear design of the car are the major take aways of Figo. The door handle bar and the body of car feature the same color, the Figo logo is placed at the centre of the grille, headlights are in the shape of a human eye, there is a separate slot for fog lamps in the front, which can be used based on the buyer's need. The rear of the vehicle is equally attractive with special features, which makes it an overall good-looking car.

Engine
The petrol enabled Figo cars are powered by 1.2L, 1196cc engines with four cylinders, DOHC, SEFI, front wheel drive and the basic model come with a 5-speed manual transmission. This engine gives a power output of 71 PS @6,250 rpm and 102 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. Whereas, the diesel edition is loaded with 1399cc, Duratoq engine, 4 cylinders, SOHC and a 5-speed gearbox. The engine generates power of 69PS at 4,000 rpm and torque of 160 Nm at 2000 rpm.

Instrumentation
The Ford Figo is adorned with a digital clock, tachometer, two trip meters and a digital odometer. The interiors of the Figo feature fabric upholstery whereas the seats are double-colored and the well-designed rear seats look comfortable though not the best.

Variants, Colors and Price
The basic variants of Ford Figo can be classified under base, mid and high end but in total the car has rolled 8 variants; four petrol cars and the other four are diesel versions, which are as follows: Ford Figo Petrol LXI, Ford Figo Petrol EXI, Ford Figo Petrol ZXI, Ford Figo Petrol Titanium and the prices for these variants range between Rs 3.5 lakhs - Rs 3.6 lakhs. The diesel versions are: Ford Figo Diesel LXI, Ford Figo Diesel EXI, Ford Figo Diesel ZXI and Ford Figo Diesel Titanium that range between Rs 4.5 Lakhs - Rs 5.45 Lakhs.

The color availability for all variants are: Diamond white, Panther Black, Moon Dust Silver, Squeeze, Colorado red, Sea Grey and Metallic Chill.

Opinion
The pros of Ford Figo are great looks, classy interiors/exteriors, fuel-efficient, great engine performance and features are almost equal to that of sedans. The only complaint with regard to Figo despite it being a wonderful compact car is that the rear seat is not quite comfortable enough.