FORD FIGO

Ford Figo- a competitor amongst India’s hatchbacks

Ford has been in the Indian market for decades now, and has been known for its iconic status amongst American cars. Even though it may be one of the most prominently known brands, it somehow struggles to live up to the big name in terms of volumes, as some of its competitors do. It is however good to see it put in its efforts at making the most of the market and offering buyers something to be pleased with, including the mid segment hatchback, the Figo. The latest version which came to the market in 2014 at the Auto Expo, remains largely similar to its previous edition, but has changes which are subtle and tech friendly. As perhaps the first in its class, the car has an internal wi-fi system, which will ensure that all 5 passengers on board get connected via this feature, apart from some more handy features.

Price Range: Rs 3.86 lakhs to Rs 6.00 lakhs

Fuel Options: Petrol and Diesel

Color Options: 8 (Chill Metallic, Mars Red, Paprika Red, Moondust Silver, Diamond White, Panther Black, Sea Gray, Kinetic Blue)

Transmission options: 1

The exterior

One could perhaps say that most cars today tend to resemble each other, atleast vaguely but it hasn’t been such a bad idea for style trends. The Ford Figo carries the aggressive styling factor, with emphasis on greater aerodynamics of its form, which keeps up with what is now the common sight. The front face of the car receives a new chrome plated grille with the company branding placed at the center, a hexagonal fender, and the wide-eyed design headlamps. Though the bumpers remain body colored, but the fender and the fog lamps located on the lower half, have been placed in high grade black colored plastic housings.

A lot of the B-segment hatchback consumers have been demanding features earlier restricted to the premium segment, such as the presence of alloy wheels. Hopefully Ford Figo offers the same, giving a richer element to the overlook of the car, and pushing the ‘oomph’ factor of the car. The side face of the Figo has been neat and clutter free, with the common straight line crease running from the front headlamps till the rear end tailgate of the car. The windows are large with black matt finished borders, along with body colored door handles. The rear view mirrors are partially body colored, and partially matte black plastic.

The rear end of the Ford Figo is perfectly well in tune with the rest of the vehicle’s designing ethos. Sleek and confident, is perhaps the best way to describe this part of the car, with well thought out ideas in utility value. The tail lamps are extremely prominent and sleek at the same time, which will make things rather visible from a distance but doesn’t stick out like a sore point. The upper roof rails and spoiler light have a retro and modern feel to it, while the black wiper helps keeping the rear windscreen free from water.

The interior

With the need to connect and stay connected at all times, Ford Figo comes as a tech-relief for its customers. The first in-class wi-fi system will help 5 phones and smart devices get connected amongst each other, apart from using the Bluetooth enabled audio system. The audio system would allow connecting smart devices, so that when if needed, one can simply start a conversation without having to use earphones, or perhaps use the device after stopping the car in mid-journey. Also, if there are important messages awaited, the alerts are instant, apart from the usual streaming of music from the phones. Other standardized features such as the radio with multiple programmable channels remain constant.

The interior space by and large, is a combination of 2 colors; matte finished gray and black. To make things easy to spot, most knobs and adjustments come with an illuminated background, which is the same as used on the driver’s panel. Under the hood, the left most dial would be the tachometer, the one to its left would be the speedometer with the fuel gauge inset, apart from an electronic trip meter on the right along with the fuel efficiency indicator. The steering is covered with black fabric for a comfortable grip, and sports the audio systems controls within fingers’ reach for easy operations. The height adjustable feature of this steering also helps gain greater comfort and control for the driver. The fabricated seat covers make for good looks, and comfortable journeys on board.

There are some safety features which are come in handy for utility purposes, such as cup holders in front central console, vanity mirror in the front passenger seat, foldable handles for using as coat hooks, a removable parcel tray, low fuel warning, engine immobilizer, navigation system, and door ajar warning amongst others.

The engine

The Ford Figo is out to be bought in 2 engine options; 1.2-litre Duratec petrol and the 1.4-litre Duratorq diesel. The petrol engine while being very responsive and performance oriented, boasts of a 70.01 BHP power output, 1196cc displacement capacity, 4-cylinder design, and comes mated with a 5-speed manual transmission system. The expected efficiency is between 12.30 kmpl on the lower side to a high of 15.6 kmpl.

The diesel engine is more suited for smooth long distance journeys, and responsive experiences at lower speeds. Power output of this engine is 68.05 BHP, displacement capacity of 1399cc displacement capacity, and a similar 4-cylinder design and 5-speed transmission system as seen in the petrol edition. However like most diesel engine, the efficiency rates are comparatively higher 17 kmpl on the lower side and 20 kmpl on the higher side.