Ford had been a niche player in India until 2010. Then they introduced the Figo, a car that became a runaway hit and turned the American carmaker’s fortunes in India. As the Figo went on to become one of the most popular choices in the B segment, Ford established itself as a strong player in the fiercely fought small car market.
Hot on the heels of the success of the Figo Aspire compact sedan, Ford has launched the all-new Figo hatchback with substantial improvements over the previous model. Let’s find out what makes an already strong product even more compelling.
Design
Styling wasn’t the fist generation Figo’s strong suit, but in its second avatar, the car is an absolute head turner. Viewed up front, it’s easy to mistake the Figo for the Aspire because there’s nothing different from the sedan until the B pillar. The gaping grille with thin chrome bars gives the Figo the same character as its elder sibling - the Fiesta. The swept-back polygonal headlamp and the bonnet bulge add to its attractiveness when viewed from front three quarters. The roofline flows smoothly in a gentle curve and there’s a rear spoiler to add to the sporty appeal. The rear, too, is cleanly styled with wraparound taillights, sharply raked rear windshield and a strong line on the tailgate.
Step inside and the doors close with a reassuring thunk and the general air of solidity impresses. In contrast to the Aspire’s dual tone interiors, the Figo gets an all-black finish inside. The dashboard layout is familiar, but the climate control console looks more upmarket with rotary controls finished in chrome. ‘Icy blue’ readouts on the instrument cluster and centre console are soothing to eyes. There are many cubbyholes and assorted storage areas to keep your stuff in the cabin.
The seats are comfortable and space in the rear cabin has considerably improved over the previous generation. The front seatbacks are well scooped out to provide good legroom for the rear occupants. One of the major complaints about the old Figo, the windows that don’t roll down fully, has been addressed, too. 257-litres of boot space is impressive for a hatchback of this size. The only grouse is the non-adjustable rear headrests that are not really useful for tall passengers.
Top Titanium + trim is equipped with SYNC with Ford AppLink, a feature that keeps drivers safely connected while driving. AppLink syncs with your smartphone and controls the apps with voice commands. From finding a nearby restaurant to making a reservation or staying abreast with cricketing action, AppLink seamlessly responds to your voice commands, even in Indian accent.
The Figo also gets MyKey, a feature that lets you program your key to a restricted driving mode before handing the car over to your chauffeur or any less experienced driver. The top speed and audio system volume can be restricted through MyKey. It also plays a chime until front-seat occupants fasten their seatbelts.The lower trims are equipped with MyFord Dock, an interesting and very useful feature that allows you to mount and charge your mobile phone, MP3 player or satellite navigation system, and integrate these devices into the car’s entertainment system. It virtually makes your device part of the centre console in a perfect, easy-to-access position.
Performance
The Figo inherits its engines from the Figo Aspire - a 1.2-litre petrol, a 1.5-litre diesel, and a 1.5-litre petrol that will only be available with a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The 1.5-litre diesel engine makes 100PS and 215Nm and it’s indeed a pleasure to drive the diesel, with great low-end responsiveness and amazing mid-range. Turbo lag is barely noticeable and you can drive around the city without having to downshift every now and then. It pulls neatly from around 1700rpm and keeps on going all the way to the redline.The 1.5-litre petrol engine is matched to a 6-speed PowerShift automatic gearbox and develops 112 PS and 136 Nm. The dual-clutch unit offers quick shifts and is very responsive to throttle inputs. There are two modes – D and S, with the later offering the most performance. You can also shift gears manually using the lever-mounted buttons, and the instrument cluster will displaying the gear position in Sports mode.
Ride and Handling
Ford generally achieves the perfect balance between ride and handling with their products. One of the USPs of the first generation Figo was its near-perfect ride and handing balance that satisfied both enthusiasts and families. Thankfully, the dynamics remains more or less unchanged in the all-new Figo. The Figo feels totally settled at higher speeds, with no undue body roll in spirited cornering, and its body never tends to bob up and down on undulating roads. The suspension soaks up potholes and undulations brilliantly and keeps the engine and ambient noise at bay.The Figo comes with Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS), which provides lighter steering effort at low speeds. Although the EPAS is no match to the precision and feel of the hydraulic unit in the original Figo, it weighs up nicely as speeds build.
Mileage
Despite the brilliant performance, the diesel engine manages to return the best in class fuel economy of 25.83 km/l (as per ARAI figures). During the test drive across Delhi traffic and Yamuna Expressway, the car indicated an average of 21.7kmpl. The ARAI figures for the petrol models are 18.16 km/l (1.2L) and 17 km/l (1.5L).
Safety
The Figo has struck gold in safety department by offering six airbags in the top variant and a driver side airbag as standard across all variants. Ford has also equipped the Figo with ABS, traction control, stability control and hill hold assist with the automatic transmission variant.
Conclusion
In a way, it was the pricing that made the Figo a smash hit. Ford has managed to repeat the history with the all-new Figo. With prices starting from Rs. 4.29 lakh, the new Figo offers great value for money compared to other hatchbacks. The new Figo is a perfect package for modern family and enthusiasts alike, and you have to be quite a cynic to find faults with this car. No doubt, the new Figo is going to prove a worthy successor to the original one and give the competition a run for their money.
Source: in.news.yahoo.com
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