Ford is the latest car maker to join the popular compact sedan segment. Its new car, the Figo Aspire, will be up against established competitors such as the Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire, Honda Amaze, Hyundai Xcent and Tata Zest.
For a start, you can’t help but be impressed by the clean, crisp look of the car. The headlamps and grille clearly draw some inspiration from Aston Martin vehicles, and that extends to the aggressive chin and the sharp lines on the bonnet. The rear is quite plain, with simple tail lamps.
The steering wheel, gear lever and wing-shaped centre console look similar to the EcoSport and Fiesta. The two-tone dashboard is attractive, but the fit and finish are just on a par with rivals, no more. While features like climate-control knobs look great, bits like the door pads and the plastic used for the central console aren’t of great quality.
There are a number of storage spaces (surprisingly, there are no door pockets at the rear), and the generous 2,491mm wheelbase means there is adequate space in the interior.
The front seats offer good thigh, lateral and back support; top-of-the-line versions will get leather seats. Although the driver’s seat is set a bit low, it has a wide range of adjustments and the low dash helps front visibility. At the back, knee room is excellent, for Ford has scooped out the front-seat backs for additional space. Thigh support is good, the rear backrest is nicely reclined, and the overall cushioning feels quite plush.
The petrol range comprises a 1.2-litre and 1.5-litre unit, whereas the diesel model will be powered by a 1.5-litre engine. The 1.5-litre petrol version will be available only with a dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
Improved tuning has resulted in a power jump from 90 bhp to 98 bhp. Acceleration is strong, the Aspire surging forward effortlessly with even a gentle prod of the accelerator. The 1.2-litre petrol engine is also used in the Figo hatchback, but it produces 87 bhp instead of 70 bhp in the Aspire.
It is responsive, and accelerates well. But press the throttle hard and the engine doesn’t respond as energetically as you would like, so overtaking requires a bit of planning. The Aspire feels quite at home in heavy traffic. The cabin insulation is good, and the Aspire is one of the quietest compact sedans around.
The suspension absorbs most road bumps, though it does get a bit bouncy on bad roads. The Aspire is decently enjoyable to drive, but it’s not up to the standard we’ve come to expect from Ford. The steering isn’t very precise and the remarkable agility of the Fiesta is missing. The brakes, however, are brilliant and add to the overall driver confidence it inspires.
Ford has taken its time to develop the Aspire. A lot has gone into improving connectivity, safety, space, comfort and efficiency. We hope Ford gets the pricing right, because this all-new compact sedan could just become the new benchmark in the segment. We expect the Figo Aspire to be priced between Rs.5-8 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi).
