Ford Figo Aspire review, test drive

What is it?

The Figo Aspire is Ford's first crack at a four-metre sedan market in India. Right from the start, the latest Ford has its work cut out. Up against well-entrenched competition like the Maruti Dzire, Honda Amaze, Hyundai Xcent and Tata Zest the Aspire will have to be really good to make an impression, and Ford knows this. The American carmaker, however, is quietly confident it’s come up with something special enough for the task at hand. Some of that confidence stems from the fact that the Aspire is much better suited to Indian conditions than any Ford before it. Unlike many of its predecessors, this car has been engineered from scratch – and not just adapted – for customers in developing markets like India and Brazil, where much of the developmental work on the car was done. But just how good is the Aspire?

Catch a glimpse of the Aspire's nose and you can't help but be impressed by the clean, crisp lines. The Aston Martin-like look really does work well and the headlamps and heavily chromed grille further embellish the looks. Helping here are some sharp-looking cut lines on the bonnet and the fairly aggressive chin.

In profile though, the Aspire doesn’t look as well proportioned as, say, the Honda Amaze. For sub-four metre sedans, a balanced form and cabin roominess are generally at odds and seeing the Aspire in profile, you’ll know which side Ford has erred to. The boot is stubby and you can’t miss that the 14-inch wheels appear a size too small. At the tail, there’s nothing remarkable about the simple, single-piece tail-lamps but the thick band of chrome on the boot lid does liven up things up a bit and makes the rear look wider than it actually is.