Ford Figo Aspire review, test drive

What's it like on the inside?

The new Aspire is a Ford, through and through. The steering wheel, gear knob and wing-shaped (albeit button-heavy) centre console, all have a familiar look and solid feel. Many of the new bits are designed from the same template as well. What also grabs your attention is the two-tone treatment of the dash. The black-and-beige sections go really well together but quality when talking fit and finish is just at par with the class and no more. Sure, bits like the knurled knobs for the climate control system do look rich but then the quality on the door pads isn't very impressive, the plastics on the lower half of the central console are just about average and the design of the tiny instrument cluster is a little plain Jane too. That the tachometer and fuel gauge get equal-sized dials is perhaps a pointer that the Aspire is a car that gives equal weightage to performance and fuel economy.    

On the whole, though, the Aspire has a really practical cabin. The generous 2491mm wheelbase means there's plenty of space between the wheels, the boot holds an impressive 359 litres of luggage due to clever use of vertical space and the big doors allow easy access to the cabin. There are plenty of cubbyholes and spaces to store stuff in the cabin as well. The glovebox is of a good size, there are two bottle-holders in each front door pocket and the centre console has three cup-holders too; good because the rear doors don’t feature door bins.  You have to make do with the front seat door pockets which come as standard. Those familiar with Fords will also notice that the stalks behind the steering wheel are now the right way around – indicators on the right, wipers on the left.

The Aspire also abounds with plenty of clever touches. There's a nice rubberised ledge for keeping odds and ends in front of the gear lever and Ford’s new MyKey system allows the driver to preset things like speed and volume limits for the chauffeur (or perhaps even your children!). There’s also MyFord Dock atop the centre console. It’s a brilliantly executed rubberised phone/device holder which works so well that you have no qualms placing your most valuable devices in its jaws. It’s a great feature for those who rely on their phones for GPS.

The Aspire also scores really well on comfort, especially at the front with the front seats offering excellent thigh, lateral and back support. Top-spec cars get leather seats and their cushioning is fantastic. We did find the fabric seats on lower versions a touch too soft, especially at the lower back. While the driving position is a bit low slung and needs some adjustment, the seats do have a wide range of adjustment and the low dash means visibility for the driver is really good. Peer into the cabin and the rear seats don't look very promising but the back bench is more spacious than you think and one of the strengths of the car. Knee room is excellent, even with a tall passenger in the front as Ford has scooped out the seat backs for additional space, and there's plenty of space for your feet under the front seats. In addition, thigh support is good, the backrest is nicely reclined and the overall cushioning especially on seats which have fabric trim, feel quite plush. Interestingly, side airbag-equipped top-spec Aspires don’t get any grab handles on the roof.

What we did miss on the Aspire is that tough European car build seen on other Ford products like the EcoSport and the Fiesta. Ford has pared the car’s weight down in the interest of better fuel economy; the heaviest version weighs in at just 1,048kg, which seems to have affected that feeling of solidity.