Ford Figo review, road test

    Read the Ford Figo review, road test from Autocar India; The second-generation Figo promises much. Our exhaustive road test tells you if it delivers.

    Published on Nov 03, 2015 10:20:00 AM

    1,68,209 Views

    If you’ve seen the Figo Aspire compact sedan, you’ve pretty much seen the Figo hatchback as well. The two cars are identical right up till the B-pillar. That means you get the same Aston Martin-esque front grille, peeled-back headlamps and general crisp, clean looks. Though it must be said, the hatchback has the nicer form from the rear doors on. The roofline flows quite naturally into the tail and there’s a good proportion to the design. However, as on the Aspire, the small 14-inch wheels are somewhat of a spoiler here too. It’s possible Ford designers opted for a smaller size that would correspondingly require smaller wheel wells in the interests of better cabin packaging and a good turning circle diameter (which is a decent 9.8 metres). Still, styling at the rear is neat with smart wrap-around tail- lamps and good definition to the tail gate. On the whole, the Figo looks attractive without being over the top in any way.

    Where the two Figos differ is under their skins. The last Figo was a bit of a hand-me-down because it was built on a generation-old Fiesta platform. This one, however, is built on Ford’s modern B2E platform which has plenty in common with the EcoSport and now discontinued Fiesta sedan. The suspension components, basic floorpan and chassis are similar, but Ford has done away with the use of high-strength Boron steel (to keep costs in check) in this application. As a result, the chassis isn’t as stiff as an EcoSport’s. You can also tell the Figo isn’t built as solid as the other Fords either. That reassuring thunk you get on door shut is missing here. However, this Ford is among the lighter hatchbacks out there. The top-spec diesel one weighs in at 1,041kg, while the petrol automatic is even lighter at 1,037kg. 

    Another area where the Figo makes an impression is safety equipment. Even the base version gets a driver’s airbag as standard, middle versions get two airbags, while the top-spec Titanium + gets as many as six! It would have been nicer still if anti-lock brakes were not offered solely on the top versions. 

    There’s nothing out of the ordinary when talking of the Figo’s suspension – MacPherson struts up front work in tandem with a torsion beam at the rear. The Figo’s electric steering, however, features what Ford calls ‘pull drift compensation’. The system basically mildly increases assistance when it detects steering corrections needed to counter crosswinds or poor surfaces.

    Copyright (c) Autocar India. All rights reserved.

    Comments
    ×
    img

    No comments yet. Be the first to comment.

    Ask Autocar Anything about Car and Bike Buying and Maintenance Advices
    Need an expert opinion on your car and bike related queries?
    Ask Now
    Search By Car Price
    Poll of the month

    What do you think of the Jaguar rebrand?

    It's too radical and ignores the brand's legacy

     

    57.44%

    It's exactly what's needed to revive a dying brand

     

    10.83%

    It's fine as long as the products are good

     

    31.73%

    Total Votes : 665
    Sign up for our newsletter

    Get all the latest updates from the automobile universe