New Ford Figo review, test drive

What is it?

It’s been just about a month since Ford launched the Figo Aspire compact sedan and it’s been quick on its feet by now launching its sibling – the new second-generation Figo hatchback. The American carmaker claims these two cars mark the turning point of its future in India, or so it hopes. When we drove the Aspire, we came away impressed and it’s time for the smaller brother to prove itself.

In the flesh, there’s nothing to tell the Figo hatchback from the Figo Aspire compact sedan until the
B-pillar. It’s got the same Aston Martin-esque front grille, peeled-back headlamps and general crisp, clean looks. However, 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 though the small 14-inch wheels are somewhat of a spoiler here too. Still, styling at the rear is quite neat with smart wrap-around tail-lamps and good definition to the tail gate. What’s also good is that the tail opens to reveal a sizeable luggage bay. The rear seat back also folds forward should you need more space. Unfortunately, the loading lip is a bit high and the boot floor is low so you’ll have to lift heavy luggage more than you’d like.

Swing open the driver’s door and it is the cabin’s all-black theme that will tell you are sitting in the Figo hatchback and not the Aspire – the design and layout of the dashboard are identical and very Ford. Things you’ll notice will include a rather boring instrument cluster, a busy-looking centre console and elegant knurled dials for the climate control system. Top Titanium+ cars get a digital (albeit old-school) read-out atop the dash for Ford’s SYNC infotainment system. Lower trim cars lose the screen but instead feature Ford’s clever MyDock phone holder. It’s designed to hold phones of all sizes snugly and is a useful feature for those who frequently use their phone’s GPS systems.

Visibility out the front is decent but it would have helped to have reach adjust for the steering; the stretched-out driving position may not be to everyone’s liking. There’s enough space though and the seats themselves are comfortable, if a bit soft. In the rear, there’s enough room for your legs and knees even with a tall front occupant; scooping out the front seatbacks has helped free up crucial space here. Aiding the feel of space are the large rear windows that give a good view out. As for comfort, the rear seatback is nicely reclined but seat cushioning is a bit too soft.

Quality and fit-finish in the cabin is acceptable but no more. You can tell Ford has cut costs and there’s a noticeable inconsistency between the textures of the plastics used in the cabin. The switchgear though, works with a tactile and positive feel. What also works well are the small touches in terms of storage space and practicality. There’s the nook ahead of the gearlever (to stow away odds and ends) and the concealed pockets between the side of the dash and doors (useful for keeping your valuables in). Each front door can hold two bottles and the glovebox is decent-sized as well. Rear occupants won’t be as happy with storage spaces as there’s only a sole bottleholder for use.