2010 Ford Figo Car Review: How cool Is It ?
Celebrities. The other evening, I was shuffling across the pages of a lifestyle magazine. As I was flipping through the leaves, a pretty face made me go back a couple of pages. She looked familiar, like a celebrity we know.
Curiously, I read between the lines to have my first ‘whoa!’ moment of the year. No it wasn’t a ‘he turned her’, it WAS, in fact, the celebrity! She was a young lady, in her mid-late twenties (not so sure now) and quite fit, but she had gone under the knife to carve up the face in the picture.
Suddenly, I felt the gaping question of why some people prefer trusting a man with a knife more than God, being answered. You see, she never really caught my fancy before she went under the knife, but after, unfortunately made me re-track my flipping.
The catch here though, is that she has to make do with the same set of lungs, kidneys and I think a brain as well, but sometimes, that’s a good thing. Much the way of the newest wheels from Henry Ford’s legacy. Meet the Figos.
Implying ‘cool’ in Italian, the Figo does look happy. Happiness equivalent to a sunny spring summer morning, with the paper on your doorstep, and a recent pay cheque and a hot cuppa. Its eyeliner-lined headlamps are something you will love to see after a dreary day at work. A bread and circus car, if you will. It is possibly the only mini in the country that will look great in green.
Following Ford’s global Kinetic design direction pointed by Martin Smith, the Figo comes off as a winsome sibling to Ford’s international hatchback, the exciting Focus. The wheel-arches and skirts give it a muscular stance. At the rear, the lights flank the windscreen like in the Fusion. Although the Figo has clear and crisp lines, I reckon that if the spoiler was a bit more pronounced, the car would’ve looked sportier.
What Ford has done here is take the Fusion, do away with boxy looks and the confusing ride height, add more oomph, and botox the face into a car worthy of a second-look. Safe, but not conservative styling from Ford for its first legitimate B+ segment-er.
Now, before I talk of the interior trim, I feel I must forewarn you about the car’s dash. It’s a weird colour. A result of an un-fortuitous encounter between marshmallows and vomit. Sorry, but it IS that distasteful. The only possible advantage I could conjure up is the reduction of dashboard reflection on the windscreen. If this is the cure, I’d rather have the disease. Ford say the colour is ‘thanks’ to something called injection moulding and they add that there is a ‘normal’ dash version available. Small mercies.
Interior trim levels are not exactly bang-up but neither are they unsound. The splash of silver all around looks nice but feels cheap. Circular air-con vents are functionally great. Quality of switch-gear again treads the middle-line. Seats are comfortable with good side support and the fabrics looks like they’ll last the distance and the steering has good feel. With the driver’s seat configured for a reasonably sized driver, all six feet one inch of me could fit in comfortably but it might be a bit cramped for three at the back.
What took me back was the lack of rear power-windows even on the A+ trim (Titanium). This is like vegetable biryani, unacceptable. Boot space is big enough to fit the entire cast of Kyon Ki… Ford has done well to retain the Fusion’s interior space offering.
Under the hood, you’ll find a choice of two engines. The diesel is the same 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder DuraTorq Mill powering the Ikon, Fiesta and Fusion. The output is fairly unchanged (you can’t say up-ed from 67 bhp) at 68 bhp and torques remain firmly unchanged at a nice 160 Nm. In a diesel, the sweet spot generally is unreachable, but as the case with the DuraTorqs, the power is fathomable at 4,000 revs and the torque at a lower 2,000 rpms.
The petrol is a new 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder DuraTec engine churning out 70 bhp at a rev-happy 6,250 rpm and 102 torques at 4,000 rpm. This engine doesn’t make sense except for a lower asking price. We’ll discuss that a little later on.
The diesel feels nice and familiar. A bit loud on the outside but cabin noise is nicely subdued although a bit of vibrations do percolate. The power is satisfactory, engine is responsive and the gear shifts are exact. The petrol is bit of a let-down. With not enough usable power and fewer torques than its competitors, it is a mere formality of an engine.
The diesel then is the winner. With a tried and tested engine, the diesel is most likely to be a better proposition for the discerning driver/traveler.
Cars from Ford have always caught my fancy. No, not because they look nice – the Escort looked like a squint fish, the Ikon had/has looks that only its mother could like and the Fiesta could never really peek out of its cloak of invisibility. No, I liked them because they drove really well and the Figo doesn’t disappoint. The seating position is excellent. With a clear view of the road, the ergonomics are spot-on.
A good feel of the road reach you through the steering wheel. The horn is sadly a little too loud inside the cabin. Maybe this will help mend those incessant honkers. The handling is precise and the driving feel is quite super.
With the Escort, the Ikon, the Mondeo and the Endeavour, Ford had established a good brand image. Few years later, arrived the Ford Fusion. This car suffered severely from D.I.D, mostly stemming from a marketing mishap. Ford marketers did not know where to fit the car – a MPV, a hatchback, a mini…they were as confused as Bobby Darling’s underwear. Me? I would include it in my garage. Albeit a bit boxy, it comfortably seats five, drove well, had a well powered 1.6 litre 100 bhp petrol heart (the diesel was better value) and a boot that was anything but scant.This car put practicality before anything else and sometimes, that’s a good thing. It’s unfortunate that the masses don’t figure it out and quite frankly, I don’t blame them. What killed the car finally, was the price. This car was priced per a C-Segment-er. This meant it was missing a whole body part, the separate boot.
The Figo is priced very well. A decent version of the car will set you back by INR 3.81 lakh (ex-showroom) for the petrol and Rs 4.72 (ex-) for the diesel. Compared to the sort-of similar priced i10, you get a space fest with the Figo. The Polo versions are again more expensive than the Figo. Good value for money then.
If you are keen about travelling (long or fairly long) in comfort, go for the diesel Figo. It packs a decent punch, has plenty of space and the engine is a proven mill. The petrol is a ho-hum affair. It sure wins the price war but doesn’t win my heart. Go for it if the diesel doesn’t bake your biscuit.
Here is a word for Ford, Get That 1.6-LITRE, 100 BHP DURATEC ENGINE in the FIGO!!
Now, that’s a winner.
Ford Figo Test Drive Review: Photo Gallery
Verdict: Mile munching with the Figo tastes better with diesel sauce.
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25 Responses to “2010 Ford Figo Car Review: How cool Is It ?”
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Hi shourya,
A very well written and a profound review, I thoroughly enjoyed it. good going buddy!!
Thanks mate!
Cheers,
Shourya
Value for money Car No doubt. And very well written i would call it a Sidhu style of writing but nicely done.
Hi Gaurav,
Thanks mate! Stay hooked.
Cheers,
Shourya
Hi Shourya,
Very well written, I throughly enjoyed it. I have a quick question for you, I heard that the quality of interiors in Figo are not good and they have hugely compromised on it. Do u agree with it? I really like this Figo but confused as I am confused. I do like travelling out of station, please advise is it good and also when compared with Maruti Swift how is Figo???
Hi Nagesh,
Thanks for the kind words!
What’s your budget ? Your usage? Your family and most importantly your location.
And yes, the quality of the silver splashes do seem cheap, just.
Lemme know these variables and I’ll get back to you. Don’t rush into buying a car :) relax :)
Cheers,
Shourya
Hi Shourya,
I live in Bangalore, family of three and budget is about 6 lakhs and with regards to useage I would do about 150 kms a week. Initially I was keen on going for a used car in the next segment, say like a City or Innova ( passion for big cars:) ) but thn again it has its own flaws. I felt figo is a safe bet. Ur words of wisdom Ur Highness.
Hi Nagesh,
I understand your desire for a big car, I’ve been there buddy. Going for a pre-owned car may not be such a bad thing if you are going through the dealers. Anyway, I can point you to a new car, since you are quite spoilt for choice you little hard worker, you . Here are the cars you should be looking at:
1) Indigo Manza Aura 1.3L multijet – good car. might a tad over your budget but it’s a bigger car with a better engine.
2) Fiat Grande Punto – arguably the prettiest car on the Indian road. I really love this car. You can pick the newly launched 1.2L, 1.4L petrol emotions or the 1.3L Dynamic diesel.
3) Hyundai i20 – The Kappa engine rocks. Good space. 1.2L Magna my choice, or 1.2L Asta if you want to stretch it.
4) Marzuki Swift – Proven car. I’m not too fond f the looks. Interior space is deceivingly small. Good go but ubiquitous
5) VW Polo – Great car. Good looks, Novelty factor, space fest, excellent build quality. 3 pot engine may not be too powerful but will go the distance and then some. 1.2L petrol Comfort, my pick.
6) Ford Figo – Good looks. good space. decent diesel mill. Excellent driving position. Good car for your family.
Opinion: Its tough buddy, but if you can get over how pretty the Punto is, i’d suggest the Polo or the Figo. Out of the two, the Polo is the better product. May not seem like a value for money car but it’s worth the moolah. The downside? the waiting period is three odd months. The Figo is great but the interior plastics leave a lot to be desired. If you can get over that, it’s your pick. My two cents? I’d take the Punto in a heartbeat.
Hope this was helpful mate.
Cheers,
Shourya
Hi Shourya,
Thanks for all your time on this, I am very grateful for all the observations u have given. Its indeed will be very helpful for me to pick 1 from the above two choices.
I will let u know 1s I get my new car.
1s again thanks for that.
Cheers,
Nagesh
Always welcome. Drive safe.
Hi Shourya,
I wanted to know the exact mileage of Figo Petrol (in City as well as on Highway). I drive my Maruti 800 for around 1000 km a month and looking for upgradation. Found Figo price/features JUST perfect for my requirements. Was concerned about mileage. If u can let me know the exact performance in terms of mileage.
Hi Rahul,
You haven’t mentioned which of the Figo brothers you are interested in – the petrol or the diesel ?
Hello
raj ab tum 800 maruti alto ke bad figo lene ka socha
thanks, ford
you launch a figo………
hi Shourya,
I am looking to buy a mid sized car. petrol and cng version. My requirement is comfortable seating for 5 ( we are all plump ;) ) and if possible good boot space.
Budget is not too high – max upto 6.5 or so if its really value for money. Until now, I had an Indigo but need a change now.
My daughter suggested a Figo even though its a hatchback as she says 5 would be comfortable in a Figo.
I am contemplating between Swift Dzire and Hyundai’s Accent. But Accent is low so I may have a back problem, I think.
What do you suggest considering we are all spoilt for choices and that makes it tougher to pick.
please suggest which one to pick. I am in a hurry to pick it though. waited really long!
Hi Vijay,
Tough call, it really is. I’d suggest the Manza Quadrajet. Slightly off the budget scales but a good value for money deal. The Dzire drives well and has space but I personally think the Dzire is the ugliest car in the world. So ugly, i’d rather look at a old man’s arse, while eating. The Accent is dated and will have absolutely no value for money re-sale-wise. With 6.5 as your budget, you are touching the next segment of cars, I’d suggest stretch it by that little more and get some good wheels on your drive.
Cheers mate,
Shourya
Hi Shourya
Nice article on Figo. I need a favor.
I m a bit confused between new wagonR & ford figo (petrol). I liked everything about figo but fuel efficiency. From what I have read FE is not that great. However, New WagonR, though has good FE, has 3 to 3 1/2 months waiting period. I m 6ft tall and I would like to have some rear seat legroom when somebody else is driving. My usage would be around 1000km/month and max budget is 5L to 5.25L.
Please let me know your suggestion.
Btw, does it make sense to compare the above two hatchbacks ?
hi i recently buy a ford figo titanium diesel . it is very nice car. iam enjoying driving.
enjoy ur drive krishna
Having been a die-hard fan of Ikon 1.6 and Fiesta Diesel, quickly made my mind to buy a Figo Diesel instead of petrol as it lacked the punch. I dont understand why you are crying for the quality of interiors, while I feel it is pretty decent and has easily reachable controls too. Even I bought this car with loads of hope built in me after the Ikons & Fiestas but it disappointed me in the quality of exterior paint quality and the larger than wide gaps in the doors & running board joints, which if you look closely is very ugly. Otherwise it is a fantastic car to drive in the city as well as on the highway, having crossed 150kmph mark with 5 adults on my way from chennai to ooty, pulls up the hills effort-lessly. Ford gives all actions as before but they have started to compromise on the quality of the car. I am saying this because I have seen 10 year old Ikons still clocking 2lakh km, but I dunno if the figo’s would live for 5 years…
Hi I am looking forward buying an Ford Figo. But i have noticed that alot of people are complaining about the road clearance of this car. As i need to travel through rough roads it is cause of concern for going for figo… Is the other cars too have same problem or is this specific with figo?
;-)
Hi Suhas, Hope you read my views on the Figo which I bought. Go for it only if you do not have the patience to wait for a new maruti/VW polo or the buck to buy de same… figo exi is certainly a value for money car and is readily available in showrooms which is also one reason why I bought it, otherwise ground clearance has not been a big problem for me even in kerala, it largely depends upon how you tackle it, be it with any car. Also ground clearance depends up on the wheelbase which is longer in figo than the cars like swift/i10 which may make it more prone to scrape its bottom.
As far as buying a car is concerned, it has to be based purely on an individuals perspective. Each owner would have different experiences with the same kind of car, there is no car which can score 10/10, so u decide with your liking instincts, budget, waiting period suitable for you.
hi Jirshad,iwas cnfused btween ford figo and swift ,after lots of labour i decided to go for ford figo diesel exi.A value for money car.Can u tell me abt its fuel efficiency bcz i have got it on nov 19.
Hi, having bought a ford, be ready for war every time you go to the dealer for any purpose, also remember to buy the 4th year extended warranty at the end of 2 years regular warranty, believe me it would be really useful, or else it falls heavily on pocket if anything goes wrong after the warranty period(hope 3rd year ext warranty has already been taken at the time of buying).
Coming to the fuel efficiency of figo with full time a/c, I get around 14 +/-1 kmpl in hardcore city driving which i think is fair enough considering the stagnant traffic conditions. Mixed around 16kmpl and on the highway with full load i managed to get 19kmpl. Do not fall in to the words of people getting 25+kmpl and all,i think that they get by driving b/w 40-60kmph without a/c and no traffic riding, I myself dunno how they claim it, it is not just practical. But I have experienced one thing, on an highway if you manage to keep your speed b/w 60-80kmph continuously for a long time, you are sure to get 20+kmpl, that too with a/c in an M800, Esteem Di & figo D or most of the cars for that matter, but it is difficult because we tend to speed above 120kmph on highways and hence you do not get 20+kmpl.