Ford Figo Long Term
Car tested – Ford Figo TDCi Titanium
Kms Done: 1836.5
Test Started at – 10754 km
Test Concluded at – 12590 km
Mileage – 16.68 Kmpl (mostly city running)
19.43 Kmpl (Best)
12.91 Kmpl (Worst)
Fuel Consumed – 110.1 liters
Fuel Cost – Rs. 4985/-
Major Repair – None
Service Cost – None during the test
The Ford Figo has won ‘Car of the Year’ award from most reputed publications.
The key ingredients contributing to a perfect car are performance, fuel efficiency, practicality, space and a healthy list of gizmos. The final flavor comes with the right pricing and Ford seems to have got the recipe absolutely right with the Figo. This car alone had changed the game for Ford in India and has won the car of the year award from almost all the reputed publications, including MotorBeam. We have extensively reviewed the Ford Figo in the past (link to review) and this is, by far, the most practical and value for money vehicle in the segment. With soaring petrol prices, diesel cars make more sense as the differential between the two fuels keep getting wider and wider. We take the Ford Figo diesel for a long run and find out how it fares as a daily drive.
Externally the Figo may not appear to boast of a catchy design but this is one practical car and that’s where it scores over its rivals. It provides just about everything a hatchback owner needs. Electrically adjusted mirrors are convenient and you don’t have to go through the hassle of adjusting the mirrors every morning. Cabin space is the largest in the segment. Even though the Ford Figo is not the tallest of the cars, a six footer can be comfortable in both, front and back seats. The boot is handy when you want to travel heavy and can swallow large bags with ease. Rear defogger and wiper are appreciated during the rains. Safety has not been compromised too, there is ABS and Airbags on offer for the safety conscious.
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Interiors are roomy but if we have to be critical, we would have loved if the Ford Figo had better quality plastics but in a price sensitive market, every inch of cost cutting counts and if this helps the manufacturer price the product well, it is an acceptable compromise. A/C is the best in the segment ensuring you don’t break into a sweat. Power windows are only provided at the front in the Ford Figo, even the top of the line variant is deprived of rear power windows. The point is that the rear door curves in to accommodate the rear wheel, hence the window does not come down to the full extent. Ford has thus not considered giving power windows at the back.
On a hot sunny day, the Figo will cool within minutes. Our test car did not have a sun control film and hence would heat up quickly in the sun. Once the car has cooled, temperature is maintained as per the settings shown.
Stop at a mall for the security check and you have to bend over the passenger seat to open the bonnet, quite inconvenient.
On the other hand, the boot opener is on the dash and convenient. Most cars have the fuel lid opener and the boot release near the drivers seat and its gets confusing when you are hunting for the right switch in the dark, the Figo makes life easy in this regard.
The Figo has an option of an all black or ‘coral’ dashboard. We conducted a small survey amongst hatchback owners. Less than 20 percent people preferred the ‘coral’ over the black. We, as the majority suggests, prefer the black. How many of you know that the red color Figo only comes in the black color dash orientation?
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The Audio system has average sound quality and is pretty good for a stock music system. The Ford Figo is the first car in the segment to offer bluetooth phone connectivity. You can also stream music directly from your phone via bluetooth. The Titanium + variant offers USB connectivity too. Aux connectivity is standard.
If you try and play music without the key being in the ignition, the display will warm you that you have only one hour before the music will shut down to conserve battery.
Browsing through your phone is very easy, though it will take you a while to figure the system out, once you are through, you can make calls, receive calls, check for missed calls and even go to your contacts to dial a number with absolute ease.
Low fuel warning comes on with the Distance to Empty (DTE) showing another 79 km to go. We tested this thrice and this was spot on with respect to accuracy. The DTE reading is accurate only when you fill a full tank of diesel, if you are the one who prefers to fill small amounts then don’t expect much accuracy on the DTE. Driving style also influences the DTE. Hit the rev limiter and the DTE reading will drop, on the other hand drive conservatively and the reading will hold position for a longer time.
The Figo is very comfortable absorbing the bumps on the road with hardly any transferring into the cabin. At slow speeds you can drive fast over these craters and still not be jostled around, such is the suspension setup we are talking about. Even high speed ride is smooth. Despite such a compliant ride, the handling does not suffer at all. It is always difficult to find the perfect balance between ride and handling and Ford has done a remarkable job on this front. The Figo feels well planted on the highways at triple digit speeds and high speed stability deserves a special mention. On the other hand, the Chevrolet Beat, which sits in the same price point, is extremely unsettled when it comes to the highways. The Figo also gives good steering feedback at high speeds and is optimistic about sudden changes in direction.
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The 1.4-litre TDCi engine produces 69 PS at 4000 RPM and 160 Nm torque at 2000 RPM and fares well in the mileage and performance exam. The short throws of the gearbox are a boon in bumper to bumper traffic. Diesel cars are heavy when it comes to the clutch but the Ford Figo is relatively light for a diesel car. Most of our running as in the city and the Figo returned an average fuel efficiency of 16.68 km/l. In the city, the fuel efficiency varies with the traffic and these figures are brilliant considering we were driving in the peak hour Mumbai traffic.
The entire world seems to think that Ford cars are expensive to maintain. Ford may have started on the wrong foot with respect to the Escort, but that was almost two decades ago. The Figo, on the other hand, is very economical when it comes to service and spares, unfortunately the perception is otherwise. To be more precise on the subject we have got actual costs to share and this should be an eyeopener for many. Over 1,00,000 km of running the Figo Diesel requires Rs 39,605/- (tax not included as it varies from state to state) for routine service and spares. This amounts to a very competitive 40 paise per kilometer of service cost. Costs of other parts are as under –
• Engine oil per service : Rs 855/- (Petrol) | Rs 1117/- (Diesel)
• Brake oil : Rs 650/-
• Coolant : Rs 1582/-
• Brake pad : Rs 1300/-
• Front bumper (Without painting) : Rs 1820/-
• Rear bumper (Without painting) : Rs 3100/-
• Head lamp assembly (each) : Rs 2148/-
• Tail lamp assembly (each) : Rs 1150/-
Abundant space, practical features, great fuel efficiency and reasonable service costs make the Figo the best buy in the segment.
The Figo is a winner, having won so many awards to back up the claim, it had us impressed all over again. Abundant space, practical features, great fuel efficiency and reasonable service costs make it the best buy in the segment. Ford has recently upgraded the features and it now boasts of tilt steering, USB connectivity and alloy wheels for a nominal increase in the price. This car is a strong contender for both city and highway runs and is unbeatable for the value it provides at a competitive price.
Whats Cool
* Space
* Fuel Efficiency
* Features
* Service Costs
* Value for Money
Whats Not So Cool
* Plastic quality could have been better
* No rear power windows