Used Ford Figo
Ford introduced the Figo for the first time in India in 2010. The hatchback came across as a worthy contender in its segment and it was offered with 1.2-litre petrol and 1.4-litre diesel engines. The Figo was a basic car but was known for its sturdy build and sorted dynamics. In 2015, Ford launched the second generation of the Figo as a massive improvement over the older car and we’ll be talking about this model here.
The Ford Figo has seen decent popularity in India, however, it just didn’t sell as much as certain rivals. This is largely due to the herd mentality that prevails among the lesser-informed customers. The second generation Figo came with three engine options – 1.2-litre petrol, 1.5-litre diesel and a 1.5-litre engine that was exclusively offered with a DCT back then. The current Figo got a facelift in 2019 with lots of changes but right now we’ll mainly focus on the pre-facelift model. A good number of Figos have emerged in the used car market and these are available at quite good prices.
Ford Figo – Overview
The Ford Figo is a well-built hatchback. The second generation pre-facelift model lacked some features like a touchscreen infotainment system, reverse parking sensors, push-button start and keyless go. It did get a 4.2-inch display for the SYNC infotainment system, climate control and electrically adjustable and folding ORVMs. The Figo looked quite good and came across as a well-proportioned hatchback.
The cabin offers decent space. The front seats are comfy and there’s enough room at the rear too. Compared to the first gen Figo, the new model instantly feels more spacious and comfy. However, due to the roofline of the car, the headroom for rear passengers feels a bit limited. The Figo has a 257-litre boot capacity which is enough for a hatchback.
The 1.2-litre NA petrol engine delivers 88 PS and 112 Nm, the 1.5-litre TDCI mill churns out 100 PS and 215 Nm while the bigger 1.5-litre petrol engine makes 112 PS and 136 Nm. The 1.5-litre petrol engine got a 6-speed PowerShift DCT gearbox while the other two engines got a 5-speed MT. If we had to pick one out of these three, it’d be the diesel engine hands down because it offers a hard-to-beat blend of performance and fuel efficiency, especially in this segment.
The 1.2 petrol has average performance and is more commuterish while the 1.5 petrol has decent punch and the DCT is good for those who hate driving manuals. The facelift Figo gets the same diesel engine but the petrol engines are all-new from the Dragon series. The updated model also gets a new manual gearbox while the AT is a torque convertor instead of the DCT. 2019 onwards Figo models also come with a lot more equipment than before and have most of the modern features that are available these days.
The second generation Ford Figo is lighter than the older car. It got an electric power steering which isn’t as feedback-rich as the hydraulic unit on the older car. However, it is quite light at city speeds and weighs up on the highways too. While the second gen Figo doesn’t have the go-kart feel of its predecessor, it is still involving to drive. Handling is good by segment standards and the hatchback is also very stable at high speeds. The suspension is also quite sorted and the ride is comfortable and less bouncy. Back then, the car used to come with 14-inch tyres though.
Used Ford Figo – What To Check
The Ford Figo may not have sold in high numbers but that doesn’t mean that it’s a bad car. In fact, it is a very reliable car and has simple mechanicals. The Figo is also inexpensive to maintain and we remember Ford rolling out their child part policy to keep service costs in check. Ford insisted on the fact that the Figo is cheaper to maintain than its rivals and it wasn’t a gimmick.
Still, every car has a couple of common issues which buyers need to look out for. For starters, Ford had recalled the Figo to replace the airbag control module. This replacement was done free of cost and cars manufactured between September 2015 to April 2016 were affected by this issue. If you’re checking out a car from this batch, do check whether the part was replaced or not. If not, get it done if and when you purchase the car.
The EGR valve also tends to give issues if the car frequently runs on poor quality fuel. Symptoms of this issue are rough idle and power loss. When you take a test drive, keep an ear out for any unusual noises coming from the suspension or steering. If the steering is rattling or making noises, you would want to get the column checked. It’s not a common issue though. If the suspension sounds noisy, you will have to get the bushings checked and/or replace any other affected components.
Other than this, just look for standard things like a consistent body line and paint, working electricals, etc. The AC is known to be chiller so if the cooling isn’t optimum, you’ll have to refill the gas and get the unit serviced. However, do get the entire AC assembly checked for any sort of gas leakage or any part like the condenser or compressor which is on its way out.
Used Ford Figo Expenses
The Ford Figo has a service interval of 1 year/10,000 kms and a general yearly service shouldn’t cost more than Rs. 6000/-. If some part needs replacement, you’ll obviously have to fork up extra but most Ford parts are priced very reasonably. Ford also has a service cost calculator on their official website which gives you an idea on the expenses that you can expect.
If we talk about body parts, the front and rear bumpers cost approximately Rs. 2200/- and Rs. 2800/- respectively (without painting). The headlights are priced at Rs. 3800/- each while each tail lamp costs Rs. 1800/-. Each door costs around Rs. 5000/- while the tail gate costs about Rs. 4900/-.
A set of brake pads will set you back by around Rs. 1700-1800/- while a disc will cost you Rs. 4700/-. The front and rear shock absorbers are priced between Rs. 1700-1900/-. All of these prices may vary from city to city and these are approximates.
If we talk about insurance, an annual comprehensive policy should cost less than Rs. 5000/- but the premium will go up if you opt for extras like zero depreciation, engine protection, accessory protection, etc. The 1.2 petrol delivers a real world fuel efficiency of 10-13 km/l while the 1.5 petrol will give 9-12 km/l under day to day conditions. The diesel engine is way more efficient with figures hovering between 16-20 km/l.
Used Ford Figo Price
There are a lot of petrol variants available in the used car market but diesel cars are a bit limited. If you opt for a petrol car from the initial batches (2015-2016), then you’ll find these for Rs. 3.50-3.80 lakhs depending on the variant, mileage and condition. The 1.5 AT is priced at a slight premium so you can expect to pay around Rs. 40,000-50,000/- more than its 1.2 counterpart but you can always negotiate.
For diesel cars, a price of around Rs. 3.60-3.75 lakhs for 2015 models is quite VFM. 2016-2018 models are priced from Rs. 5-6 lakhs and our pick would be the top variants. There are barely any facelifted models available in the used car market but if you want a deal on one of these, try contacting your local Ford dealer and ask if they have any 2019 cars in stock.
The Figo Aspire is technically the same as its hatchback sibling and these are also available in the used car market in decent numbers. The price difference between these cars isn’t much. If we have a Figo and a Figo Aspire, both of similar vintage and variant, expect the Aspire to cost about Rs. 25,000-35,000/- more than the hatch. It is worth the extra cost in case you need the boot space.
Ford had also launched the Figo S in 2017 and it was a sportier variant. However, there are barely a handful of these cars in the used car market right now. Just for reference, the Figo is currently priced from Rs. 6.37-9.35 lakhs while the Aspire costs Rs. 7.06-9.92 lakhs (on-road, Mumbai).
Used Ford Figo Alternatives
If you’re looking for a fun hatchback, there are some good options available in this price bracket. You can easily get the second generation Maruti Swift in this price range. The Swift has a punchier 1.2-litre K-Series engine. Its 1.3 diesel unit isn’t as fun as the TDCI unit but there’s good potential for modifications. The Swift also sold in huge numbers compared to the Figo so there are way too many options available in the market.
If your budget is Rs. 5-6 lakhs, you can easily land a third generation Swift petrol and even the Baleno. These are good cars, known to be fuss-free. However, resale value of Maruti cars is quite high so expect dealers to charge a premium. The Ignis is another hatch that you can land for this price in the used car market. You might even get a diesel AMT variant from the earlier batches.
If you don’t want a Maruti, your next bet would be a Volkswagen Polo. The Polo was offered multiple engine options and the best ones were the 1.2-litre TSI, 1.6-litre TDI and 1.5-litre TDI. There are plenty of examples available and the TSI makes for a great choice if you want an AT, but this comes at the cost of slightly higher maintenance and limited rear legroom. The diesel engine is fab but the clutch is a bit on the heavier side. If you can find a good condition GT TDI from the older batches (1.6 engine), nothing like it.
Another option is the Hyundai Grand i10 which isn’t fun to drive but does most other things right (features, comfort, fuel efficiency). You can also consider Honda Jazz which is very efficient and its diesel engine has a similar power figure. The Jazz is also the most spacious hatchback out there. The 1.2-litre i-VTEC unit has satisfactory performance, but if you’re buying this car, the diesel variant is the one to go for. Meanwhile, the petrol engine is offered with a CVT too. The Jazz also gets a decent equipment list.
