Classic Ford styling an upmarket upgrade

Fortunately I was able to attend the launch of the new Figo and, being the owner of the 2015 model, I was of course curious as to what the new Figo will offer. Ford announced that it will launch a Transit in Q3, the new Focus in Q4 and this will be followed by the new Eco Sport and the Kuga. This is quite a programme, don’t you think?

The Sub-B segment of the market is quite active, and the hatch portion of these accounts for 88% of the sales, while 12% are sedans and petrol engines rule the roost. Manual gearboxes make up 93% of current sales.

This is interesting because just the other day I read an article which suggested that automatics will rule the future.

The Figo is targeted towards first-time buyers and one has to be mindful of just how many seriously attractive products are on offer in this segment. Its direct competition is considered to be the Polo, Etios and Hyundai i10 – all very popular with the younger and not-so-young generation.

Part of the launch activities included a visit to the Ford factory in Pretoria (truly fascinating) and a drive to Cullinan to visit the Cullinan Diamond Mine. Did you know that the Cullinan pipe is the oldest diamond pipe in the world? In 1905 and only a mere nine meters from the top, the biggest diamond, 3106ct was found?

The Cullinan Mine is a carrot shaped volcanic pipe with a surface area of some 42 hectares. But yes, I think that is about enough history for one day.

Styled for success

The grill is large – the sculpted bonnet directs one’s focus on the headlights which, I think, are complemented by the fog lamps. The latter are articulated by silver strips.

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The devil, they say, is in the detail! I like it. This applies to the rear end as well, on both the hatch and the sedan.

The side profile, thanks to the strong shoulder lines, is dynamic and masculine. “Upmarket,” says Ford and I do agree. The Trend derivative is fitted with 14-inch wheels and central locking and also Hill Launch Assist.

Interior

First things first – it certainly is more spacious, and the size of the boot on the sedan, will surprise you. Small and growing families will love it.

Something which will really impress the young and vibrant is the My Ford Dock on top of the dashboard. This will host your mobile phone and charge it via the USB socket built into the dock. It is perfectly positioned and will enhance your Google Maps experience when driving in unfamiliar locations.

The Ford-fitted audio system sports four speakers and there is also Bluetooth connectivity. For novice drivers, the Figo also offers a gear shift indicator.

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Performance

Well, the fact that it came fitted with a three-cylinder 1,5-litre did present me with a surprise. It produces 88kW and 150Nm and performed more than just admirably in town as well as on the open road.

I first drove the sedan fitted with a five-speed manual gearbox – short precise and smooth with good performance throughout the rev range. Then followed the hatch fitted with a six-speed automatic. It shifted beautifully with no hunting and quick smooth downshifting to boot.

The suspension is also a big improvement on previous models. It’s a lot quieter inside the car and allows for comfortable conversation. Fuel consumption is indexed at 5,7litre/100 km on the manual and a 6,5litre/100km on the automatic. The fuel tank offers a 43-litre capacity compared to 45 litres on the previous model.

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Conclusion

Ford Protect is standard on all new Figos and offers a four-year/120 000km warranty and a four-year/60 000km service plan with 15 000km service intervals. Prices on the new Figo start at R181 300.

Now, me, myself and I consider this good value, and if you make the effort to do an apples with apples comparison, you will find that this package offers more than its direct competitors and for less.