Being a proud owner of Maruti Zen Vxi MPFI (2005 Model), I am mostly inclined towards makes by Maruti Suzuki. After much compulsions, I decided to take the test drive of Ford’s most successful hatchback, The Ford Figo.
Before I dive into the features and specifications of Ford Figo, I would like to shed some light over my existing car – The Maruti Zen MPFI.
Ownership Experience
Maruti Zen had been a widely popular car in India. Zen was meant for the elite families back in 2000. We bought a Vxi version of the same – 2005 make. It has been over 6 years of experience so far and till date I never felt to part with my car. A marvelous experience over the years, the car has travelled over all terrains, never felt to disappoint me howsoever. The car is meant to be driven in city but it performs good in highway also. To summarize,
Riding – Brilliant.
Handling – Superb.
Steering – Light. You just can’t compromise with the power steering in Zen. Although some people may feel the steering is light, but I like it this way.
Mileage – Earlier it used to give 16 kmpl in city, 20+ kmpl in highways. (100% AC on)
Recent readings, 12-13kmpl in city, 20kmpl in highways (50% AC on)
Pros – Handling is superb. Driving is city is effortless. VXi Model is loaded with features like – AC with heater, defogger, fog lamps, cigarette lighter and much more.
Cons – Rear passengers may feel cramped. Boot space is not that amazing. AC performance has deteriorated over the years. Engine slags with AC on.
Back in 2004/05 we did not have many choices in the Hatchback class. Zen proved to be the best choice among them and till date I never regret our decision.
First Impressions
First Impressions make a vital role in judging a car (at least in my case it does). The car has a solid build quality – needless to say, all Ford cars does. The car looks cute from the front – the front grille embedded with the Ford logo in the middle feels a class apart. Once you sit inside the car, it feels like you are seating in a cockpit. One thing you will notice, is the Driver’s Visibility and this is where Ford Cars score a 10/10. I had test driven a Diesel variant Titanium model. Loaded with Ford’s Duratorq Diesel engine, the car offers 69PS @4000 RPM. You wont feel lack of power at any point and you can rev the engine as much as you like. Suspensions are superb, the car just seems to absorb potholes not transferring it to driver’s cabin. Pickup is good in the 2nd and 3rd gear. Gearshift is short and rubbery. AC performance is really good. The engine does not lag with the AC on. The braking is simply brilliant – has to be, the car is loaded with ABS. It just gives you so much confidence while driving on highway. Boot Space is simply outrageous for a hatchback. You can fit 3 large suitcases without ado. Cant comment on the mileage. Figo comes with R14 tires. Turning Radius of the car is awesome – 4.9m. On-road for Diesel Variant Titanium would come around 6.5 lacks (approx).
Pros – Good Pickup, Large Boot Space, Braking is good
Cons – The car has a bad ground clearance. The mud flaps just seem to scrape large bumpers when fully loaded.
My Verdict – If you want a car of solid build and want to run more on highways than in city, Figo can be a perfect choice. Take a Test Drive before you decide.
You may want to look at the competitors in this class - Maruti Ritz, Maruti Swift, Toyota Etios Liva, Fiat Punto, Hyundai i20, Nissan Micra, Volkswagen Polo
~Somjeet~