First Drive
Ford Ka 1.2 Zetec
Test date Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Price as tested £10,395
What is it?
This is the all-new Ford Ka. It replaces the venerable original Ka, which has been in production since 1996.
The new Ford Ka is a joint venture with Fiat. It’s based on the Fiat 500/Panda platform, but has a Ford-designed body and Ford-tuned mechanicals.
>> See our exclusive pics of the new Ford Ka
Two engines are available at launch; a 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol unit and a 1.3-litre diesel. This is the petrol Ka in range-topping Zetec trim.
What’s it like?
The Ford Ka is still small and still cute, although not as small and cute as the original. It’s wider, taller (but not longer) and, somewhat inevitably, heavier. The base Ka weighs 940kg, compared with 887kg for the previous model.
Inside the Ka, you can spot the Fiat origins if you know what you’re looking for: the centre console is straight out of the Panda/500; all the switches are in the same place; and the indicator/wiper stalks are the same. But for most people - and certainly for the Ford Ka’s target market - this similarity won’t matter.
What matters is that the new Ford Ka looks fresh, modern, interesting and feels more expensive than it actually is. The bright white centre console trim of our test car and the coloured seat inserts add a bespoke feel to the Ka’s interior, something competitors such as the Hyundai i10 lack.
The Ford Ka doesn’t drive like the Fiat 500, though, and Ford has put maximum effort into differentiating the Ka from its origins.
Where the Fiat 500 and Panda feel soft and unresponsive, the Ford Ka is quick and precise – not as darty and rapid as the original, but it has maintained its predecessor’s small-car reactions.
It is not fast, though. The Ka takes 13.1secs to reach 62mph, and it feels like it.
Like the old Ford Ka, it rides beautifully. In fact, it feels considerably more grown up than you might expect, even given Ford’s recognised ability to match chassis dynamics with comfort. It absorbs speed bumps silently and smoothes out bad roads like a car from the class above.
The Ford Ka is good at speed, too - much better than the original. Sit on the motorway at 90mph and there’s no fuss, with minimal wind noise.
Tyre noise is noticeable, but there’s no mechanical thrashing or any feeling that the 1.2-litre engine is straining, despite being near the extent of its abilities. The 37-litre tank, however, doesn’t promise much range.
Should I buy one?
Absolutely. No, the new Ford Ka is not as distinctive as the 500 or the old Ford Ka but it’s a better car than either of them. It feels like a miniaturised version of the excellent Ford Fiesta.
It’s deft and able, compact enough to be perfect in difficult urban situations but refined enough to drive everywhere else. And where the Fiat compromises on dynamics, the Ford makes a virtue of them.
Dan Stevens
First drive data
How much?
- Price as tested £10,395
- Price as tested £9,495
How fast?
- 0-62 mph 13.1 sec
- Max speed 98 mph
How big?
How thirsty?
- Combined 55.4 mpg
- CO2 emissions 119 g/km
Engine
- Layout 4 , 1242 cc
- Max power 67 bhp at 5500 rpm
- Max torque 75 lb ft at 3000 rpm
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