Rewind a few years back and the Ford Figo was a steady seller for the US carmaker. However, the competition in the form of Maruti Swift and Hyundai Grand i10 ate into the sales of the car. Now, the legendary US maker has brought out a newer, updated version of Figo that will take on competition in a stronger manner.
The changes include numerous tweaks inside and outside the car, a new petrol engine, and new pricing. So are the changes enough to take on the other two established cars in the segment? Let’s find out.
Exterior: There are no changes to the silhouette of the car, but there are a lot of changes apart from that. The facelifted version of Figo comes with enough tweaks on the outside to distinguish it from the other older models of the hatchback. 2019 Figo has a bumper that is inspired from the Aspire sedan. There is also a top model by the name BLU that comes with blur color accents all around. The top BLU model also has 15-inch alloy wheels while the lower models make do with 14-inch wheels only. The lines on the rear bumper and the black inserts do lend the Figo a sporty feel. Apart from the stickers underneath the doors on the side, the bottom of the boot lid too has black sticker work. All of this combined does give the new updated Ford Figo a more premium and detailed look as well.
Interiors: As far as interiors are concerned, we must first talk some space. The Figo has the largest wheelbase in the segment and not only is it longer than Swift or i10, it is also wider than its Hyundai rival. This is visible as soon as you step inside the car. The interiors have not changed a lot, the finish is still all-black and the room is also segment leading. However, the features have been updated here. There is a push button start, new touch screen infotainment set-up with navigation as well as rear camera display, auto headlamps, and rain sensing wipers. A few things that are missing are the smart entry into car, and lack of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in the touchscreen system. Also, rear AC vents still do not make and appearance on the updated 2019 hatchback.
Performance: The three engine options make the 2019 Figo a more lucrative purchase for customers. The diesel unit comes with a reduced turbo lag and the new gearbox introduced by Ford lends it better gearshift actions. The diesel Figo is currently the cheapest 100PS car in the segment. Talking of the new 1.2-litre DRAGON petrol engine, this too has been updated by Ford to deliver better power and torque figures than before. This engine too comes with the new gearbox and despite the bump in power, the 1.2L petrol engine sees no reduction in mileage.
As far as the drive of 1.2L petrol engine is concerned, it has a good amount of low-end torque, and at 1200 rpm, the Figo petrol easily does nearly 45-50 kmph in the 5th gear. Coming to the 1.5L petrol engine, this is the only option offered with a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. Add to this the 123 PS and 150 Nm of output and this easily becomes one of the most affordable 120PS car in the country that also offers an expensive torque converter automatic setup.
Driving : The first and the most impressive thing on the Figo that you find is that despite 3-cylinder engines, the NVH levels are extremely low. The steering is also pretty light, and the clutch is perfect for city rides. The engines of the new Figo offer great outputs and the visibility while driving the car is very good. There is no sporty variant this time around but this does not mean that the Figo is a boring car to drive, while it may not be as exciting as the Maruti Swift, the 2019 Ford Figo still holds its own when it comes to excitement. The suspension too is moderately tuned to give you feedback while also keeping the ride less bumpy on urban Indian roads. The brakes also offer a good bite and the highway manners of Figo are also great to an extent.
Verdict: 2019 Figo has been made available in 3 trims. The automatic version is only reserved for the top model whereas a new sportier BLU variant has been introduced. Also, we find that the variants have faced significant price cuts and the entire line-up of the new 2019 Figo is now more streamlined. The new Figo also comes with a 5 year and 1,00,000 km warranty as standard. The extension of standard warranty by the company also greatly adds to the peace of mind factor for the customer.
2019 Ford Figo aims high with its value for money tag, peppy engines, overall improved NVH levels and safety bump of 6 airbags in segment. However, missing out on key features such as smartphone connectivity, a rear AC vents, and smart entry could influence the deal for a few, the overall package still remains sensible.
