Compact sedans are the latest piece of the market which everyone is after. The volumes speak for themselves and the pundits expect it to grow at a rapid rate over the next few years. The big guns are already in the fray and no one is letting up. Ford, of course, is the latest one to turn their attention to this sub-four-meter section and they bring fresh promises with them with the Figo Aspire. And although it carries the Figo badge, this showcases what the next generation Figo will rather than then existing one.

Design

You can’t miss the now signature Ford ‘trapezoidal grille’ even if you just glance at the Aspire. It dominates the front of the car along with the large swept back headlamps, setting the tone for the neatly sculpted hood and an angular windshield, which Ford claim is the result of several hours of wind-tunnel testing to reduce wind noise and improve aerodynamic efficiency. Strong shoulder lines flank the length of the car making it quite an impressive car to look at. The large chrome slat on the boot, however, draws mixed feelings, although the nicely detailed tail lamps make up for it.

Engine, Ride, Handling

Ford is going all out and will offer three engine options. The 1.2-litre petrol has been reworked to produce 88PS with 112Nm of torque and is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, while the 1.5-litre diesel now makes 100PS and 215Nm of torque, also mated to a five-speed manual gearbox; and yet another 1.5-litre petrol making 112PS and 136Nm or torque, which will be introduced with a six-speed automatic transmission for hassle free motoring.

While the 1.2-litre petrol claims enough power on paper, it delivers only past 4000rpm with little bottom-end response. However, when pushed to the red line, it makes a lovely sound to keep you entertained. The 1.5-litre diesel is a far more effortless motor to use. There is little turbo-lag with the boost kicking in rather rapidly past 1600rpm with a strong midrange to follow. The combination means you need lesser gearshifts and great drivability. It isn’t the most refined of engines, but does a better job than some of its eastern counterparts.

Ride is well sorted with the Figo Aspire soaking up bumps well. The 175/65 section tyres on 14-inch rims not only ensure a smooth ride, but also offers a fair amount of grip around corners to complement the able chassis. Handling is impressive although if you need to brake while going around a corner, the tail-end tends to lighten up and move about. Steering feel is reasonable, although not quite as good as the high standards that Ford has been setting for themselves.

Verdict

The Aspire is a very impressive package which is arguably the best to drive in the segment and is incredibly spacious for a car in the sub-four-meter category. There are plenty of smart storage spaces around the cabin and they have created a smart docking station for devices at the top of the centre console to make it user-friendly for today’s consumers, with an easy to use charging port.

They continue to develop on the ‘Sync’ system and have added a ‘MyKey’ feature which allows you to control a whole lot of things if you are usually driven around by a chauffeur and you would like some checks in place. It manages to pack in a reasonably sized boot along with all of this and sets a benchmark in safety standards with driver and passenger airbags standard across all variants and the option of six airbags in the top-of-the-line variant apart from ABS.

Prices will be announced soon and the Aspire should be gunning for your cheque book this Diwali.

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