Ford Figo 1.2 DuraTec Titanium - Initial Ownership Review After using my 2002 Zen Lxi for 7 long years, it was time for a change. Why? Because my Zen was starting to give me a lot of trouble, and I was spending a lot of Vitamin-M on it which really wasn't adding to the overall value of the car!
So after a lot of deliberation with my wife about getting a new car, the finances, future plans, etc. we finally decided it was time!
We initially thought of going for a Diesel, and had almost booked an Indica Vista Quadrajet VX, however, later realized that with the amount of running I have every year, it would take at-least 4 years before I can recover the extra initial cost of a Diesel vehicle!
Among the multiple options available for a petrol hatch in the 4-5.5 lakh range, I had considered the following options:
1. Maruti-Suzuki Swift Vxi
2. Tata Indica Vista Petrol
3. Ford Figo
4. Chervolet Beat LT Petrol
5. Nissan Micra
I had to immediately rule-out the Swift because of the wait time and because my wifey did not like the 'look' of the new swift.
The Beat met a similar fate when we took a TD, wifey found the rear-seating claustrophobic.
Nissan Micra did not offer the features I wanted within my budget.
Indica Vista Petrol turned out to be severely under-powered!
So we were then left with just one option - The Ford Figo!
I was initially reluctant to get a Figo as I already have a Figo Zxi Petrol purchased in Jan 2012 - for my mom, and didn't want two vehicles of the same make!
However, after a lot of RnD on the Ford Figo (thanks to Team-BHP Forums!) and on comparing the price-to-feature ratio of the Figo with other cars in the same price range, I found the Figo to be the best VFM car.
What I like about the Figo:
- Excellent build quality
- Comfortable seating & driving position
- A/c is superb - one of the best I've experienced in a hatch
- Factory-fitted music system is very good offering deep-bass & clear sound
- Huge boot space
What I dislike about the Figo:
- Feels under-powered
- The overall design is kind of outdated
- OEM headlights are inadequate
Considering all of the above factors, we zeroed-in on the Ford Figo Titanium Petrol, and booked the vehicle in the first week of August.
The vehicle cost me 4.54 lakh on-road, including a discount of 27k. I also got 5k worth of accessories for free!
Got the loan applied, approved and sanctioned in the next few days and on the 18th of August I received delivery of my brand-new, shiny Ford Figo Titanium in bright Colorado Red color!
I have to mention that my experience with the dealer - Angel Auto at Vasai was fantastic as the sales guy worked out everything for me - from collecting documents from my house to getting things processed with the bank.
The reason I opted for the Titanium variant is because:
- Safety features: ABS, Airbags
- Alloy wheels
- Rear wash & wipe
- Fog lamps
At this time the Figo has completed approx 150 kms. I know it's not a lot, but I do have enough hands-on experience of the Figo as I have been using my other Figo Zxi since Jan 2012.
Styling-wise I have never been a big fan of Figo because of the traditional styling, unlike the other hatchbacks like Swift, Beat, Polo which are better looking.
I chose to go with the Figo because of the overall build quality, that secure feeling while driving this car and because the interior quality is top-notch!
Space-wise i feel the Figo is among the best-in-class, if not the best! There is plenty of room for the driver, co-passenger and for the rear passengers as well. There is plenty of leg-space for the passengers seated in the rear and the Figo can accommodate 3 medium-sized adults with ease! (Tried & tested in my Figo Zxi)
Air-conditioners have always been a specialty of all Ford cars, and the Figo is no exception! The Ac is an absolute delight, and cools the entire cabin within a few minutes! My office timings are really early in the morning starting anytime between 2 to 6.30AM and in the mornings I actually have to lower the Ac cooling settings to avoid being frozen alive!!
As far as seat comfort is concerned, I find the seat to be nice and comfortable with adequate under-thigh support. The driver-side height adjustment is a handy feature!
I honestly don't have much to talk about the engine performance of the Figo, as I find it completely under-powered and lacking the initial punch. I am 100% confident that my previous car - The 2002 Zen Lxi, had better initial acceleration compared to the Figo!
Having said that, I love the way this car handles when at high speeds - the suspension setup is bang-on, steering response is intuitive and instills confidence in the driver! I travel regularly on the NH-8 and have always maintained a speed-range of 100-120 kph, and the Figo doesn't let me realize i am going that fast! High-speed stability is excellent and braking is powerful & easy to manage because of ABS.
Gear throws are short & smooth and changing gears is effortless!
I haven't really tested the FE on the Figo Titanium, however, am getting FE of 11-12kpl in the city & 15-16kpl on the highway.
Overall I believe that the Ford Figo is a complete VFM package, even if you go with the top-end Titanium version, as no other car provides to with all of the Figo's features in the same price range. |