Ford Figo S review

• Published On: 18 April 2017
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Ford has added a few cosmetic changes to the Figo Sports Edition and has even reworked the car’s suspension to make it more exciting. How much better is it now?

The Figo strikes the right balance between practicality and performance, especially in its diesel form. But it’s been tilting towards the practicality portion too much for enthusiasts to be okay with. To revive interest in the hatchback, Ford has just launched a sportier version called the Figo Sports Edition (Figo S), with a few tweaks. So, will it win back its fans?

On the outside
The S features cosmetic enhancements over the standard car, like its new honeycomb design on the front grille, a smoked effect on the headlamps and a black finish for all the chrome bits on the car. Continuing the theme is the black roof, black outside mirrors, body vinyl (at the doors and rear bumper) and a new roof spoiler. The new 15-inch black alloy wheels with meatier 195/55-section tyres complement the car’s sporty character well.

On the inside
Inside the cabin, there’s hardly anything different other than a new leather-wrapped steering and red double stitching on the seat fabric and the gear lever boot. The car comes with the same all-black theme and features from the Titanium variant - these include ABS with EBD, dual front airbags, automatic climate control, electrically adjustable and foldable outside mirrors, and reverse wiper and washer. There are no parking sensors though, and there’s no touchscreen or Ford’s Sync infotainment system either, but there’s a cleverly designed dock to hold your mobile phone.

Power Torque
The Sports Edition is powered by a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine that produces 100hp and 215Nm of torque, and the 1.2-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine that makes 88hp and 112Nm of torque. Both engines are mated to a five-speed manual transmission. There is no automatic version on offer.

The 1.5-litre diesel version (tested here) is responsive right from the word go and boost kicks in from as low as 1,600rpm. There’s a mild surge thereon, until a little over 4,000rpm after which power delivery begins to taper. Still, the motor will rev until its redline of 5,000rpm, with it starts getting noisy at higher revs. The car is around 20kg heavier thanks to the bigger wheels, chunkier tyres and roof spoiler. But its lightweight construction translates into an impressive 95hp/ton power to weight ratio; almost identical to the more expensive Polo GT TDI’s, making this one of the fastest mass-market diesel hatchbacks around. Naturally, fuel efficiency has dipped. It’d down by 1.5kpl to 24.29kpl, compared to the regular car’s 25.83kpl.

Enthusiasts will remember the Fiesta S and its razor-sharp handling that were a result of its reworked suspension. The Sports Edition’s has also been tweaked to improve its handling. Push hard and turn into a sharp corner and the tail end will step out too – but just enough to keep things exciting and not suggest a loss of control. The fatter 195mm tyres have made a difference too. The steering feel has improved a bit and grip levels around bends are better now. There is some degree of roll, but engineers needed a compromise that balances sportiness and everyday usability, this car will spend most of its time in the city after all. The Figo S has a very comfy ride. It remains flat and composed out on the highway, and absorbs bumps within the city really well. The brakes are perfect with the pedal offering just the right amount of feel and bite. The clutch, however, is a bit on the heavier side. The five-speed manual gearbox isn’t very smooth, it feels a bit rubbery.

Is it worth the money?
For a premium of ₹50,000 over the regular Figo, you’re getting the same practicality and set of features, but in a more sorted package, dynamically. With the Figo Sports Edition, Ford gives driving enthusiasts the tool they desire. It finally shows signs of the Ford DNA that seemed to be missing all this while.