The first-generation Ka was a thoroughly offbeat thing. Heck, it even evolved into a roadster. The second Ka, on the other hand, is little more than a Fiat 500 in a nightgown. Third time around, Ford tried its best to create a more cheap and cheerful machine. So, is the 2016 Ford Ka+ any good?
Good isn’t the right word here. Fair is the designation that suits this thing best, to be honest. Now available to order throughout Europe from €9,990 or £8,995, respectively, the 2016 Ford Ka+ is based on the Ka that went on sale in Brazil about two years ago. The Ka+ we get in Europe is, in fact, made in India.
Exclusively available in 5-door form, the Ka+ has a minimum curb weight of 2,224 pounds (1,009 kilograms) and measures 154.68 inches (3,929 millimeters) in length. Boot capacity stands at 9.53 cuFT (270 L) including underfloor stowage. Up front, the pint-sized car gets MacPherson struts. A semi-independent twist-beam will have to do at the rear. Other details of most interest to us include the electric power assisted steering system and rear drum brakes.
On the mechanical front, the 2016 Ford Ka+ is powered by a 1.2-liter Duratec. The naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine is good for 69 HP (70 PS) and 142 lb-ft (105 Nm) or 84 HP (85 PS) and 152 lb-ft (112 Nm). A 5-speed manual is the sole transmission available. If fuel economy is what you’re after, the 85 PS ECO variant of the engine can return 4.8 liters per 100 kilometers (49 US mpg or 58.8 UK mpg) on the combined cycle. In terms of acceleration, 13.3 seconds to 62 mph (100 km/h) is the most you can ask from it.
Exterior styling is... so and so, to be frank, while the cabin is full of hard-wearing granulated plastic. Two trim levels are available for the Ka+, christened Style and Zetec. The Style is equipped with six airbags, remote central locking, electric front windows, electrically adjustable door mirrors, and not much more.
The Zetec adds air con, Sync infotainment, Hill Start Assist, and a speed limiter feature. Buyers who choose the 85 PS engine can spec out the Ka+ with goodies such as leather on the steering wheel, climate control, cruise control, alloys, heated front seats, heated and folding mirrors, rear parking sensors, and DAB radio.
“Ford has a proud history of offering affordable small cars that are practical, economical and fun-to-drive,” declared Jim Farley, the executive VP and president of Ford Europe. “Ka+ is true to that tradition, packing a huge amount of value into a compact car that delivers agile driving dynamics and a surprisingly roomy cabin.”
It's cheap and cheerful, it's got class-leading front headroom and the best-in-class legroom for rear passengers, so there you have it. The Ka+ sure makes sense as a first for motorists on a budget.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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