2019 Ford Figo Facelift First Drive Review

Exterior Design and Styling of New Ford Figo Facelift

On the outside, Ford has made minimal changes to the Figo. In fact, if you look at it from a distance the changes get harder to spot. But that is not a bad thing as the car always looked handsome and modern. The Titanium Blu model that we got to drive came in a serene looking white colour which was contrasted by the black alloy wheels, ORVMs and roof. The wheels on this trim are 15-inch ones while the lower trims come with 14-inch ones. At the front one can find the automatic headlamps, a black cellular grille and a fancy ‘c’ shaped blue bezel around the fog lamps. The Titanium Blu variant also gets sporty looking decals on the side and the rear.

Interiors of New Ford Figo Facelift

Things remain much the same on the inside too. The Titanium Blu variant gets blue coloured stitching on the seats and the word Blu embroidered on. Even the door panels have a blue colour accent line on them. The steering wheel is only adjustable for tilt but gets leather wrapping on the top end model.  Apart from this, the biggest functional addition on the inside is the floating touchscreen infotainment system. This has become an almost essential part of the cabin nowadays and Ford’s unit works great and I really like the smooth touch response. While it does come with navigation built-in, it sadly misses out on Android Auto or Apple CarPlay support. Ford also could have fitted the top end variant with a slightly better sound system. The cabin still remains spacious and it is a great car to drive your family around in. Ford has retained the 20 cup holders and cubby holes to store all sorts of belongings but missed the opportunity to add an armrest in front. Safety has also been given a thought. In the new Figo you get dual front airbags as standard and 6 airbags in the top end model. Additionally the top end trim gets rain sensing wipers.

Engine and Performance of New Ford Figo Facelift

The new Figo is being offered with three engine options including a1.2L petrol, a 1.5L petrol and a 1.5L diesel engine. I got to drive the 1.2L petrol and the 1.5L diesel. The petrol engine now produces more power and torque than before. Peak power now tops at 94.6hp and peak torque at 120Nm. Not only is this a considerable jump from the previous model, it is also a lot more than most of what the competition has to offer. The only downside to this is that the petrol motors are high revving engines and require you to really step on the accelerator to extract the most out of them. Though, it is my understanding that the petrol engine is meant for to be taken for its refinement. Even at very low revs, the car does not stall and there are virtually no vibrations. In case you want a peppier performer as your buddy on the road then the diesel motor would be your weapon. The power and torque figures remain the same at 99hp and 215Nm respectively and the engine comes alive in the 2000-2500rpm range. Both engines come mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox that shifts smoothly and precisely. Despite the increased power and torque figures, Ford has managed to bump up the fuel efficiency as well. The 1.2L petrol has a rated efficiency of 20.4kmpl while the diesel has a 25.5kmpl average.

The tilt adjustable steering wheel has a nice and light feel to it. I was continuously parking the vehicle in different spots for our photo shoot and not once did the steering wheel bother me. And when you are going fast or want to change the line of your car, the steering is apt and ready to respond to your inputs. The suspension and brakes perform well and are perfectly usable in the city. The suspension provides a plush ride quality and most of the shock do not filter into the cabin. The braking setup consists of ventilated disc brakes at the front and drum brakes in the rear. They are obviously aided by ABS and EBD. The brakes have a good amount of bite and progression. Along with this Ford is also offering ESP.

Verdict

With the new Figo, Ford seems to have followed the ‘don’t fix it if it isn’t broken’ philosophy. They knew that they had a great product at their hand and the sales numbers they witnessed were proof of that. So instead of reinventing the wheel, the company chose to tastefully tweak the existing car, the result of which is the new Figo. It was already great in terms of practicality and roominess and now gets an updated engine too. The engine is not only more powerful but it is more frugal. The Titanium Blu edition has some extra touches of style and features which are welcome. The new models, for the most part, come at a lower cost when compared to the outgoing models and that is great news for buyers. The new Figo is truly a complete package!