We review the Ford Ka from price to economy and all its features
THE Ka has attracted a whole new band of customers to Ford – more than a million since 1996.
And they have become the best kind of customers, the loyal ones, because the Ka has the greatest customer loyalty of any Ford model. That’s why they thought so long and hard about replacing it.
Sarah's Ka ... Ken's daughter with new motor
A model’s lifespan is normally five years but Ford waited 12 to replace the Ka.
The result is a more sophisticated and grown up small car that looks more substantial but still retains the cheeky fun that is essential to the brand.
That was my initial view but the people who matter most to Ford are the current Ka owners – especially younger female buyers – who they see as key to its sales success.
So we decided on some family testing this week, with my Ka-owning teacher daughter Sarah, 28, adding her experience and thoughts to the mix.
Sarah's view
NO ONE has ever referred to me as a car nut like my dad.
For me, driving is about getting from A to B in one piece.
So when I needed a new small car a few years back there was only one choice for me. The small but perfectly formed Ka was the ideal option.
Now I love my Ka. It’s fun, with a style all of its own, and you never have to search long for a big enough parking space.
So what if half the driving community pretend you don’t exist in something so small? I know my little Ka can shift if it wants to.
In the midst of the current financial gloom, it’s also fabulous on fuel economy.
So as a loyal Ka driver, I was excited when Dad told me he’d got me a first drive of the new model.
I was keen to see what Ford had come up with to replace their classic original.
Now that I’ve tried the new version, I think I’m still making my mind up about the exterior.
But the original took time to grow on me and now I love it. This could well be the case with the new version.
What I love about my Ka is its unique style, and the new version does look funky.
But from the side it maybe looks a bit too much like some of the other superminis.
The back is an improvement, though. Its curvy rear lines give it that distinctive Ka shape and it looks very cute and fun.
Inside, the Ka has a slightly more grown-up, sophisticated feel.
I liked the bright colours, while the smart new dashboard has everything you need right at your fingertips.
I also liked the heated seats. Even those of us who can’t afford lavish cars want to feel that some of life’s luxuries are not beyond us.
The USB port for my music and Bluetooth phone was great, too, although Dad tells me that’s an optional extra.
The new Ka is easy to drive and that’s what I want for my daily journey to work in heavy traffic.
Ford have moved the gear lever on to the dash, which is a help.
The car is fun to drive, too. But I was surprised to find it was only a 1.2litre because it felt livelier than my 1.3litre Ka.
It was also more economical, which is a major factor for me.
After my day’s test-drive, I was pretty impressed.
I think Ford have kept the Ka’s individuality but made changes that clearly improve it.
They’ve done enough to convince me to part with my hard-earned cash the next time I need to update my car.
I reckon Ford have another winning Ka on their hands.
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Ken's view
I WASN’T sure about it when I first saw pictures of the new Ka — my instant impression was that it lacked the unique personality of the original.
Now, after a few days with it, I’m changing my mind — because the reality is this is a different Ka.
It has matured and what it lacks in individuality it makes up for in other areas.
The original’s styling totally split people. You either loved it or hated it. There was no middle ground.
But I think the new version will appeal to a bigger cross-section of buyers: Young, old, male and female.
Ford are pushing the boundaries Mini-style by offering special customised models like the Grand Prix, Tattoo and Digital Art that allow owners to personalise their Ka at little cost.
It was interesting during my test that young blokes all liked the new look, as did older people I talked to.
They felt it was less cartoon character-like from the front.
And they were all extremely impressed with the interior.
That is where Ford have given the Ka its own fun personality.
It is full of bright and expressive colours and contrasting trim.
It feels like stepping into the latest fashion statement.
I like the large range of two-tone seat colours. My test car featured charcoal grey and bright red, but there’s a colour to suit every taste — from vivid green to subtle blues.
There’s a sporty dashboard with the main instruments housed in a motorbike-style cowling, and a well laid out mock-aluminium trimmed centre console that also houses the gear lever — which makes changes supremely simple.
You get slightly more room than the current model, which makes the Ka a lot bigger than the compact exterior dimensions would suggest, and I particularly liked the high seating position.
Ford have been leading the way with all their models for some time, as far as driving pleasure goes, and the Ka is no exception.
It is right up there with the Mini for handling fun.
OK, with just 1.2litre petrol and 1.3 diesel engines, the Ka is no ball of fire for its performance, but both engines feel lively and are perfectly suited to the daily demands of city driving.
And in these hard times they have the more realistic benefit of excellent fuel economy, at 55.4 and 67mpg respectively, plus 119g/km (petrol version) and 112g/km put them in the £35 a year road tax band.
But the real pulling power of modern small cars is cost — and Ford have priced the Ka competitively.
You pay £7,995 for the 1.2litre Studio, the Style goes up to £8,495 and the diesel engine is only offered in the Zetec trim, at £10,195.
There is a comprehensive options list, including Bluetooth and USB, to make your Ka stand out from the crowd even more and give the owner the creature comforts of a car from the class above.
Ford appear to have ticked just about every box with the Ka, which is why I can see it carrying on the success story.