Ford Ka Digital 1.2 3dr Car Review - February 2012

The seating position is quite high in the Ford Ka, which is surprising because of its sporty handling, but it does provide a good view of the road. The fact that the steering wheel cannot be fully adjusted may be a problem for people trying to get comfortable. The suspension is firm, but this will not be too much of a problem for drivers who enjoy the nippy handling and the feedback that the driver gets.

In terms of engine performance the 1.2 litre power plant is not going to be tearing up any trees, but most people won’t be too concerned with a 0-62mph pace of 13.4 seconds, and a top speed of 99mph. This is a car that really has been designed for use on suburban and urban roads, rather than for regular cruising on the motorway.

Although it is based on the Fiat 500, the Ford Ka is not quite in the same league in terms of cute and quirky looks and bold styling. It does however carry many of the same design traits as other Ford vehicles which is no bad thing. The alloy wheels make a big difference to the overall look of the car, and the chrome exhaust that comes with the ‘Digital’ option is very nice.

When it comes to the equipment available on the Ford Ka, it is something of a disappointment, with the range of airbags especially looking fairly sparse. There is air conditioning and ABS available, but traction control is not an option and ESP is on the optional extras list. Some people will be expecting more from a version of the Ka which is promoted as having extra equipment.

In terms of the practicality of the car, it very much depends on what kind of use you will be making of the vehicle. If you will be commuting a short distance to work every day or simply doing the shopping, then it is ideal. However, those who are looking for a family car to take three or four kids to school every day may prefer to look at something a little more spacious.

One area of concern for the Ford Ka is that it only received four out of five stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests, and this will largely be because it only has the driver and passenger airbag included as standard. The lack of driving aids also limits how safe the car really is. In terms of security equipment all of the usual features are in place, but there is no option for an alarm on this car.

When it comes to the financial viability of the version of the Ford Ka, the main issue that many people will have is that the list price of £11,045 is an awful lot of money for a little car. When the Ka range is compared against the more recent Volkswagen Up!, the pricing begins to look particularly difficult to swallow, although it is cheaper than many Fiat 500 models.

Apart from the purchase cost, it is fair to say that the Ford Ka is a very reasonable car to run, delivering fuel performance of an average 57.7mpg, and coming in at one of the lowest insurance bands available for cars. The depreciation for a vehicle of this size isn’t too bad, and with the three year warranty and one year’s roadside breakdown recovery, the overall package will be well worth considering.