Ford Figo 1.4 Duratorq ZXI - Design Review

Rising fuel prices have been giving me a nightmare. I’m sure, all of you share the same sentiments about fuel bills burning a big hole in your pockets. Add to it woes like traffic and congestion in our cities and times look tough for us car lovers. Small cars, then, seem the most obvious answer. Be it affordability, ease of driving around (and finding a parking spot) or low running costs, small cars sure have a few aces up their sleeves. 2010 was the year of small cars in India. Everybody, and I mean everybody, right from the Japanese (Nissan and Maruti Suzuki), the Germans (Volkswagen) to the Americans (Ford) set their new (and ambitious) small cars free in the Indian market.

Figo is Ford’s first go at the small car segment and at the first glance, it looks like they’ve nailed it. Someone just told me that Figo is an expression for ‘cool’ in Italian. So we spent some time with the car to see how cool it actually is. And, the Figo was recently crowned the Indian Car of the Year, raising the expectations much higher.

The kinetic design can be seen on every current international ford model today, but they chose to be a little conservative for the Indian market. The Figo has smart proportions and crisp lines. As I already mentioned, the face reminds me of a cat and is full of character. The slim, slit grille hosts the trademark blue oval logo. The large trapezoidal plastic bumper insert actually looks like the main grille here, and reminds me of the European Fords. This is flanked by smaller inserts on either side that are actually meant to hold fog lamps. Sadly, even the top spec Titanium variant doesn’t get fog lamps as standard and you’ll have to resort to the accessory market to get a pair. The cat eye-shaped angular headlamps complete the new dynamic look.

The side profile however isn’t that striking. The Figo ends up looking like a regular hatchback with the roofline arching midway and then dropping down dramatically nearing the rear. But I’d prefer this low stance any given day over a tallboy. The pronounced wheel arches add some muscle while the inclined waistline and slash cut lines, lower in the door, add some flair to the design.

The rear has turned out to be uninteresting and a little disappointing if you compare it with the rest of the car. There is nothing but a sharp line, which is an extension of the shoulder line, adding some character. The rest of it reminds me of the Ford Fusion, with high-mounted tail lamps. Thankfully, the roofline is much lower, making the car look better.

This is a no nonsense rear with minimal overhangs and a low loading bay that allows for easy stowing of heavy luggage. Oh yes, designer touches to the rear include a blacked-out diffuser treatment to the bumper for a sporty look. The Figo doesn’t get alloys, not even as an option, but comes with full wheel covers that do the job from a distance.

Also check:

Ford Figo Performance Review

Ford Figo User Experience