Ford India has slashed the prices of its Figo Aspire compact sedan effective from today. The price cuts ranges from INR 25,000 for the 'Trend' trim, INR 91,000 for the 'Titanium' models and INR 65,000 for the 'Titanium Plus' line-up from the existing prices (all ex-showroom Delhi). This price revision is applicable to both 1.2 Ti-VCT petrols and 1.5 TDCi diesel variants, but not for the flagship 1.5 Ti-VCT AT petrol. One of the most convincing compact sedans around, the Figo Aspire is all-rounder with appealing design, well-appointed cabin, high levels of safety, and dynamic engine options to choose, also striking a perfect balance between ride comfort and handling. With competitive pricing, the Aspire undercuts its close rivals including the all-new VW Ameo and Honda Amaze facelift in the base-range trims. Moreover, Ford's much-improved service network and relatively lower maintenance costs (comparing to Ameo and Amaze) is an 'extra-gravy' for your plate, making it the 'best pick' in the entire compact sedan segment.
To start with, the Aspire's design may not be as elegant as the new Ameo or as settling and sedan-like as the Amaze, yet the Figo-based sedan is the most stylish of the lot with its impressive clean and crisp execution. The flat nose may seem a bit odd, but the Aston Matin-like grille with loads of chrome is definitely appealing, especially in dark paint jobs. Of course the car is not well-proportioned and appears diminutive, not to forget its tiny-looking 14-inch wheels, but hey, we are talking about compact sedans here and this is all you get!
Also Read: Compact Sedans - A Compromise?
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Moving inside, the cabin is really practical and spacious with better headroom and and knee room in both the rows. Bigger doors mean easy accessibility, and the seats are surprisingly comfortable - you even get leather seats in the top-spec trims. They are adjustable, and with the low dashboard, a perfect driving position with optimum visibility is assured. The dashboard is functional and well-appointed too. You also get the new touch-screen SYNC infotainment system and My Key feature.
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| Ford Aspire is all-rounder with appealing design, nice cabin, safety, and engine options |
In terms of the engine options, the 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel units surprisingly work well for the compact sedan. In fact, the diesel engine is more powerful with 98 bhp than expensive Fiesta and EcoSport, and is amazingly peppy in acceleration. I drive a Fiesta Classic and what is like the most is its strong acceleration; the Aspire is far ahead in this regard! Lower kerb weight and better cabin insulation works for the best. The petrol engine, on the other hand, is better for the high-range and I remember hitting 160 kmph plus on the highway with ease. But you might have to row over the gears often while driving in the low/ mid-range. Yet, the petrol is definitely punchier than the Ameo's 1.2 unit.
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| Aspire's cabin is trendy and comfy |
The car has been here for a while, yet Ford could not sell high volumes of the Aspire - the company sold only 748 units last month. With the revised prices, the Aspire is very competitive and wins over all its rivals in terms of an overall assessment, including the newbie VW Ameo, best-selling Honda Amaze, and the dull Maruti Suzuki Dzire.
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| Ford Aspire: One of the 'best buys' of the lot |