Ford Ka

Had a lot to live up to – didn’t. The new Ka is fine – but not what it could have been.

• Comfort

  The old Ka kept going for 12 years, but the new one looks basically like a shrunken Fiesta. It is, however, based on the same basic bits as Fiat's 500. In other words, developed from the Panda platform. Ford has redesigned the basic suspension, but it's still a little choppy on rough surfaces. On the pace, but not a lot more.  

  

• Performance

  There's a 1.2-litre petrol or 1.3-litre diesel. The 1.2-litre is smooth and despite just 68bhp and 74lb ft of torque doesn't feel underpowered. It lets you drive leisurely in high gears, but when you want power, you don't have to drop down a cog. Even accelerating from 70mph in fifth is fine. The only downside is that because you've only got five gears, top is reasonably short to keep the car responsive. However, the diesel has some extra punch to make higher speed journeys easier and it's no longer consigned to the supermarket run. It's headline acceleration figure isn't impressive at 13.1 seconds, but around town and out on the motorway it never feels that slow. You can certainly sit in the fast lane without feeling like a mobile chicane.

  

• Cool

  The new Ka is pleasing, but won't last as long as the old one - it lacks the verve and charm.

  

• Quality

  Ford claims it has engineered the Ka differently to the 500 so that it still feels like a Ford. But the simple fact is they haven't done enough. The key is from a Fiat, the indicator stalks are Fiat, even the smell is Fiat. Geeky, but true. Still, the quality of the plastics and interior design are light years ahead of the last Ka. The classic teardrop dash has disappeared to be replaced by a Fiat 500 one, so all the major controls are right by your hand, including the dash-mounted gearstick.

  

• Handling

  The Ka was designed in conjunction with the Fiat 500 and Ford claims to have done all the set-up work on the Ka itself, so the steering and suspension should be very Ford-like. However, there must have been a lot of Fiat engineers masquerading as Ford employees because the 500 and Ka feel almost identical. Okay the Ka's steering is slightly heavier and doesn't quite have that electrical assistance that you get in a 500. And the ride is not quite as bouncy as it is in the Fiat's, but we're talking fractions. That crucial go-kart feeling you got from the last Ka is now gone. The new Ka is nowhere near as chuckable and all that wonderful steering and chassis fluidity has gone.

  

• Practicality

  Small but perfectly formed - the Ka has good space, but nothing exceptional. The space up front is good though, and it's a joy to thread through traffic if you 're going to be a townie.  

  

• Running costs

  Cheap to run if not spectacularly cheap to buy (£8-£12k). Insurance is low, and the best of the engines get well into 60mpg. You won't fid much cheaper.