It’s lost a bit of funk but Ford Ka still stars
Here we have a car that is called a Ka (actually the Ka+) and that should mean a micro-mini which is bursting with design appeal and character and which stands so far out from the crowd that it is in unique territory.
This one isn’t. It is a dull looking thing which might even be mistaken for something from Korea. In fact it is built on a design originating in Brazil and manufactured in India. For a machine aimed at the European small car market, that combination does not spell much by way of a compelling purchasing prospect.
The original Ka was first seen in 1996. Its striking design immediately caused a flutter of consternation in the conservative corner of the media because of its individualistic look and its allegedly silly name.
That name arose courtesy of the then head of Ford international, Jac Nasser, who was Australian by way of a Lebanese family and who was blessed with the thickest Aussie accent. The story goes that at one product planning meeting, the curiously shaped little car was revealed to the notoriously bristly Nasser.
“What are we going to call this bloody cah,” he intoned in his heavy Melbourne accent. His colleagues started slapping each other on the back and laughing that they had just got the solution to his question. Nasser was a little taken aback. “What do you bloody well mean?” he snapped back.
“Jac,” one of the managers said, “how about we call it the Ka?”
And so it was that the Ford Ka came into being with its bastardised name coming from the Australian pronunciation of the word ‘car’.
A great little cah it was too. It actually became the fore-runner of the Ford ‘New Edge’ styling era which saw such gems as the Focus and the Mondeo emerge; not alone was it a stand-out looker, but it drove really well too.
Credit for this latter characteristic can be laid at the door of Richard Parry-Jones, the then European boss of Ford, who insisted the car have high grip levels and ridiculously able cornering traits. The wheel-at-each-corner design allowed this to happen without compromising the cost base.
Thus the Ka became popular with urbanites who loved its size, funkiness, and economy, as well as punters who liked their motors to be able to do things that small cars more often than not cannot do. All told, it became something of a legend.
Even when Ford decided on a joint venture with Fiat for the second generation, allowing the Italian marque develop the Ka alongside the Fiat 500, Panda, and Lancia Ypsilon, there were few raised eyebrows. Mainly because that one was a gem too, even if it did not sell in the same volumes as the original.
In 2014 when Ford announced the successor would be based on a model developed by Ford Brazil and built in both Brazil and India, industry and media eyebrows shot heaven-wards. Was Ford killing a golden goose, experts asked.
Sure, the profitability of the original Ka had been the result of low development cost and high sales, but bring a new one to Europe by way of India and Brazil, well, was that not pushing the company’s luck? Many certainly thought so — and I was one of them.
For a start, the design is terribly dull and nothing like as quirky as the original. Although a five door, as against the original three-door, the big fear was that the driving dynamism would be lost along with the quirky looks, and the whole thing could turn into a messy disaster.
Well, my initial reservations, I’m glad to say, were pretty much unfounded and, while I am still not a particular fan of the look of the car, I’m delighted to be able to report that it handles and rides like the old one did — with verve and commitment.
I tried the Zetec version of the car — the Studio model is the entry level car here — and I came away a lot more impressed than I thought I would be in several key areas of design and function. Passengers and driver are well catered for in terms of spaciousness, although this means boot space has been sacrificed a little.
I liked the engine and gearbox combo too, although maybe not as much as I should have. One was left in no doubt that you really had to flog the 1.2 litre, 85 bhp Duratec petrol unit to get the maximum from it.
Closely related it may be to the old Yamaha designed 1.25 petrol unit which revved sweetly and offered loads of torque, this one had to be put under the hammer to extract its best effort.
Around town it is fine, but on the open road you find yourself spending a lot of time in third gear (of five) when attempting passing manoeuvres, for example.
It was eager, for sure, but in a sort of willingly unwilling fashion. Once you’ve stoked it up, though, it hums along fine and, in tandem with the unflappable handling and slick ride, it was an enjoyable companion.
I have a history with Indian-built cars and not all of it good. In this instance, however, fears the interior plastics were going to be some variety of those despicably scratchy materials that still find favour with some companies were unfounded and the interior of the Ka+ was not bad at all.
Although not equipped with practical things like grab handles and coat hooks, stuff like the leather steering wheel add a little glam to proceedings, but the cockpit layout was largely excellent and the kit levels (15” alloys air con, cruise control, sync connectivity) impressive.
The tester had a few add-ons which inflated the price a bit, but overall the package seemed like decent value.
I didn’t expect to like this car very much at all but it was one which grew on me in a very pleasing way. Although nothing like as zany or funky as the original Ka, the Ka+ nevertheless has its own admirable characteristics.
Above all, however, it is still a hoot to drive and that means the fun element is still core to the pleasing disposition on offer here. It might look dull and lacking outward charm, but the personality under the skin still beats with a strong heart — and that’s a very good thing indeed.
COLLEY’S VERDICT
???
from €14,650 in Zetec trim — €15,540 as tested.
not as good as the old Yamaha unit.
not bad at all for a town car.
not as quirky as the original, but still a hoot to drive
