Ford has brought the new Figo to market in South Africa and it’s now available as a 5-door hatchback or 4-door sedan with petrol and diesel models on offer!

The new Figo is here to conquer the sub B-Segment and Ford is casting its net far and wide by offering the popular model in two body styles in petrol and diesel form and with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions. Customers can also choose between three trim levels to suit their needs and these include Ambiente, Trend and Titanium.

The launch of the new Figo took place on the outskirts of Johannesburg this week and we were there to give it a go!

What’s New?

The most obvious design change can be seen up front with the new Figo wearing Ford’s Kinetic 2.0 design language with its distinctive trapezoidal grille, raked bonnet and elongated headlights. Titanium models get a touch of chrome detailing on the headlights giving the Figo a more premium look. The overall look has been further enhanced with curved lines and a swept-back windscreen and A-pillars that improve aerodynamic performance and fuel efficiency. 14-inch steel wheels with wheel covers are standard on Ambiente models while alloy wheels are fitted as standard on Trend and Titanium derivatives.

Ford has reworked the interior to offer higher levels of comfort and convenience. Air conditioning is fitted to cool you down on those sweltering days and automatic climate control is offered on Titanium models. Storage space in the cabin has been improved too and the Figo has at least 20 storage spaces dotted around the cabin for your convenience. These include two bottle holders in the front doors, three cup holders, rear passenger bin and a large glovebox. There’s also a hidden compartment on the driver’s side of the dashboard to keep smaller items safe and out of sight and can only be accessed when the driver’s door is open.

In terms of technology, the Figo Ambiente and Trend models are fitted with MyFord Dock for the first time and allows the driver to dock their mobile phones, MP3 players or satellite navigation systems which is then integrated into the car’s entertainment system. For higher levels of integration, Ford’s SYNC in-car connectivity system is available on Titanium models only. Standard features for Ambiente and Trend models include a four speaker Radio/CD player with MP3 and Bluetooth connectivity as well as USB and Aux ports. Figo Titanium further benefits from mounted audio controls on the steering wheel. Ford MyKey is also offered on Titanium models and allows the owner to set restrictions on things like maximum speed limit, radio volume levels and seatbelt warnings.

Under the Bonnet

Ford has done away with the previous 1.4-litre engine and replaced it with a four-cylinder 1.5-litre engine in both petrol and diesel form. In petrol guise, the 1.5-litre engine offers up 82 kW and 136 Nm of torque with a combined fuel consumption figure of 5.6L/100km.

The 1.5-litre diesel engine on the other hand offers 74 kW and 215 Nm of torque with a claimed combined fuel consumption figure of 4.1L/100km. The engines can be paired with either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic transmission which is only available for Titanium hatchback and sedan models.

In terms of safety, the new Figo features a strengthened passenger cell with dual front airbags fitted as standard while the Figo Titanium is fitted with a total of six airbags. ABS is standard too and Titanium models benefit further from Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Hill Launch Assist.

New Ford Figo – First Impressions

The launch route took us in the vicinity of Hartebeespoort Dam with the road surface being notoriously poor. We managed to sample the new Figo in both hatchback and sedan guise but we only had time to drive the petrol Titanium derivatives fitted with the 6-speed PowerShift automatic transmission. Unfortunately we didn’t get a chance to drive the manual and diesel derivatives.

Nonetheless, we managed to gain some insight. In both the hatchback and sedan, the 6-speed automatic did a fair job of scooting the Figo around. It was quickly noted that the engine takes strain under hard acceleration and the automatic transmission takes its time to decide what gear it needs to be in as the revs climb. By adopting a more reserved driving approach, gear changes evened out somewhat. The Figo automatic seemed to prefer being driven with a lighter foot and once up to speed, the Figo actually cruises along nicely. Don’t expect much in way of outright performance as the Figo automatic clearly isn’t built to be driven hard. For driver’s looking for a bit more engagement, the 5-speed manual may be better in terms extracting the most out of the engine. The automatic however will appeal to people looking for a relaxed, no-fuss solution for commuting in the city.

In terms of ride and handling, the Figo offers a good, comfortable ride. With its Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS), the steering lightens up at low speed and gets heavier as speed increases. The steering felt direct and responsive out on the road making the Figo easy to drive and manoeuvre. On the bumpy roads around Hartebeespoort Dam, the new Figo managed to even out imperfections reasonably well and it felt composed despite poor road conditions.

Overall, our first impressions of the new Figo are positive and the extended offering across the range will in all likelihood boost customer interest and have a knock-on effect on sales going forward. We will hopefully have the new Figo on test soon to give it a thorough evaluation.

New Ford Figo Price in South Africa

Hatch

1.5 Ambiente – R158 900

1.5 Trend – R167 900

1.5 Titanium – R181 900

1.5 Titanium PowerShift Auto – R203 900

1.5 TDCi Ambiente – R189 900

1.5 TDCi Trend – R199 900

Sedan

1.5 Ambiente – R160 900

1.5 Trend – R169 900

1.5 Titanium PowerShift Auto – R205 900