The Figo Aspire is Ford’s attempt at targeting a segment that’s unique to the Indian market – that of the sub-4m sedan. This segment commands such massive sales volume in our market that it’s impossible for any manufacturer that wants to be a major player in the Indian market to ignore. So, starting with a fresh design, the Figo Aspire was born – and the initial signs are increasingly positive. After all, this is the first good looking car in the sub-4m compact sedan segment – which has thus far been full of design oddities.
However, it isn’t just the styling that works for the Figo Aspire – the substance behind the car is pretty quite good too. The elements of interior design and space have been well thought out – making it a fairly spacious and quite comfortable car. But what separates it from its competitors is the fact that it’s actually quite a hoot to drive. It features thoroughly sorted ride and handling – and while the 1.5-litre diesel engine is slightly on the louder side, it delivers enough grunt to make progress fast and engaging. So, is it a typical Ford product with a distinct flavour for keen drivers? Yes, it is. It drives very well, especially compared with the competition.
But it’s not just the driving experience, the Figo Aspire also has fairly spacious interiors and decent boot space – not to mention interior quality that’s just slightly above most of its competitors. The interior design too has been well thought out, and we’re quite big fans of both the Sync and MyFord Dock systems. But the one defining factor in the Figo Aspire – other than the fact that it drives very well – is the focus on safety. The Aspire features dual-airbags as standard on all versions, while the top-of-the-line variants feature six airbags – a segment first.
Ultimately, the Figo Aspire’s appeal boils down to some of the most basic factors of owning an automobile. With its sharp and cohesive design, it looks good; the interiors cater to the requirements of the occupants while feeling well designed and finished; and safety seems to be an important aspect of the company’s ethos. But, most importantly, for us, it still remains a car that rewards the driver with its fun-to-drive factor – as clearly demonstrated by its quite impressive lap time around the Buddh International Circuit in our test. So this is a not a car meant for taxi fleets, but for those who love to drive their own cars and enjoy and cherish their time spent piloting a well designed and well set-up car on our challenging roads. And, at that, the Figo Aspire is hard to beat in its segment.
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