What does a small car really have to do for around 10.000 euros? Good to drive and easy to park, offer some space and list some extras for little money in the price list. In its new edition, the Ford Ka + on the core virtues of a small car and does its job surprisingly well.
With its smooch ball design, the Ford Ka began to attract young, urban customers from 1996. The three-door model did not succeed particularly well in the end: In 2015, almost 7.000 copies were sold in this country - in 2009 it was a good 30.000. With five doors, more length, an affordable price and a design that is more practical than graceful, the Ka + - the "plus" indicates the repositioning - is now to take off from October.
The smallest Ford benefits above all from the B platform, which also forms the basis for Fiesta or B-Max. With a length of 3,93 meters (+ 30 cm), the Ka + is almost on par with a small car. Five instead of three doors increase the practicality. And with a wheelbase of 2,49 meters, rear passengers actually have something like knee room - the absolute exception in small cars. As a medium-sized adult, two people sit there comfortably, also because the roof does not slope backwards in a fashionable manner.
270 liters of luggage space - almost 50 liters more than before - is a top value in the small car segment, but the Ka +, as I said, is a little bit too big. Direct competitors like Opel Karl (195 liters, 3,68 meters) or Suzuki Celerio (254 liters, 3,60 meters) can pay less. Various storage compartments make the Ka + a pleasant everyday companion, so the two front door compartments hold 1,0 and 0,6 liter bottles at the same time. Nice gimmick: A “secret compartment” on the side of the instrument holder protects valuable items from theft: it can only be reached when the driver's door is open and becomes invisible as soon as it is closed.
In addition to the impressive dimensions, the Ka + also benefits from the new platform in other ways: The balanced driving behavior would also look good on a larger model. The Ka + springs tightly, but not uncomfortably, and can also be precisely controlled thanks to the speed-dependent power steering (standard). Even at the speed of the freeway, this small car conveys a confident feeling. At this speed you have to get there first.
Because the two engines on offer don't quite fit in with the otherwise sovereign appearance. Briefly remember: After all, we're still talking about a small car for 10.000 euros. Ford offers a 1,2-liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine with 52 kW / 70 PS and 63 kW / 85 PS. The sprint value of the more powerful engine with which the test car was equipped gives an idea of it: from zero to 13,3 km / h in 100 seconds is hardly a real driving pleasure. Especially since the engine needs very high speeds and the driver has to diligently operate the manual five-speed gearbox to get off the spot quickly.
On the other hand, the preferred area of application for a car under four meters is not the freeway; the lack of pulling power is less noticeable in the city. And: Despite excessive gear changes and excessive air conditioning on the hot test day, the Ka + remained under seven liters on the test drive - not necessarily a matter of course. Ford specifies the standard consumption at 5,0 liters.
The price of the Ka + at 9.990 euros is an announcement to the consistently smaller Opel Karl (from 9.500 euros), Suzuki Celerio (9.690 euros) and Co. The basic version is not completely bare: electric windows and exterior mirrors, divisible rear seat backrest, speed-dependent power steering and Central locking with remote control are on board. Radio and air conditioning cost 950 euros in a package. The larger engine can only be combined with the second equipment line (from 11.400 euros), which includes air conditioning and CD radio with connectivity functions. Extras such as parking aids at the front and rear can be ordered here (in the package 400 euros), but are not absolutely necessary due to the good clarity - a core virtue of small cars that is no longer a matter of course today.
A navigation system is not offered following the positioning as a budget model - if you are looking for a car for 10.000 euros, you can use TomTom or a smartphone app to navigate. It would be perfect if the Ka + had Android Auto or Apple Carplay, for example displaying the navigation map on the car screen. Since the smallest Ford takes over the infotainment base of the somewhat older Fiesta, only simpler connectivity functions such as hands-free system, voice control, playing music from a smartphone or reading text messages are possible.
The Ford Ka has succeeded in transforming from a smoochball to a practitioner, and the price-performance ratio is just right. The Ka + maintains a respectful distance from the only four centimeters longer fiesta. Nevertheless, this will be positioned slightly higher in its new edition next year, since the price-performance gap is now filled. (Hanne Lübbehüsen / SP-X)