Ford Aspire Long Term Review

The Ford Figo Aspire was first launched in 2015 and we came out very impressed after driving the car. The sedan was priced very attractively but somehow it just didn't fetch the sales that its rivals were getting.

The Ford Aspire has always been a driver's car and this facelift has only improved things.

The Ford Figo Aspire was first launched in 2015 and we came out very impressed after driving the car. The sedan was priced very attractively but somehow it just didn't fetch the sales that its rivals were getting. The Aspire did have some flaws, mainly the lack of modern features but Ford has corrected all that and more in the Aspire facelift which was launched recently and we have been driving it since more than a month now to get to know the car better. The facelift brings some cosmetic changes to the Ford Aspire. You get smoked headlamps, new bumpers and 15-inch alloy wheels on the Titanium trims. The car looks more proportionate and premium now. The top of the line variant comes with 6-airbags, which is a segment first. The pre-facelift Aspire lacked some features at launch. Nonetheless, Ford has updated the sedan with all the features a compact sedan owner could ever need. The vehicle gets a push-button start system along with a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment screen. Ford's SYNC3 is easy to use and responsive and comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. There is also a high definition reverse camera which makes parking easier than ever. The Aspire also gets automatic headlights and automatic wipers along with an auto-dimming inside rearview mirror. The Ford Aspire's cabin is surprisingly spacious. The large windows and dual-tone treatment give out an airy feel. The front seats are roomy and comfortable. The rear seats have a decent amount of headroom and legroom and can seat two people comfortably. The boot is massive and easy to access. Storage spaces are good upfront but at the rear you barely get any storage bins. Ford has carried over the fantastic 1.5-litre TDCI engine which delivers superb performance. The motor has a strong mid-range with minimal turbo lag. Acceleration is also very quick for a diesel. The motor does get a bit vocal in the top-end but has good drivability. The gearbox offers smooth shifts. The brakes have good stopping power while the clutch is on the lighter side. Fuel efficiency hovers around the 16-17 km/l mark. The Ford Aspire has always been a driver's car and this facelift has only improved things. The car is easy and fun to drive at the same time. The steering delivers good feedback. The new tyres provide much better grip than before. Body roll is on point and the ride quality is also brilliant. The Ford Aspire also boasts of magnificent driving dynamics thanks to the larger tyres.  Despite all the strengths, there are some shortcomings too. The Aspire still misses out on passive entry and the instrument cluster looks quite basic. There are still no projectors or LED DRLs. However, Ford has been making strides in the service area and the company claims that service costs are the lowest in the segment. Ford has done everything to improve the Aspire and has even gone as far as to offer the lowest cost of ownership in this segment. The Aspire offers the best of performance and efficiency, something which is unheard of in this segment. The Aspire is neither outdated nor unreliable and no other car in its segment can come close to the Aspire's VFM proposition, thus making it the best compact sedan in the market today. Source: MotorBeam.com