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KA-TORIAL ELEGANCE
Ford's Little Ka Line-up Boasts New Models & A Fresh Feel. Jonathan Crouch Explains Why...
Not many cars have an ageless look and feel but Ford's Ka is one of them. Time moves on however, and a series of useful tweaks have freshened up the appeal of a Range recently enhanced with more up to date mechanicals and sportier models. All this should keep the little Ford's appeal fresh at the forefront of the Citycar sector.
So let's start with those tweaks. The latest cars come with variable intermittent front windscreen wipe (for different intensities of rainfall), a delayed final action wipe (which clears the screen of any drips once the front wipers have been used and switched off) and a reverse-gear rear wipe (which activates automatically if reverse gear is selected when the front wipers are in use).
On to lights and locks. There's a 'theatre-style' dimming interior courtesy light (the light gradually dims rather than switches off once the door is closed). And there are (at last) flashing lock indicators (the indicator lights on the car flash when remote locking is engaged). As for locks, the 'Auto-relock' system is a useful touch: the locks re-engage if the vehicle has been unlocked but not opened for a period of time.
Inside, there are slight changes to the dashboard, the most significant of which is the addition of a new three-litre glovebox on the passenger side. This is a direct response to feedback from Ka drivers who wanted a traditional glovebox instead of the cylindrical box that came with the original styling. On to cosmetics. The popular mid-Range Ka Collection model will now be available with a new six-spoke design alloy wheel as a £400 option and the potent Sportka will have tinted rear side windows. The familiar moulded bumpers are available in a choice of new colours, Torque Grey or Steel.
"The Ka has taken small citycars into a new era ? pure and simple..."
Despite all these improvements, prices stay pretty much the same as they were, which means a starting point of £7,095. The headline car in this line-up remains the much talked about StreetKa convertible, but in all the Kylie-inspired hype, it shouldn't be forgotten that the standard models have in recent times received a significant refettling under the bonnet. The old Endura-E 1.3-litre engine that was used from the car's launch in 1996 was really beginning to show its age, so in 2004, the far more modern 70bhp 1.3-litre 8-valve unit borrowed from the latest Fiesta was a welcome addition to mainstream models in the line-up.
The performance figures for this unit aren't much different from what went before but, given that most of the engine's pulling power is available from just 1,900rpm, the driving experience certainly is. You'll notice that around town ? this car's natural habitat of course ? the need for constant gearchanging is much reduced. Usefully, fuel consumption is improved too. Expect to achieve 43.5mpg on the combined cycle.
These days, mainstream models go Ka Studio, then there's the Ka Style, and Ka Zetec models (both with 'Climate' air conditioned options) before you get to the LuxuryKa. On top of these, there's the StreetKa of course and the potent SportKa. The SportKa uses a 95bhp 1.6-litre engine and aims to take buyers who would otherwise opt for a more conventional 'warm hatch' sporty supermini. Otherwise the recipe is much the same. The Ka has taken small citycars into a new era ? pure and simple. Before it arrived, models of this kind were boring to drive, terrifyingly unsafe and certainly not suitable for venturing outside the city limits. This model has changed all of that and blazed a path that others have subsequently had to follow.
Equipment levels are reasonable, with even the entry-level version including power steering, high security door locks, a Safeguard immobiliser, a large format stereo, a rear wash/wipe and tinted glass, while the Style adds a CD player, central locking and electric windows. The LuxuryKa is distinguished by alloy wheels, a leather-covered steering wheel and gear-knob, air conditioning, and a CD sound system. If you haven't driven a Ka for a few years, you might notice relatively recent changes like the addition of an automatic wash-wipe for the windscreen wipers and a wider Range of optional extras, such as the dealer-fit passenger airbag deactivation and parking distance sensors. There are also fresh colours and smarter alloy wheel and wheel trim designs.
Opt for the convertible StreetKa and there's the choice of two main models: a regular version and the upspec Luxury Streetka. Power comes from the SportKa's 1.6-litre unit and seating is strictly for two, so creating something of an intimate feel in the cabin.
Whichever Ka you choose, you'll be buying into one of the safest small cars on the road today, meeting all current and future safety legislation for front and side impacts. Packaging is another Ka strongpoint. You wouldn't believe the amount of oddment space and front legroom that the designers have crammed into the tiny cabin. The sheer size restrictions of a car 210mm shorter than the already compact Fiesta had to catch up with them somewhere however, and as you might imagine, the sacrifices have mainly been made around the two sculpted seats in the rear.
Still, you can't have everything. Ka buyers will almost certainly have another, larger car anyway. What matters is that the finished product bears the signature of its creators. Just as, come to think of it, arriving in one will leave your unmistakable signature wherever you go.
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