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Honest John Reviews Ford

Ford Ka (2008 – 2016) Review

Ford Ka (2008 – 2016) At A Glance

4/5

+Easy to drive and economical. Based on the Fiat 500 but handles much better. More room in rear than 500.

-Diesel engine not worth the extra. Never got TwinAir engine.

Insurance Groups are between 3–4
On average it achieves 80% of the official MPG figure

As you may well have read or seen elsewhere, I have a FIAT 500. And I'm not going to pretend the new Ford Ka has nothing in common with it.

It's basically the same car, or Ka, however you spell it.

The market quite likes it, but is not prepared to pay as much for a Ka as for a FIAT 500.

Ford Ka 2009 Range Road Test and Video

What do owners think of the Ford Ka (2008 – 2016)? Check out our Owners' Reviews from people who live with the car day in, day out.

Real MPG average for a Ford Ka (2008 – 2016)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

80%

Real MPG

34–67 mpg

MPGs submitted

184

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

Satisfaction Index

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Reviews for Ford Ka (2008 – 2016)'s top 3 rivals

Citroen C1
4/5
Cheap to run. Group 1 insurance. 60mpg. handles well. Low list prices. Good Euro NCAP score. 2012 model...
Toyota Aygo
4/5
Low road tax and insurance. Averages a claimed 60mpg. Cheap to run and drives decently. 99g/km CO2 from...
Peugeot 107
4/5
Cheap to run. Economical and perky 1.0-litre engine. Fun to drive. Decent cabin room. Ideal first car....

Ask Honest John

Where can I get a Ford Ka 2010 rear brake drum ABS sensor?

"We have been looking everywhere including on Ford website and can't seem to find the ABS speed sensor ring that goes on the rear brake drum hub. The brake drum has 4 threaded bolt holes for wheel bolts and two dowels to locate the alloy wheel. It is 180mm internal diameter and marked as Fiat internally. it has integral bearings with an abs sensor ring on the end. The Ford website has two ABS sensor rings but neither of these are correct as it looks like the magnetic surface is on the face and not the side. The ABS sensor is not flush with the back plate but it protruded in about 10-15mm to detect the magnet poles on the side of the ABS ring. Any ideas where we can get new ABS ring and how many poles it is likely to have, failing that new complete drum/bearings/ABS ring?"
This generation of Ford Ka was based on the Fiat 500, so you may have more luck trying a Fiat dealer or parts specialist, as the 500 has been in production for many years which should make finding the correct part straightforward.
Answered by David Ross

Why does the accelerator pedal on my Ford Ka sit so high?

"I have just got my first car which happens to be a Ford Ka 2010. I've noticed that compared to the other cars I have been driving recently the accelerator seems to sit very high, so much so that if when resting my foot on it, my foot is angled as far back as possible to the point where I get shin/ankle pain almost immediately. Is this normal and can anything be done to lower the position of the pedal?"
It would seem you are not alone with this problem as there have been quite a few drivers unhappy with the pedal position. However we do not have a solution (and it would seem neither does Ford). You may want to find a local garage who may be able to offer a solution or fix. https://good-garage-guide.honestjohn.co.uk/
Answered by Alan Ross

What is causing my Ford KA to lose power when driving up hills?

"I have just bought a 2013 Ford KA. It has 13,000 miles on the clock. We live on a steep hill and it can barely get up the hill from a standing start with one driver and no luggage. Our old KA could do it no problem fully laden with two adults! The car dealer says the engine is smaller than the old KA, the car heavier and in order to get enough power/momentum to get up the hill we have to rev the engine hard. Is this right? "
Presumably, this is the 1.2-litre petrol engine that develops 69PS. It's a very slow engine - the 0-62mph dash takes a leisurely 13.4 seconds. This means it will require a lot of hard work on challenging hills. That said, it might be worth looking at the car's service history. The mileage suggests the car has spent most of its life standing outside. If it hasn't been serviced for a long time then dirty air and fuel filters may be impeding its performance.
Answered by Dan Powell

We want a small car for less than £2000. What advice would you give to a clueless buyer?

"We need a second car for local trips (the school run, popping to the shops etc - no long motorway journeys). I don't want to spend more than £2000 and I've narrowed it down to three (I think), all with full service history and falling around 2008-2010. They are Toyota Aygos 1.0-litre (mileage 45-79k); Hyundai i10 1.1 or 1.2 (mileage 44-55k); and Ford Ka (2009-10) 1.2 (50k or 84k). My head says Hyundai. What advice would you give to a clueless cash car buyer?"
At this price point, it's best not to focus too much on searching out a particular model. Keep an open mind and seek out a good car for sale locally. You might find a hidden gem – a car that's been well cared for, being sold by an honest private seller and for a good price. Evidence of regular maintenance is desirable (although don't necessarily expect a fully-stamped service book), as is a long MoT test. We'd generally advise avoiding trade sellers at this price range – there are quite a few unscrupulous sellers shifting cheap cars that have been plucked from auction and are fit for scrap. That said, you might find a reputable dealer selling a good car that's been taken in part-exchange. The Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto and Toyota Aygo (as well as the very similar Peugeot 107 and Citroen C1) are all good choices that'll be cheap to run, although their popularity with young drivers pushes prices up. You could also look at the slightly bigger Ford Fiesta – the 1.25-litre engine is very reliable and there are loads about (so you can be picky about condition).
Answered by Andrew Brady
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