Ford Ka+ (2016 – 2020) Review

Ford Ka+ (2016 – 2020) At A Glance

Impressive levels of comfort and refinement. Spacious interior and large boot. Well-equipped as standard. Good ride and very comfortable.

Not as efficient or as cheap to buy as its rivals. Bland styling. 1.2 petrol engine is characterless and slow.

Real MPG average for a Ford Ka+ (2016 – 2020)

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.

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

Reviews for Ford Ka+ (2016 – 2020)'s top 3 rivals

Kia Picanto

Surprisingly spacious cabin. Very good fun to drive. Affordable pricing.

Volkswagen Up

Funky little city car. Cheap to run with low CO2. Lively and fun to drive. Large enough for four adults....

Citroen C1

Cheap to run, improved interior quality and refinement over previous C1, available with retractable fabric...

Ask Honest John

Ford Fiesta or Ford KA+?

"My daughter is in the market for a used car and has her heart set on a Ford Fiesta or Ford KA+ as she wants a 4-door hatch. Her funds can stretch to £8000. What would you recommend, please? Many thanks."

The Fiesta is a better pick than the KA+ and there's far more of them about on the used market so you can afford to be picky. You can get a 2017 model with less than 5000 miles on it for £7777, for example: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/cars-for-sale/search/Ford/Fiesta/?fuel=Petrol&l=0&p2=8000&s=MileageAsc

Answered by Georgia Petrie

Do I have to pay for a warranty inspection because the dealership moved the appointment due to coronavirus?

"I booked a service, MoT and warranty inspection on a Ford KA on 30 April 2020. The three year warranty is due to expire on 8 May 2020. I have now been informed by the local main Ford dealership that this inspection can only be carried out on 2 June 2020, which is outside of the expiry date of my three year guarantee. The service department have advised me that despite the date change at their request owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the warranty has expired and I will be charged for the MoT and warranty inspection in full. I consider this disappointing and unreasonable, what do you think?"

The dealer's service department is wrong. Ford warranty claims have been extended by 180 days, which means any potential problems will still be covered by the standard manufacturer warranty: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/coronavirus/2020-03/coronavirus-will-a-delayed-service-invalidate-my-cars-warranty/#ford

Answered by Dan Powell

There's a fault warning showing, should I stop using the car til the outbreak ends in case it's a warranty repair?

"My Mum's 2017 Ford KA+ has started showing a message saying 'ABS malfunction. Contact Service'. She got an email from Ford saying they were shutting their doors except for key workers. She is over 70 so is self isolating. I am using the car occasionally just so it doesn't just sit there for potentially 12 weeks. The car seems to drive okay. Is this something to worry about and should I stop using the car until I can get it to a Ford dealer, or can I still use it for short runs? Should I contact Ford, just to log the problem until I can get it to them in case it is a warranty repair?"

Unless you need the car for essential travel (to buy food, medicine or get to work), I would advise that you report the fault to Ford and stop using the car. It may be fine for short runs, but if it experiences a mechanical breakdown (or causes an accident) then you will put additional pressure on your potentially overstretched local emergency services.

Answered by Dan Powell

Should I be worried about owning a petrol car in the future?

"I currently have a Ford Ka+ and am very happy with it but worry about owning a petrol car into the future. I don't drive to work so like to keep the car in the garage in the week so it needs to be quite narrow. What do you recommend for a suitably narrow EV or PHEV to replace the Ka+ when the time comes?"

If you're happy with your Ka+, I wouldn't be too worried about its replacement for the time being. Petrol cars account for around 70 per cent of all new car registrations and EVs just 5 per cent - it will be a long time before petrol cars are under threat. At the moment there are very few EVs as small as your Ka+, but there are more on their way - the new Honda e, for example.

Answered by Andrew Brady

More Questions

On the inside of an Ford Ka+ (2016 – 2020)

• Euro NCAP rating of three stars

Despite measuring just four metres in length, the Ka+ is a proper five seater. However, owing to its upright stance, it actually feels more spacious than the Fiesta it is based on.

This is because the five-door Ka+ is 29mm taller than the Fiesta, which means even tall adults will fit in the back, without their head bouncing against the roof of the car.

The Ka+ gets one of the largest boots of any small hatchback, with 270 litres on offer, including a 13-litre underfloor storage compartment. This can be extended to 849 litres, with the 60/40 split-folding rear seats, but even with the rear seats in place there is enough space for a couple of large suitcases, although the high boot lip makes it tricky to load heavy items without catching the paintwork.

Unlike some bargain basement hatchbacks, Ford hasn’t scrimped on the quality of the trim and fittings. Everything feels solid and there are no rattles or creaks, which reinforces the impression that the cabin is built to last.

The dashboard does look and feel old fashioned though. The design is similar to the Fiesta, which makes it easy to read and use, but there is little colour or imagination with the layout. There are also no colourful customisation options for the interior, which means you are stuck with lots of dull grey and black plastics.

Standard equipment is good across both the two trim levels though. Entry-level Studio versions gets all of the basics, with front fog lights, electric door mirrors, remote central locking and a docking clamp for your phone. Zetec models add 15-inch alloy wheels, air con, cruise control and Ford’s Sync system, with improved smartphone integration with the infotainment system.

Standard Equipment (from 2016):

Studio has 15-inch steel wheels with 8x2 spoke wheel covers, body coloured bumpers, chrome upper grille, electrically operated door mirrors with side indicators, front fog lamps with daytime running lights, AM/FM radio with device dock, Bluetooth, USB connectivity, speed limiter, Ford EasyFuel, electric front windows, hill start assist, engine immobiliser, trip computer, perimeter alarm, remote central locking, centre rear head restraint, tyre repair kit and deflation detection system (DDS).

Zetec adds 15-inch 5x2 spoke alloy wheels, manual air conditioning, DAB radio with 4.2-inch TFT screen, Ford SYNC, MyKey, leather steering wheel with remote audio controls and cruise control.

Child seats that fit a Ford Ka+ (2016 – 2020)

Our unique Car Seat Chooser shows you which child car seats will fit this car and which seat positions that they will fit, so that you don't have to check every car seat manufacturer's website for compatibility.

Which car seat will suit you?

Driving Ford Ka+ (2016 – 2020)

• Engines range from 1.2 70 to 1.2 85
• Readers report Real MPG to be between 35–55 mpg

As with all small cars, the Ka+ excels in busy cities and towns, with its compact dimensions and precise, light steering making it great for navigating rush hour traffic or fitting into narrow parking spaces on the school run. Refinement levels are also impressive, with the smooth ride and quiet cabin giving the Ka+ the feel of a much larger car.

Despite being 40mm shorter than the Fiesta, the Ka+ feels stable and sure footed, with minimal body roll in the corners or buffering in poor weather. Sometimes small hatchbacks can feel a skittish in the winter - or when passing a large HGV - but the little Ford has no such problems.

The handling, like many Fords, is strong, with the weigh of the steering increasing in tune with the vehicle's speed. This means you can navigate a series of twisty bends, without having to guess how much grip the front wheels may have. The five-speed manual gearbox is also slick, which well-judged ratios.

The weak link in the package is the 1.2-litre petrol engine, which has been derived from the old 1.25 unit from the Fiesta. Available with 70PS or 85PS, the four-cylinder engine feels lethargic above 50mph and even the most powerful version will only muster 112Nm of torque at 4000rpm. As a result the Ka+ is hard work on the motorway, with one or two downchanges required to build momentum to exit a slip road or pass slow moving traffic.

Running costs also lag behind the competition, with the 70PS and 85PS units returning an official 56.5mpg and emitting 114g/km of CO2. In comparison, the best small hatchbacks will officially exceed 65mpg. But, as always, we recommend prioritising Real MPG ratings over anything the car manufacturers tell you.

While the engine might fall behind on performance and economy, it does have a good reputation for reliability in the Fiesta. It is also smooth and quiet, which makes the Ka+ a tranquil motorway cruiser, once you’ve eventually reached 70mph.

Ford Ka+ (2016 – 2020) Models and Specs

On sale until April 2020

On sale until March 2020

On sale until April 2017

Good

Bad

What to watch out for

Model History

• June 2016: New Ford Ka+ launched
• September 2016: Ford Ka+ now on sale in the UK
• February 2018: Updated Ford Ka+ arrives