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

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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Ask Honest John

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

If my MoT fails and I want to scrap it, can I drive it back from the test centre without undertaking the repairs?

"I have an ageing Ford KA, which iI'm confident will fail its MoT test this summer. Having spent hundreds of pounds in previous years on MoT repairs, should it fail again this year I am inclined to scrap it. I can find no mention of this on various websites as an option following an MoT failure. If I choose to take this action, can I drive the car home and onto a breakers yard? If not, how do I proceed?"
I think you will be forced to spend some money on the car to assess its condition. Obviously, if the faults are classed as Dangerous, the car will fail the MoT and be deemed illegal to use on the public road until they are fixed. I would recommend speaking to your local garage about your options before the MoT - they may be willing to scrap the car for you in a worst case scenario.
Answered by Dan Powell
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