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Text: Prithvi Radhakrishna
Images: Anil Kumar |
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It’s the battle of the hatches, and with the current state of the Indian automobile industry – as well as the weather – the battle will be scorching this summer. This month, we bring to you the Volkswagen Polo and Ford Figo in a comparative test.
The Polo is the latest entrant in the small car segment, and being a Volkswagen, it commands a premium against the competition – in this case, the also new Ford Figo. The question remains however, in a price sensitive market such as India, is it justified?
From the outside
The Polo is certainly the better looking of the two, as it has cleaner, but also more aggressive, lines. Personally, I felt that the Polo in red looked amazing. On the road, you could literally feel the publics’ gaze fall upon you – or on the car more specifically. It generated a lot of inquiries as well, such as how does the car handle, and whether the three cylinder engine delivers the goods? The Ford Figo, on the other hand, has a sober and classic look for the most part – at the rear, and in profile, it’s not too far from the now discontinued Fusion. The front, however, is more radical, and in keeping with Ford’s new global look – the bright, lime green colour adds a little extra pizzazz as well.
The Polo is the more cohesive of the two designs, and it grabs you almost immediately – right from its pointed snout, two-bar chrome grille, and slight skirting on the front bumper, to its clean lines that taper upwards towards an equally elegant rear end. And while the Figo does appear more of a blend of old and new, it’s no less eye catching. It’s large front air-dam and front lights do make for a dynamic front end. The flared wheel arches liven up the profile, while the rear has vertical stacked tail lights that make it appear taller than it really is. There are some nice touches as well, such as a single chrome slat in the front grille, and side indicator lights with chrome surrounds.
At the end of the day, though, there’s no denying the fact that the Polo wins the battle on the outside. Plus, its higher price tag gets you a set of 7-spoke, 15-inch alloy wheels that complete its more grown-up exterior.
From the inside
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At the outset, it must be said that the maximum perceived benefit for the small car buyer now comes from within the vehicle, as the interiors of today’s hatches are head-and-shoulders above what was available thus far. In fact, the new small cars have features, and build quality, that shadows even what’s been available in far more expensive cars until now.
The approach on the inside of these two cars is somewhat divergent. While it’s the VW that charges a premium, it’s the Ford that goes the extra mile to provide more style and features. The terracotta dash in the Figo may not be to everyone’s liking, but the unique gauge cluster and stereo that provides not only a CD, but also USB and Bluetooth connectivity, certainly will. The Polo we tested, on the other hand, in Comfortline trim, comes minus a stereo – although, in this case, there was one installed by the dealer. Where the Polo scores, of course, is in fit-and-finish. Its black, fuss-free, dashboard is in stark contrast to the more colorful and contrived one in the Figo. All the buttons, switches and trim – such as the door handles – feel a lot more solid in the VW. Finding a good driving position in both cars is easily done courtesy of adjustable seats and steering wheels. In this case again, however, the Polo has a telescoping steering wheel that adjusts not only for height, but also for reach – versus the Figo’s steering, which simply goes up and down. The front seats on both are comfortable, although the Polo does provide a little more support.
On the whole, the more subtle two-tone dash and better material quality does give the Polo the edge on the inside as well, but the Ford makes a very strong case for itself in the value-for-money stakes – not only does it provide a well equipped stereo, but also niceties such as electronically controlled side-view mirrors, as compared with the Polo’s manually adjusted ones. Moreover, the Figo provides a smidgen more space in the rear, while both cars offer deep boots that provide ample luggage space for small cars. The cabin in both cars also provide deep door pockets that also incorporate cup holders, which means that storage needs within the cabin are also nicely taken care of.
On the road
Driving both these machines was a joy, except for the fact that traffic snarls over the week had us eagerly awaiting the opportunity to really test their capabilities on the open road. In traffic, both cars are wonderfully easy to handle. While both feature 5-speed manual transmissions, the clutch pedal on both cars is extremely light and completely effortless to operate. Moreover, the equally light, power-assisted steering systems in both cars meant that in-city driving was a breeze.
On an early Saturday morning, however, we finally got the chance to really sample the dynamic qualities of these hatches on the open road, as well as on some twisty bit of tarmac. Here’s where the Figo starts to really claw back some lost ground, and truly make a case for itself. While both cars have 1.2 liter engines that produce around 70bhp – the Polo is actually rated higher at 74 – the VW has a three cylinder unit, while the Figo features a four cylinder engine of the same displacement. The three cylinder unit of the Polo, in solitude, seems quite sufficient. It’s quite smooth for a three cylinder engine – even at idle there’s only a hint of vibration. But, drive it back-to-back with the Figo, and you immediately notice the benefits of that extra cylinder. A four cylinder engine is more naturally balanced, and this inherent trait shows through in the Figo. Not only is the power delivery smoother in the Figo, but it also revs more readily. Moreover, Ford’s inherent sporty characteristics shine through in the handling department as well. When pushed to the limit, the Figo displays the makings of being a very good drivers’ car if given the opportunity. This is not to say that the driving dynamics in the Polo leave much to be desired. The steering in the VW may be light, but it is very direct – in fact, it feels more linear than the Ford, which has a sense of being over-assisted at low speeds. Meanwhile, the ride in both cars is completely unflappable, courtesy of stiff chassis and modern suspension.
Both hatches display very mature driving dynamics, and certainly take the small car game up several notches. Barring the engine, the Polo certainly does have a very refined feel to it. But, factor in the extra cylinder, plus its poise when pushed, and we would have to give the edge to the Figo in this department. With that said, there’s very little between them on the daily run from home-to-office and back.
Verdict
So, is the Polo worth the extra cash? As an overall product, you can certainly see where the extra money gets spent. From an overall design and quality point of view, the Polo is in a different league. However, it’s when you look at certain individual aspects, such as a better equipped interior, and better on-road performance, that you realize just what a good deal the Figo really is.
In comparison to the Polo, the Figo may come up short in terms of overall refinement, but it certainly goes a long way to make up for it by providing a great deal of bang for your buck – plus it’s more fun on an empty road. At the end of the day, though, if your budget permits, it does make more sense to opt for the Polo – it is a better overall package. But, you can be rest assured that you won’t be selling yourself short if you choose the Figo instead, and you’ll even save some money in the process.
Ford Figo 1.2 Duratec Titanium |
VW Polo 1.2 Comfortline |
| Engine |
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1,200cc / 4 cylinders / 16 valves |
Engine |
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1,198cc / 3 cylinders / 12 valves |
| Fuel |
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Petrol |
Fuel |
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Petrol |
| Transmission |
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5-speed manual / Front-wheel drive |
Transmission |
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5-speed manual / Front-wheel drive |
| Power |
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70bhp @ 6250 rpm |
Power |
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74bhp @ 5400 rpm |
| Torque |
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75lb/ft @ 4000 rpm |
Torque |
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80lb/ft @ 3750 rpm |
| Price |
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4.4 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi) |
Price |
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4.9 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi) |
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At the recent launch of the Ford Figo, I recall Michael Boneham, Managing Director, Ford India, mentioning that one of the USPs of the new Figo would be its ability to provide stress-free driving on the highways of India.
To put his claim to test, and to give you a real-world mileage figure for the frugal 1.4 TDCi version of the Figo, I took it for a 120 kilometer spin from the heart of Delhi to the Neemrana Fort on the Jaipur highway. I tanked up in Delhi’s IT hub, Nehru Place, and braved congested city traffic all the way to Gurgaon – where the road opened up onto the 6-lane highway that connects Delhi to the ‘Pink City.’
The intense heat means that it’s not exactly the best time to travel, but that’s not going to keep me from bringing you this report on the Figo diesel. After all, it has a lot to live up to. The Figo with the 1.4 litre petrol mill performed valiantly against VW’s pricier Polo, and the diesel engine in this case has developed a sterling reputation for being both frugal and powerful in other Ford models of yore.
On the outside, the Figo is exactly the same as its petrol counterpart – this one even had the same paint job as our petrol test car. The only difference is the 1.4 TDCi badge at the rear. But it’s a badge that seemingly makes a world of difference. It takes the already driver oriented petrol Figo, and catapults it into the real realms of being a hot hatch contender. You feel the extra torque from the diesel mill immediately in the city when pulling away from traffic lights. There’s a little lag until the turbo kicks in at about 1700rpm, after which the engine pulls keenly till 4500rpm – before tapering off till its redline of 5000rpm. It’s a tried and tested, and very smooth, diesel unit. Neither does the extra weight of the turbo or diesel engine dull the lively handling of the Figo. The steering is still responsive, and you can still throw it into a bend with vigour – in this case, with the knowledge that you have more grunt to get you out at the other end. Keep the engine on boost, which is easily done, and the response is immediate.
On joining NH-8, the ball game changed once again, as the ‘Titanium’ diesel turned into a mini-beast the moment I stepped on the gas. Find a gap, and overtaking maneuvers are effortless in this car. Bear in mind that we’re talking about a small and frugal hatchback here – not exactly the characteristics you would normally equate with a highway cruiser. But the Figo diesel certainly fits that bill as well.
The interiors provided great comfort – with the exception of slightly unsupportive seats, as I found myself being held onto by the seatbelts on a few occasions when I used the brakes aggressively. The brakes themselves, on both the petrol and diesel variants of the Figo are very impressive, and provide good feedback as well. The air-conditioning in this car also did a great job, and I didn’t feel the sweltering heat for one moment. Best of all, with the stereo belting out ‘Highway Star,’ my driving pleasure quotient was increased exponentially. I have to say, I didn’t expect to be quite this impressed by the diesel Figo. With the exception of some cheap plasticky bits on the inside, the Figo diesel, at under 6 lakhs, makes a very good case for itself – especially if you have long distances to travel.
Both in the city and on the highway, the Figo dismisses anything but the largest pothole or bump in the road. The suspension and chassis do a great job of dealing with Indian road conditions. It even handled the cobbled stretches on the way up to Neemrana pretty well.
So, we’ve determined that the Figo diesel feels powerful and sturdy on the road – both on long stretches of highway, and in the city. But, what about the mileage you ask? On the round trip, Neemrana and back – bear in mind that I encountered fuel sapping rush hour Gurgaon traffic on my return – the Figo gave us an economy of 16.5 km/l. So, there you have it, a pretty impressive hatchback all-in-all. Mr. Boneham, I would have to agree with you on stress-free driving comfort on the highway.
I really did feel like a ‘Highway Star’ – in a small hatchback
no less.
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| Engine |
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1,399cc / 4 cylinders / 8 valves /
Turbocharged / Common Rail
Direct Injection |
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| Fuel |
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Diesel |
| Transmission |
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5-speed manual / Front-wheel drive |
| Power |
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69bhp @ 4000 rpm |
| Torque |
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117lb/ft @ 2000 rpm |
| Price |
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5.30 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi) |
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| Comments |
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Email:
Date:
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karanpreet27@rediffmail.com
5 June 2010
The Figo is execllent, but the Polo has a good name, as it's a Volkswagen. But I like the Figo with its low value and good features, and the Polo for its good shape. |
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