Ford Ka Review

Gumtree Rating

3.5 rating

By Gumtree Editorial Team

21 April 2021 9 min read

The Ford Ka burst onto the UK scene in 1996 as a fun and funky alternative to other progressive superminis and hatchbacks – at a reasonable price. Its lightweight design and reactive handling meant that it fizzed through our city streets, all the way to the top of the best-seller list for its class. The Ka is perhaps a little too tight inside for growing families, but the minimal interior and economical engine make it an ideal first car option. Ford discontinued the range in 2016, but finding one at a local dealership shouldn’t be a major problem.

Visit our Ford KA model page for expert guides on the latest trims and specs.

What we think about the Ford Ka

From its retro exterior to its charming performance, the Ka is a bread-and-butter city car for every occasion.

Pros

+

Enjoyable and easy-to-drive

+

Very fuel efficient, with low running costs

+

Surprisingly quiet at motorway speeds

Cons

–

Interior features are a little outdated

The Ka proved its worth as an exciting city car over the course of three generations and 23 years. The Sportka arrived in 2003 with a sportier kit, accompanied by the Streetka, with its soft top and basic or luxury options. There are two petrol engines and a diesel engine available on the standard Ka, all of which come with a manual five-speed gearbox. Trim levels included the Studio, Zetec and higher-end Titanium. Don’t expect to be overwhelmed with tech options at any level though – performance is the name of the game here.

Driving performance of the Ford Ka

Our Driving Rating7 / 10

Low-cost city cars often over-emphasise their fun-to-drive elements, and forget passengers actually need to sit in the cabin for long periods of time. However, Ford managed to find just the right balance between simple creature comforts and childlike joy when engineering the Ka. Its five-speed manual transmission moves smoothly through the gears, while its steering is light and its reflexes quick. The Ka’s tyres are grippy and they’ll carry you comfortably – but venturing down bumpier country roads might be asking a little too much of its suspension.

Safety and reliability of the Ford Ka

Our Safety Rating6 / 10

The Ford Ka only has driver and passenger front airbags as standard fit – more airbags within the cabin are an optional extra. Therefore, it scored less with Euro NCAP during its most recent crash-test, where it received a below average three-star rating. It’s not that Ford hasn’t provided safety options, it’s that the majority of these features are available only with higher spec versions. Anti-lock braking comes as standard, but if you want traction control for some improved handling then expect to pay a little extra.

Under the bonnet of the Ford Ka

Our Engine Rating7 / 10

It may not be packed with world-beating tech, but the Ka’s punchy engine is brimming with fun, and the driving performance reflects that. There are two engine options available, but it’s the 1.2-litre petrol producing 69 brake horsepower that’s the biggest seller. Despite what seems like a modest output, it’s refreshingly peppy in an urban environment with good acceleration from a standing start. This is relative of course, and even though a 0-62 mph time of 13.1 seconds won’t blow a supercar out of the water, it still makes for a pleasing car to drive. Your other choice is a 1.3-litre diesel, which produces 75 bhp. The extra power delivers just a little more punch, with its 0-62 time the same as the petrol.

What you'll find in the Ford Ka

Our Design Rating7 / 10

The first generation Ka was quite a compact and minimal-looking hatchback, but the second generation had a more European feel to it. Its contoured design is contemporary and sleek, and despite often looking larger than the older model, it’s actually the same length. At approximately 3.5 metres, the Ka is very easy to drive around the city, and squeezing into those tight parallel parking spaces is a breeze. For a further touch of style you can add alloy wheels to your package as an extra.

Comfort and interiors in the Ford Ka

Our Comfort Rating7 / 10

The reason for the second-generation Ka’s illusion of size isn’t additional weight – it’s that Ford re-moulded it, adding a higher roofline than in the original generation. For taller drivers and passengers, this extra interior headspace will relieve some of that trepidation about stepping into a small car. Cabin space is practical and smartly laid-out, and there’s a good amount of storage space in the side pockets and front dashboard, while the boot space offers a generous 224 litres. Like the previous Ka, legroom is still tight in the rear seats, but thanks to the extra head space, it feels more spacious than many small three-door cars on the market.

Ford KA Interior

What features you'll find in the Ford Ka

Our Features Rating6 / 10

As mentioned, Ford focused on engineering a well-rounded and reliable driving performance, so the Ka is lacking in terms of technology and accessories. Don’t expect a high-end touchscreen infotainment system on the dashboard – instead, the three-spoke steering wheel is the main attraction. The sporty design has a nice feel, but multi-function controls are an optional extra. The neatly backlit dials are pleasing to the eye and easy to read, but if this all sounds a bit dull, you can brighten things up with a wide choice of interior colours and trims. Bluetooth and USB ports can also be added on all models except the entry level.

What fuel efficiency to expect from the Ford Ka

Our Fuel Consumption Rating7 / 10

One thing that you can expect from a Ford is that your car won’t be too thirsty, and thankfully the Ka lives up to that reputation. While it hasn’t undergone the more stringent Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles (WLTP) test for fuel economy (this was introduced from September 2017) both engine options are very eco-friendly. CO2 emissions are lowest with the diesel, which offers 67 mpg – but a diesel in today’s market might not do you many favours in the long run. The 1.2-litre petrol delivers 55 mpg and still emits less than 100 g/km of CO2.

Running costs of the Ford Ka

Our Cost Rating7 / 10

Ford tend to produce well-engineered, reliable and low-cost vehicles – it’s what they built their brand on. With the entry level model an exception due to its quite basic package, there’s little need to spend much money on additional engine options with the other trims. Both the Ka’s engine options are cheap to tax and economical too, with the popular 1.2-litre enjoying especially low service, parts and insurance costs. Its insurance group is 2-6 in the UK, and while there weren’t many call-backs, you should still check the history before making a used car purchase.

Our verdict of the Ford Ka

3.5 rating

3.5 / 5 Gumtree rating

Despite the Ford Ka lagging in technological innovation, it delivers on everything else you'd want from a city car: fun, reliability and low running costs.