The Ford Ikon looks good even after being around for a
decade. The smart bonnet line, that cat-eye headlamps, the straight-line,
high-booted affair at the back - it all lends it a neat look and the Ikon looks
well-formed.
The interior is dull and the plastics used are cheap. The
test of time is what the interiors fail to pass. They start becoming
discoloured after a while. The seats are supportive and the leg space at the
rear is generous. The suspension is well tuned for Indian roads and handles
potholes well. The handling belies the general character of a contemporary
sedan. The Ford Ikon handles like its on rails. The brakes have good bite but
feel very spongy.
The engine powering the Ikon is a 1.3-litre, 70bhp petrol
unit that sends power to the front wheels. Not as fuel efficient as thought to
be, the Ikon returns 10kpl in the city and about 13kpl on the highway when
going at a constant speed and not flooring the accelerator. The Ikon has battled
with the Maruti Esteem and Hyundai Accent for as long as we can remember but
now cars like the Indigo, Swift Dzire and Logan are making things tough.
