Ford Aspire

Why I would buy it:

Great ride and handling, value for money, smooth new petrol engine

Why I would avoid it: 

Interior fit and finish not the best

In our eyes the Ford Aspire was always an underrated car. In true Ford fashion, it was a car that was good to drive and the sorted suspension always resulted in fun yet comfortable drive. But the main issue with this compact sedan were the below par interiors, which not only lacked features, but the design was crude especially compared to the modern competition.

Now though Ford has tried to address these shortcomings with the updated 2018 Aspire. It gets updated exteriors, a new dashboard layout and brand-new petrol engines. Are the changes significant enough to trouble its rivals? We got behind the wheel of the compact Ford sedan to find answers.    

To spot the changes made to the exterior of the 2018 Aspire, you would need to look really hard. Upfront you get an all-new bumper that looks edgy thanks to the sharp creases around the fog lamps. You also get honeycomb elements in the new grille which looks more matured than before. Surprisingly you don’t get projector headlamps or even daytime LED running lamps which has become a norm for a car at this price. The top Titanium variants also get bigger 15 inch alloys which look more proportionate and also fill the wheel wells better. At the back the 2018 Aspire looks identical to the old car, except for the new bumper that looks sportier. Overall with the update, the Aspire looks more grownup and mature than the old car.

If you find the exterior of the Aspire similar to the old car, we bet you won’t say the same when you step inside. That’s because now you get a dashboard that looks thoroughly modern. The dual tone beige/black cabin now looks contemporary and even the fonts on the instrument cluster have been revised with sporty carbon fibre texture surrounding it. 

However, the biggest addition is the 6.5-inch touchscreen system and the floating display looks really nice. It is fitted with Ford’s latest SYNC 3 system and is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which adds to the overall experience. The infotainment system is one of the best when it comes to quickness, smoothness and the big icons make it easy to use on the move. You also get two USB ports for charging and connecting your smart phone. Overall fit and finish is still not that great and cars like the Hyundai Xcent and Maruti Dzire do a much better job. Unlike the old car, Ford has decided to skip leather upholstery on the Ford Aspire to keep costs in check.  

As the 2018 Aspire is still based on the old car, interior space remains the same. Space both at the front and rear is adequate and the seat shape and support is really good. There is enough knee room at the back and the big windows help make the cabin feel airy. The headroom at the back though is in short supply and anyone above average height, will spoil their hairdo against the roof. It is a very practical cabin too with loads of cup holders, big door pockets and many cubby’s to store knick-knacks up front. Unfortunately rear passengers won’t be as happy, as there are no door pockets and they have to make do with seat back pockets and two cup holders. Boot space is the same as well so you get the same 359 litre boot which is adequate but less as compared to direct rivals like the Hyundai Xcent and the Maruti Dzire.

In terms of equipment the Aspire comes well equipped. You get premium features like automatic headlamps, rain sensing wipers and a modern Apple CarPlay and Android Auto enabled touch screen infotainment system on the top Titanium Plus variant. It does miss out on features like LED headlamps, daytime running lamps and leather wrapped steering wheel which is offered on rival products. But it more than makes up for that, by offering best-in-class 6 airbags on the top variant.  

The Aspire is powered by a pair of brand-new petrol engines and the tried and tested 1.5 litre diesel from the old car. In this review, we will speak about the petrol manual variant, which is a 1.2-litre three cylinder motor from Ford’s Dragon family of engines. 

The 1194cc petrol engine produces a best-in-class 95bhp and 120Nm of torque. It is a modern motor with all-aluminium construction and is much lighter than the older unit. Along with promising better performance, Ford also claims it to offer much better fuel economy. Thumb the starter button and this three cylinder motor surprises you with its smooth and refined idle. You feel some vibrations at idle but as soon as you start moving, the engine smoothens out and as long as you don’t rev it hard, this motor is pretty silent. As compared to the old engine, this motor definitely packs more punch from the get go. Although the motor doesn’t have a strong bottom end but once past 3000rpm it feels responsive and the motor gets a second wind around 5200rpm. The performance on the highway though feels modest, especially with a full load of passengers. Special mention must go to the new manual gearbox, which has a positive action and the short throws makes it a joy to use. Although performance has improved over the old car, it still doesn’t feel as strong as the K-Series engine in the Dzire. The fact that the Aspire weighs a massive 140kg more than the Maruti doesn’t help its performance either.  

When it comes to ride and handling the Ford Aspire remains as strong as before. The steering is direct and it is eager to change direction. The Aspire feels a little soft initially and body roll is gentle but not excessive. In fact, the suppleness doesn’t come at the expense of stability and even at high speed on an undulating surface, the Aspire feels rock solid. In terms of comfort too, this Ford shows great composure be it at high or low speeds and the ride quality is flat and it absorbs the worst of road conditions with aplomb. Even the brakes feel strong and the pedal feel is sharp yet progressive.

The Aspire has always been a very competitive package and with the updated version it is definitely back in the game. The new petrol engine gives it better performance and although it isn’t sporty, it is definitely a user-friendly sedan to own and drive. Power is more accessible now owing to a smoother, more responsive engine, and Ford claims that fuel efficiency has improved too. Ford has addressed the mediocre interiors of the old car and now the Aspire sports a modern dash and is well-equipped. On the downside, interior quality is still not the best and rivals offer more interior space too. However, this apart, the Aspire is hard to fault. Especially, when you factor in the price, which at Rs 7.24 lakh (ex-Delhi) for the top-of-the-line petrol manual undercuts its rivals by some margin, making it a great value for money buy.

The 2018 Ford Aspire petrol manual is priced in the range of Rs 5.55 lakh to Rs 7.24 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) which makes it one of the most affordable cars in its class. It competes with the likes of the Hyundai Xcent,  Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Tata Tigor and the Honda Amaze.