35 Euro Cars That Can Save America: # 9 - Ford Ka
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The Ka is the oldest design still being produced in this class from any manufacturer except Perodua, with more than a dozen years in production and essentially unchanged from the original model. Fortunately, the 2009 Ka is supposed to be based on a Fiat Panda / 500 platform thus should be a far more modern and capable small car. As the Ka currently sits, it's an economical if clunky option in a class which has some truly stellar vehicles.
The Ford Ka Hatchback 1.3i 70 Studio 3 Door is estimated to carry a North American net sale price of $9,578.57, given the prevailing market pricing of similar automobiles. Its 1297 cc engine powers the car to a top speed of 104 MPH and an acceleration shown by a zero to sixty MPH time of 14.1 seconds. The performance factor of 12.5 is above average for its class. The Ford Ka Hatchback 1.3i 70 Studio 3 Door returns 57.6 MPG in highway driving, 33.6 MPG in the city, and a combined loop mileage of 45.6. With a fuel tank capacity of 8.8 gallons, the car can travel 507 miles on a full tank of unleaded regular fuel, but when it's filled right up to the top of the fuel filler neck, the total range should be approximately 611 miles. When all these price, performance and mileage factors are taken into consideration, the Ford Ka Hatchback 1.3i 70 Studio 3 Door scores a combined Practicality Index of 80, with 100 representing the best, most practical car available and 1 representing a Hummer H3.
Ford Ka Hatchback 1.3i 70 Studio 3 Door •
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ACTUAL AVERAGE EUROPEAN PRICE • $14,145.10
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MANUFACTURER'S EUROPEAN PRICE • $18,109.65
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ESTIMATED NORTH AMERICAN PRICE • $9,578.57
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SPECIFICATIONS & OUTPUT •
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Body Style • Hatchback
Doors • Number of • 3
Seats • Number of • 4
Engine Displacement (cc) & Cylinders • 1297 / 4
Type of Fuel • Unleaded
Maximum Power (bhp @ rpm) • 69 / 5500
Torque (lb / ft) • 78
Engine Layout • F
Wheel Drive • Front
Overall Length (mm) • 3620
Overall Width (mm) • 1639
Overall Height (mm) • 1358
Front Seat Head Room (mm) • 930
Front Seat Leg Room (mm) • 1065
Rear Seat Head Room (mm) • 880
Rear Seat Knee Room (mm) • 640
Trunk Capacity Seats Up (litres) • 186
Trunk Capacity Seats Down (litres) • 724
Turning Radius (m) • 9.9
Curb Weight (kg) • 871
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PERFORMANCE •
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0 to 60 MPH (secs) • 14.1
Top speed (MPH) • 104
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EQUIPMENT AVAILABILITY & PRICING •
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EXTERIOR •
Alloy Rims / Wheels • $250.00
Metallic Exterior Paint • $325.00
SECURITY & SAFETY FEATURES •
Automatic Transmission • Option Not Available
Central Locking System • Option Not Available
Remote Locking System • Option Not Available
Power Assisted Steering • Standard Equipment
Seat Belt Pre-Tensioners • Option Not Available
Driver Side Air Bag • Standard Equipment
Passenger Side Air Bag • Option Option Price Not Available
Side Mounted Air Bag • Option Option Price Not Available
Center Mounted Three Point Seat Belt • Option Not Available
Automatic Traction Control • Option Not Available
Electronic Stability System • Option Not Available
Anti Lock (ABS) Brakes • Standard Equipment
Deadlock • Option Not Available
Vehicle Immobilizer • Standard Equipment
Alarm • $150.00
Visible VIN • Standard Equipment
Secure Spare Tire • Option Not Available
Etched Parts • Standard Equipment
Window Etching • Option Not Available
Locking Wheel Lugs • Option Not Available
Side Impact Safety Bars • Standard Equipment
Rain Sensing Windshield Wipers • Option Not Available
Adaptive Cruise Speed Control • Option Not Available
Lane Departure Alarm • Option Not Available
Parking Sensor For Front • Option Not Available
CONVENIENCE & COMFORT FEATURES •
Leather Surface Seats • Option Not Available
Climatic Control • Option Not Available
Adjustable Steering Reach • Option Not Available
Adjustable Steering Height • Standard Equipment
Power Steering • Option Not Available
Adjustable Seat Height • Option Not Available
Adjustable Power Seats • Option Not Available
Split Folding Rear Seats • Standard Equipment
Power Front Windows • Standard Equipment
Remote Mirrors • Option Not Available
Electrically Heated Mirrors • Option Not Available
Power Moonroof • Option Not Available
Manual Moonroof • Option Not Available
Cruise Speed Control • Option Not Available
Power Sunroof • Option Not Available
Remote Folding Mirrors • Option Not Available
SOUND, NAVIGATION & COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS •
Hands Free Cell Phone • Option Not Available
Satellite GPS Navigation • Option Not Available
Radio • Standard Equipment
Radio With RDS • Standard Equipment
Theft Proof Radio • Standard Equipment
Multi CD • Option Not Available
iPod / MP3 Connector • Option Not Available
Bluetooth Enabled • Option Not Available
DVD Player Enabled • Option Not Available
MP3 CD Player Enabled • Option Not Available
CD With RDS • Option Not Available
Vehicle Hard Drive • Option Not Available
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OPERATING COSTS •
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City MPG • 33.6
Highway MPG • 57.6
Combined MPG • 45.6
Fuel Tank Capacity (gallons) • 8.8
Carbon Dioxide Rating (g / km) • 147
Carbon Footprint Offset Cost • $21.00
Eco Rating • C
Insurability Grouping • 2
Estimated Average Insurance • $281.00
Percentage Value Retained (3 Years / 36,000 mi) • 27.00%
Estimated Average Monthly Lease Cost • $207.00
Maintenance Factor • 30
Estimated Maintenance Cost Over 3 Years • $497.00
Maintenance Intervals • 6,000 mi
Manufacturer's Warranty Term • 3 Year / 40,000 mi
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Yup, there is no '09 model with a smaller engine in North America today with the exception of the Smart Car. It's really hard to believe given that the Europeans have been tootling around in tiny cars for decades!
My 1.1 litre car was a Ford Escort, made in 1985, and I got it in 1994. I drove it for 2 years, then my sister had it. It wasn't underpowered, either. In fact, all 3 of my adult siblings have cars with 1.2 litre engines, it's just normal here.
I had the chance to drive a new Fiat Panda through Italy and its 1 litre engine was a revelation. I'm absolutely thrilled that Fiat may be merging with Chrysler (and I say may as the deal may just be a way for the Italians to grab American bailout billions), as they have announced that the Panda platform will be one of the new small Chryslers. Let's just hope that they bring in that lovely 1 litre engine and not Americanize it up to a 1.5 or something similarly outrageous. I'd love to see the Panda Diesel here as well, as the fuel mileage on it is magnificent!
My former wife drove Ford Ka like ten years ago. It was cute, no question, but sorta low quality, especially for the price at that time...
Ford Europe has been having a lot of problems with build quality. They seem to have gotten their act together around the '06 model year, but in some of the early years of this decade, a lot of Ford Europe cars were built by workers who were napping on the line.
I've seen plenty of those around San Diego that've driven up from Mexico. Plenty of other cool Euro cars too - Vectras and Astras and random odd Nissans, as well as quite a few Alfas and Renaults.
The Ka is not a bad ka... or should I say car! We could certainly use it North of the Border! :)
Hugely popular car, cant say i like the look
What's wrong with the looks? Don't you like hunchback flab cars? :)
LondonGirl 3 years ago
Is it really the case that there are almost no cars in N American with less than a 1.6 engine? Our current Fiat has a 1.6 litre, and I'd say that was above average. My two previous cars were 1.1 and 1.2 litres. And the average MPG we get is about 40.