Ford Ka Zetec (2008) CAR review

We’re so accustomed to six-year model cycles that the 12 years it’s taken Ford to come up with the second generation Ka is scarcely believable. But the new Ka is here – and now CAR Online has finally driven it. Read on for our full review.

This new Ford Ka looks like a three-door Vauxhall Corsa in a fairground mirror!

It might look like a Vauxhall, but in fact the Ka is based on the platform of the Fiat Panda. Having to stick with that car’s hard points is the reason for the narrow upright stance. It’s still reasonably pretty and features the Ford 'Kinetic design' mouth, but it’s certainly not radical like the original Ka was in 1996.

I’m trying to put this delicately….great driving cars are what Ford’s all about but Fiats tend to be dynamic disasters. Tell me the new Ka still feels like a Ford. Please...

The new Ka does feel like a Ford, but then it’s also recognisably Fiat-based. Like the Panda, it doesn’t ride well on tough town roads, the front suspension transmitting a shudder into the cabin over big lumps.

But, on balance, Ford has worked its magic on the chassis. The addition of a rear anti-roll bar, the stiffening of the front one and various suspension bushes together with recalibration of the electric power steering give the Ka the sort of incisive turn-in and cheeky steering response that the Fiat has always looked like it would offer, but never delivered.

Ford told CAR that although the two cars are built in the same factory it doesn’t share chassis information with Fiat. Well if it isn’t bright enough to have done so already, I suggest someone at Fiat takes a look at the changes Ford has made and sneaks them onto the 500 as soon as possible.

>> Click 'Next' below to read more of our Ford Ka first drive