Ford Ka and SportKa (2008) CAR review

The Ford Ka was one of the cars that started Ford's renaissance. So the Blue Oval's business problems shouldn’t distract attention from the fact that most of Ford's current European product line-up is very good. With the Ka due to be replaced at the end of 2008 by a new Fiat-500 based car, CAR has had one last drive.

Ford still make the Ka? 

Yes, the car that debuted Ford’s New Edge styling in 1996 is still going strong. Two Focuses and a Fiesta have come and gone in that time, but the Ka has remained remarkably faithful to the original.

That’s essentially because Ford’s first sub-Fiesta two-door was right from day one. Ford has found itself (for once) leading the way as more and more other manufacturers have joined in with versatile small cars that fill a gap created by the bloating of their superminis.

It’s that rare thing: a car that looks great (or at least distinctive), drives very well and won’t bankrupt you. Even today the Ka continues to do good business way beyond its core market of teenage girls buying their first car.

What’s under the skin?

The regular Ka is powered by a 1.3-litre four. Since 1993 it’s been the sohc 68bhp Duratec engine, which is less wheezy than the earlier 59bhp sidevalve Endura engine. It does a perfectly good job, although what’s always been more impressive than the engine is the chassis. It uses old-shape Fiesta components, including MacPherson struts at the front, but the Ka is lighter and better balanced than that generation of Fiesta and benefits accordingly. It’s agile, poised, versatile and a lot of fun, both in town and further afield. The rear brakes are drums, but they’re plenty good enough

Since 1993 there’s also been the SportKa, which has Ford’s 1.6-litre Duratec, producing 94bhp, with a close-ratio five-speed gearbox plus the suspension from the Puma and a few design details, such as the central reversing light and reshaped grille, from the StreetKa (the convertible version that’s best glossed over). It also has more supportive seats and an aluminium gearknob.