The sub 4 meter segment has been picking up immense pace here in India. With numerous sedans and even SUVs occupying this sector of the market, buyers have an immense array of vehicles to choose from. Currently,the Honda Amaze is the new leader in the sedan sub-section of the 4m segment with the Hyundai Xcent and Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire hot on its heels. The year 2015 marks the entry of American auto heavyweight Ford into this highly lucrative yet ultra competitive segment of the Indian market. With the launch of the Figo Aspire, Ford hopes to reclaim some of its lost glory from the Koreans and Japanese. We pit the all new Ford Figo Aspire against the highly sought after Honda Amaze to see whether the American sedan has what it takes to come out on top.

Exteriors

Ford Figo Aspire:

The design of the Ford Figo Aspire was first previewed with the Ka Concept car showcased at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo. Up front we have Ford’s now signature horizontally slatted grille flanked by large muscular headlights. The car evidently lacks a bit of flair however, it is by no means a disappointing design. It is equal parts aggressive and subtle.

Honda Amaze:

The Honda Amaze borrows heavily from the manufacturer’s Brio hatchback. While some may argue that the results are far from appealing, the Amaze manages to produce a harmonious mix of aggressive cuts and effeminate curves. However, the Amaze too falls short in this segment.

Winner: Draw

Interiors

Ford Figo Aspire:

Fans familiar with the EcoSport and Fiesta’s cabin will instantly feel at home inside the new Ford Figo Aspire. The American car maker has employed roughly the same layout for its all new compact sedan. The interiors are a conventional combination of beige and black with the dashboard featuring Ford’s SYNC infotainment system and a three spoke steering wheel fitted with the now common steering mounted controls for audio playback and Bluetooth connectivity. Despite being a budget offering, the large multi-function display and the gloss black finish on the steering wheel and the center console provides the Figo Aspire with an upmarket feel.

Due to the compact nature of the sedan, rear leg room may prove a little too less for tall passengers. However, the beige color scheme provides an airy feel to the Ford Figo Aspire’s cabin. The interior features numerous cubby holes and compartments for miscellaneous items.

Honda Amaze:

The Honda Amaze features a slightly underwhelming cabin. Honda’s stock music system offers minimal features and the control knobs for the air conditioning system feel far too low-cost. With Honda sticking to a strict budget, the cabin of the Honda Amaze feels a little drab with no striking or radically innovative design elements present. However, Honda has made clever use of slightly thinner seats with more padding allowing for a more spacious cabin than most sub-4m sedans. The increased leg room coupled with the beige interior of the cabin delivers an illusion of mid-size sedan. However, the lack of rear AC vents may result in slightly uncomfortable rides with too many passengers sitting in the rear seats.

Winner: Ford Figo Aspire

Under the Hood

Ford Figo Aspire:

Ford offers both petrol and diesel variants for the Ford Figo Aspire. The petrol driven Figo sedan if available in two flavors: a modest 1.2 l four cylinder mill that churns out 87 bhp @ 6300 RPM and 112 Nm @ 4000 RPM and a more powerful 1.5 l unit that produces an impressive 110 bhp @ 6300 RPM and a peak torque of 136 Nm @ 4250 RPM. The American car manufacturer offers a sole diesel engine in the form of a 1.5 l TDCi mill that produces a segment standard 99 bhp @ 3750 RPM and 215 Nm @ 1750 RPM.

While the base petrol variants and all diesel models of the Figo Aspire are offered with a 5 speed manual gearbox, the range topping 1.5 l petrol variant of the sedan comes fitted with a six speed automatic gearbox.

Honda Amaze:

The Honda Amaze is also offered with petrol and diesel engines. Honda’s familiar 1.2 l i-VTEC motor does duty in the petrol variant of the Amaze while the diesel model houses a 1.5 l i-DTEC engine. The Amaze’s petrol variant produces 87 bhp @ 6000 RPM and a peak torque of 109 Nm @ 4500 RPM and is offered with a 5 speed manual gearbox as well as a five speed automatic. Honda’s 1.5 l i-DTEC engine produces 99 bhp @ 3600 RPM with a peak torque figure of 200 Nm coming in at  1750 RPM.

Winner: Ford Figo Aspire

Verdict

Though the Amaze set the benchmark for most sub-4m sedans, American car maker Ford has produced a phenomenal rival in the form of the Figo Aspire. The Figo packs in more horses under the bonnet, more features inside the cabin and offers a slightly less mellow design and aesthetics.