FIGO FREESTYLE: WELL FILLED GAP
Gaps are there to be filled. Bases are there to be covered. Ford detected a new one and did something about it. There was no baby SUV in the line-up, so engineers aimed CAD kit at the Figo hatchback to create a Compact Utility Vehicle (CUV). Success: gap filled and base covered. They named their new-born “Freestyle”.
It’s aimed at young buyers who like to get out into the countryside over weekends, so we expect that Titanium grade, with its superior connectivity and kit levels, would be the one most in demand. But older folk or budget-conscious parents, preferring unfussy basics, might opt for Trend.
Apart from an extra 16mm of ground clearance (190mm vs. 174mm) Freestyle gains integrated skid plates to enhance underbody protection; black coloured grille, wheel arch mouldings and fog lamp surrounds; special lower-door decals; its own bumper styling; roof rails; bespoke upholstery in a sophisticated two-tone interior and individualised features, including reversing alarms at the rear.
The two models share a 1.5-litre petrol engine, 15” alloy wheels with 175/65 tyres, equivalently-sized steel spare and five-speed manual gearbox.
Our Trend test rig came standard with tilt-adjustable steering wheel (no buttons), powered mirrors, electric windows with one-touch down for the driver, fog lamps at both ends, intermittent wipers, low series analogue instruments, trip computer, shift indicator, manual air conditioner, four-way seat adjustment (distance and backrest angle), sturdy rubber mats on floor and boot, and basic four-speaker audio with Bluetooth and MyFordDock that includes USB and auxiliary. It’s in the “pie warmer” on top of the dash, with space for a small-to-medium phone as well.
Safety kit comprises two airbags, ABS brakes, antitheft alarm, the reverse parking aids mentioned above and powered door locks with drive-away locking.
Titanium ups the game to six airbags, Ford Sync®3 music centre with 6.5” touchscreen, seat height adjustment for the driver, electric automatic air conditioning, rear view camera, automatically dimming rearview, pushbutton starting, Ford MyKey and auto-on headlamps.
The engine puts out a useful 91 kilowatts and 150 Newton-metres, so performance is suitably perky for a small family car like this. It swallowed a pair of hefty adults and a week’s necessities for a trip to the Berg as our test regime. The little motor revs freely and is decently torquey, so we often found ourselves being admonished to “shift up” well before the seat-of-pants indicator felt it necessary.
And, had we been carting two or three more people rather than supplies, they would have fitted comfortably into the back seat area. We mention that specifically because the cargo space measures just 256 litres under cover; sufficient only for one large suitcase, a medium camera bag, two small barbeque grids, hiking sticks and a couple of soft items squeezed into gaps.
Freestyle turns on the proverbial dime, feels solid, handles confidently, absorbs minor road imperfections well and offers a commanding view outwards. It’s competent rather than exciting, so Compact- is a better label than Sport- Utility Vehicle. But we still liked it.
Ford can consider this a gap well filled.
Basic prices: Trend @ R241 100 and Titanium @ R263 200