Ford Figo Vs Nissan Micra – road test / shootout / comparo
Ford Figo Vs Nissan Micra – road test / shootout / comparo Featured Stories, Reviews, Slider | Amit Chhangani | July 16, 2010 at 1:12 amWords : Amit Chhangani
Photographs : Shrey Sunil / Eshan Shetty
And we seem to have done it again. We have managed to bring to you the comparison between the current cream-of-the-class Figo and its newest nemesis – the Nissan Micra before anyone else could think about it. So sit back, relax and enjoy this fistfight between a 28 year old Japanese hatchback with a proven track record VS an American baby which is not even a year old, yet seems to have taken the entire small car market by storm with its unmatched virtues. Grab your packets of popcorns, here we go.
Design
The Micra was first introduced in Japan in the year 1982 (known as the K10 version) as a replacement to its Cherry sibling. Although the initial design of the car was very angular and straight, from its second generation K11 (1993) Avatar this car started adopting slightly curvaceous, jelly-bean styling. The next version introduced in 1997, known as the K11C went a step further and took to slightly retro styling. The K12 and K12C versions, which are replaced by the latest model on test here, carried forward the slightly retro, curvaceous styling theme, lending the Micra its unique charm.
In its latest avatar, the Micra tries to walk the tightrope between a modern, function – oriented design with a hint of retro look to maintain its identity. And should we say, it manages to do a good job of it. From the front, the Micra, with its small slit under the bonnet and the big air dam sure manages to look cute. The headlamps reminisce of Porsche lights, although there surely isn’t any connection. In profile, especially the shut lines around the rear door, strongly remind you of the Volkswagen Beetle. The big windows make it evident that the backseat will be one roomy, bright and airy place to be in. To further add to the retro look, the tail lamps have deliberately been kept very simplistic in design. Unlike the pseudo LED, multi focal lamps found in most new cars, the tail lamps of the Micra are extremely plain, and appear to have been glued on to the back of the haunches of the car. It’s a neat touch, but requires you to have a taste for design to appreciate it.
The Figo, on the other hand puts practicality, function and cost effectiveness before everything else. It’s a longish design to facilitate more room inside the cabin. Unlike the voluptuous Micra, this one is rather angular, and has flared arches to add a dash of muscle. While the Micra is decidedly feminine in its appearance, the Figo is inclined more towards the darker sex. It’s a rather conservative, please-all design – something which won’t offend anyone, even if it fails to make you drop your jaws. There is a quarter-panel in the rear window of the Figo, which adds to the ‘length’ perception about the car, and actually makes the backseat feel more airy with a bigger greenhouse. Overall, with its well weighed proportions and conformist design, the Figo creates an impression of a well built, solid and spacious car, which can never be a bad thing, especially in a market like India.
The Figo, being the unoffending, simple design it is will not affect the buying decision of those looking at a practical option in any way. The Micra, however, will appeal to those who merit distinction. The Micra definitely has more chances of gathering the attention of craning necks of the two.
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- Ford Figo Review and Test Drive
- It’s official – Nissan Micra to launch on 14th of July
- Ford bumps up Figo production
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Related posts:
- Ford Figo Vs Maruti Suzuki Swift – shootout / comparo / review / road test
- Road Test Review: 2010 Nissan Micra K13 for India with price, specs, performance figures and other details
- Ford Figo Review and Test Drive
- It’s official – Nissan Micra to launch on 14th of July
- Ford bumps up Figo production
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Good comparison guys, but you could have used the same Green Figo in all pics, in some pics, Figo is grey, why I am particular is that, grey Figo isn’t that good to look at. The Blue Micra is quite rare in pics and that car standing with the Green Figo was a fantastic photo. I still fill Figo is more value for money and since we know already about Ford’s service, spare parts cost, Figo provides trouble free ownership right now. If only Nissan could provide good dealers, with good service centres, people who are residing in places other than the metros can afford Micra.
CONTRADICTORY REVIEW…!!!
Carwale.com has rated Micra the fastest among all the 1.2 L petrol engined hatches. It is comparable to Swift in 0-100 kmph timings..Whom to beleive?
The Micra is faster than the Figo, more economical and much better in the quality stakes. If you dont trust me, just ask any Ford engineer. Your review is biased towards the Figo. It should have been neutral. Ask Figo owners and they will tell you the horrendous quality of the interiors that fell apart just a week after the car was bought – the steering column plastic broke and fell off. So was the fog light switchgear. Was replaced within a week. All this is personal experience. (although it will be replaced under warranty)
Spotted a Nissan Micra on the roads (Chennai) . Judging by the minimal panel gaps , the build quality does seems to be good .
Also the Micra is deceptively larger when seen in the flesh.
Things will start getting hot once Nissan decides the release the Diesel version of the Micra , and increases its currently Vapor-Thin dealer network .
The Indian Hatch Back buyer is slowly but steadily getting spoilt for choices . Good.
Figo has made a super sucessful entry in the indian market..in one line, its practical..whatever an indian consumer is looking for in a car is provided by Figo..In the long run, Figo will appeal more to indian market than Micra because of its Value-for-money preposition…
It has been a good comparison between Figo & Micra. However, one important aspect about total cost of ownership is missing. Maintenance cost of Ford vehicles are generally higher compared to others. This is more important to discuss when we compare any automobile because this makes lot of difference to not-so deep Indian pockets.
Figo is bad than Micra, sales figures too support this facet.