Used Ford KA 2008-2016 review

The first Ford Ka was a kind of motorised teapot, a tiny and rather peculiar-looking thing that was so good to drive it energised the class and spurred other manufacturers on to achieve greater things. It was two doors only, and available with only one rather old and thrashy engine option, but it was a huge success commercially, so much so that this second-generation Ka had a lot to live up to.

Opinion is a little divided on whether or not it did live up to it, but like it or not this Ford Ka makes an ideal city car. It shared a lot of its underpinnings with the massively popular Fiat 500, in an effort to keep costs down, and although that baby Cinquecento was no great shakes as a driver's tool no one can doubt its success as an agile and pretty city car. The Ka's small size helps with all the typical urban demands, along with a raised seating position which gives you a good view out. And big mirrors make it easy to judge the extremities of the car, enabling you to slot it into the tightest of spaces.

Another point of note is the handling, which is better than the Fiat 500's. While it doesn’t have that car’s funky interior and extensive accessories list, the Ka received plenty of Ford know-how when tuning the suspension and steering to make it feel nimble, accurate and composed through corners. The ride is also good; it’s still a little bit firm, but it is more composed than the 500.

Refinement, however, is a downside, with high levels of wind noise coming from the top of the side windows and also kicked up from the large door mirrors. And the 67bhp engine struggles on the motorway, where it sounds like it’s working hard to maintain speed. A Volkswagen Up would be better if you do need to venture out of town more often.

You also wouldn’t choose a Ka to transport larger rear passengers as space in the back is tight. Space up front is good, however, and the boot is large for a small car, only being hampered by a large load lip and lack of split-folding bench on entry-level trims.

The interior is clearly laid out, but doesn’t have the same design flair that the Fiat 500 has, which means that you notice the cheapness of the plastics more than you would in the 500. It also doesn’t come with as much standard equipment as a Hyundai I10, which can make the Ka feel quite spartan.

£1500 will get you the very highest-mileage Ford Kas, or written-off and repaired cars. You would be better off spending £2000 or more, which gets you an early example with average mileage and a full service history. Expect to pay £5000 for a 2014 1.2-litre Studio model with 30,000 miles or less, meanwhile.

The Ka was also offered with a diesel engine, but this was only available on higher trim levels and was significantly more expensive than its petrol alternative making it the least popular Ka. This is reflected in the used market, as it's not only harder to find, but also pricier, with a half-decent example starting at £3000.

Insurance, road tax and fuel costs should all be low with this sort of car, and happily, this is the case for the Ford Ka. Petrol cars claim to achieve 55.4 mpg and cost £30 a year to tax; diesels are rated to do 68.9 mpg and £20 a year to tax for the stop/start version, which switches the engine off whilst stationary to conserve fuel.

Fords are renowned for being cheap to service and repair, and the Ka is no different. Ford offers a fixed-price servicing scheme for older cars, but even newer Kas will be inexpensive to maintain compared with their rivals.

Basic Studio version Ford Kas don’t come with electric windows, remote central locking or air-con. That last one isn’t uncommon for a small car of its generation, but the other omissions are. The Edge version was introduced after the January 2010 model revision, and gives you these missing items as standard. It is the model we would recommend as it provides all the equipment you really need.

Zetec gives you a heated front windscreen, 16” alloy wheels and front fog lights, and Titanium adds climate control and rear parking sensors.

The best engine to go for is the 1.2-litre petrol as it is economical enough to negate the need for the diesel version, and with the diesel's potential reliability problems, the petrol version is the one to go for.

Our favourite Ford Ka: 1.2 Edge

If you're after a classy used small car, then the Volkswagen Up does it best. With solid build quality, an upmarket-feeling interior and lots of space inside, the Up is a top choice. This is reflected in the price, however, as you’ll need to spend more than you would for the Ford.

The Hyundai I10 comes with lots of equipment as standard and is second only to the Volkswagen in terms of feeling like a more mature and well-rounded vehicle. It’s just not as nice to drive as the best in the class and top-of-the-range Premium SE is quite expensive.

If the Up is too much, then there are always its stablemates the Skoda Citigo and Seat Mii to go for. These offer the most of what the Up provides, just in a cheaper package. They aren’t as smart to look as the Volkswagen and their interiors are a bit less pleasing to the eye.

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