Ford Ikon (2011)

Overview

A popular midsized sedan, the Ford Ikon (whose production has been discontinued to give way to newer models) is a car that combines aesthetics with comfort and fuel efficiency. Its stylish exterior gives any other cars of its class a run for their money and the luxurious interior makes traveling in it a great experience. It's also a powerful car that can overcome any kind of road surface, including rough and uneven terrain.

Exterior

Take a look at the exterior of the Ford Ikon and you will instantly know why it was so popular. The first thing you will probably say to the person standing next to you, "Damn! It's got the style." And it certainly has, but in a no-frills sort of way. It has a stylish front grille, stylish angular headlamps and stylish 7-spoke wheels covers. And with seamless curves around all edges, angular windows with tinted glass and 14" alloy wheels that go perfectly with the body, it has an elegant and dignified profile that will make you fall in love with at first sight. The bumpers are either black or body-colored and the rear has stylish taillight and spoiler which is optional.

Interior

Get into the Ford Ikon and you will gush about the ample passenger space, the generous headroom, the stylish and beautiful leather seats and the beige dashboard packed with advanced instruments. There is plenty of legroom for both front seat and back seat passengers to stretch their legs and the 5 passengers (including the diver) can sit comfortably without coming into physical contact with each other. The seats are wide and ultra-comfortable. The angular tinted windows keep out direct sunlight and shield you from the stare of onlookers.

Comfort and Convenience

The Ford Ikon is packed with features that make driving a car truly a great experience. Its advanced features include like air conditioner with climate control, tilt-able power steering, power windows (both front and rear seats), internally adjustable outside mirrors, tachometer, vanity mirrors, cup-holders, parking sensor and an advanced instrument panel with LCD display odometer. The car is designed for comfort and you will feel the difference as soon as you get into it.

Music System

If you are a music lover, then you will find that the Ford Ikon caters to your taste for state-of-the-art music system. The car comes with advanced FM/MP3/DVD-player audio system with 4 speakers and USB and Bluetooth® that let you connect it with your iPod, pen drive and mobile phone. The music system is placed within easy reach of the driver not far from the instrument panel on a stylish dashboard.

Engine and Gearbox

Not content with being beautiful and comfortable, the Ford Ikon is also a powerful car. Its 1.3L 1297 cc Rocam petrol engine with SEFI fuel inject system can deliver a up to 70 Bhp of power at 5,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 105 Nm at 2,500 rpm. Its 1.4L 1397 cc Duratorq Common Rail Diesel engine with TDCi fuel injection system can deliver up to 68 Bhp of power at 4000 rpm and a maximum torque of 160 Nm at 2000 rpm. The car can easily carry you over any kind of road surface, including difficult terrain. It is available in India in 5-speed transmission mode.

Acceleration and Performance

Now a car that has a powerful engine is supposed to have great acceleration and performance and the Ford Ikon will certainly not disappoint you in that department. It can accelerate from a stationary position to 100 kmph in just under 15 seconds and achieve a top speed of 160 kmph. For a midsize sedan, the fuel consumption rate is impressive. It can cover a distance of 15 km on 1 litre of petrol on the highway and 11 km on 1 litre in the city. These figures are almost on par with compact car with are fuel-efficient by their very size.

Variants and Shades

Although Ford has ceased the production of the Ford Ikon, you will still find the following variants in the Indian market: 1.3 Rocam, iKool 1.3 Rocam, 1.4 Duratorq TDCi and iKool 1.4 Duratorq TDCi. The top two are powered by 1297 cc petrol engines with manual transmission and the bottom two by 1399 cc diesel engine with manual transmission. As for body colors, you have several to choose from: paprika red, platinum, moon dust silver, brush steel, morello, diamond white and panther black.

Safety Features

What are speed and comfort without safety? The Ford Ikon is as safe as any car can get. It is equipped with advanced safety features that will keep you safe during collision and keep it safe from thieves. It is equipped with many standard safety features including front seat load limiters, collapsible steering columns, crash absorption zones, laminated glazed windscreen, anti-submarine seats, front fog lamps, day/night view mirrors, child safety rear door, central locking system, remote locking fuel filler cap and anti-theft lock with remote entry system. Disk brake in the front wheels and drum brake in the rear wheel provide excelling braking and prevent the car from skidding when driving at high speed. There are no ABS and EBD systems, however.

Reasons to Buy

It's easy to see why the Ford Ikon is so liked and loved. It's beautiful, it's classy, it's powerful, it's comfortable and it has great fuel-efficiency. Anyone who sees you driving this car will start looking at you differently. If these are not good enough to buy a car, then what is? A faster and more powerful car, perhaps. But then that will not come at the price of Ford Ikon.

Verdict

If you are looking for beauty, comfort, power and fuel-efficiency at an affordable price, then grab it as soon as it is offered to you. This car beautifully combines aesthetics with comfort and efficiency. But don't buy it if you want great resale value as well. It may not have resale value because it has ceased to be produced, but the parts will still be available and repair and maintenance will be no problem.