'DNA' drive: Ford Classic Titanium, a classic case?

Spec sheet
Ford Classic Titanium
Price (ex-Delhi) Rs5.53-7.82 lakh
Kitna deti hai? Over 20 kmpl in our test. 32 kmpl in Arai test
Fuel tank: 45 litres
Full tank good for: 900 km
Engine: 1399cc, i-4, diesel
Power: 68 hp@4000 rpm
Torque:160 nm@2000 rpm1
Good for family of 5: Yes
Dimensions in feet: Length/Width/Height 13.7/5.39/4.69

Ford’s journey in India has been a tumultuous one, with its ups and downs, but there have been a few products in their repertoire that have been huge hits in the market. The Ikon was one of them and another is the Fiesta. The current one might not be the greatest buys out there, but the old one, now called just the Classic, was one of the most-value -for-money buys out there. The Classic now gets a small revamp to make that deal a lot sweeter and we’re here to give you all the details about it.

Looks
When it came out, this car was quite a looker, with elegant lines and creases in all the right places, it had an air of sophistication about it that was unmatched by cars even a segment above it. Then the Fiesta went through a facelift a while back which brought a bit more flair into the design. There was also the sporty looking Fiesta 1.6 S somewhere along the lines, but this Classic is a little more subdued than that. It’s got new alloy wheels, fog lamps up front and a new badge at the back to set it apart from the earlier models. A nice little lip spoiler at the back would have rounded out the looks of the Classic quite well, we think, but it still looks quite striking even after all these years. Choose a nice punchy colour and you’re still going to turn heads in traffic with this car.

Interior
The interior of the Classic Titanium is spruced up now with a new two-tone design and a lot of improvements here and there that breathe life into it. A slick double-DIN audio system stares back at you which has Aux-In as well as Bluetooth capabilities. There’s also electrically adjustable ORVMs on this model which help a lot when parallel parking.

The seats are comfortable, but the rear seats don’t offer too much under thigh support, so longer journeys might be uncomfortable for passengers at the back. Other than that, there’s nothing to complain about here. It may be an old design but it certainly doesn’t look it. It still remains very functional. Unlike the new Fiesta, the Classic has a pretty straightforward waistline, so the passengers at the back get a good view of the road as well.

Performance
The model we drove was the 1.4-litre diesel unit which comes with a 1399cc DuraTorq diesel engine good for 68 bhp and about 160 Nm of peak torque. While on the move though, these figures feel like they’re a little under rated because of the way the car lunges forward in response to throttle inputs. It’s only when starting off and in the lower rev range that you feel a hint of turbo lag in the engine’s power delivery.

The smooth five-speed gearbox does a great job of transferring the power to the ground and it has well spaced ratios to take advantage of every last horsepower that the engine produces.

The only complaints we had with the powertrain were that it was a little harsh sounding, but that’s only from the outside. Inside the cabin, you could barely hear the engine while on the move and if the radio was on, there’s a slim to none chance that the engine is audible to the passengers. If you want some blistering performance though, stick to the petrol version which comes with a bomb of a 1.6-litre engine good for some thrills while still being frugal on the fuel.

When it comes to fuel efficiency, Ford claims figures of up to 32 kmpl for the diesel Fiesta Classic. We came nowhere near that figure because our driving was mostly city based, but the car still managed a solid 20 kmpl during our stint behind the wheel. Is that 32 kmpl figure realistic? Well, on the highway it’s certainly possible if you’re willing to use a few fuel saving techniques.

Ride and handling
The Classic is well known for its distinctive ride quality. The Petrol version is still remembered as one of the better handlers this side of the Rs 10 lakh mark while the diesel version, while not as great a handler as its more nimble twin, still has the chops to give some tough competition to the latest crop of sedans.

The steering has great feedback and good steering feel too, so you know exactly what the wheels are up to at all points. Come up to a nice, twisty road and you’ll be leaving it with a huge smile on your face. There’s a good bit of body roll during direction changes, but while the body is rolling, the tyres are far too busy gripping the road to care and you’re on your way after a short tryst with inertia. The Classic has some great handling genes in it, we say!

Coming to the ride quality though, the lower speed bumps tended to trouble the passengers as the car attempted to mask them. Sure, it was more smoke than fire, as in, there were a few thuds but no actual impact made its way to the cabin, but it was still a choppy affair.

As the speeds went up though, the car really came into its own, taking bumps and undulations without the slightest bit of hesitation.

Rear seat passengers won’t be complaining about the ride at the back either, but they will still be a little uncomfortable after longer stints due to the aforementioned under-thigh support issue.

Verdict
Is it still worth a buy? Definitely! The Ford Classic was always a value for money car, but now, with these upgrades, its one sedan that you need to seriously consider before moving up the price ladder because it can still go toe-to-toe with the more expensive competitors. A sweet deal indeed, then!