Ford Ikon diesel: A review

Ford has just released a diesel version of its popular sedan Ikon. I test drove it for nearly two hours, first on Bannerghatta Road, and then on the Nice highway connecting it to Hosur Road.

If you've driven the Ford Ikon petrol, as I have on a couple of occasions when a friend gave me the wheel of his car, you will find no difference in the way the diesel is built. Everything's the same, including the 400-litre boot, sure to be useful when you go on long drives with huge suitcases, or drop your sister off at the international airport with all her Bangalore shopping. The diesel comes with nicely done beige interiors in fabric and rexine, and will appeal to those who like sobriety rather than flamboyance.

Diesels are known to start off a little sluggishly, and that was the first thing I noticed when I started out from congested J P Nagar intersections, but once the car was comfortably into the third gear, the acceleration felt as good as in a petrol car. The slow initial pull isn't so obvious with just two passengers in the car, but becomes noticeable when you have four (four plus driver is what it's designed for).

The Ikon diesel, like the petrol, has a 1.4 litre engine which made its debut on the Fiesta, and for stark comparison, its capacity can be matched against, say, that of the German-designed Opel Sail petrol, a car that spelt luxury to Indian motoring buffs just five years ago. But, as an auto buff-friend pointed out, a petrol typically puts out more bhp than a diesel, and so this comparison should only be used to see the petrol-versus-diesel argument in perspective.

The Ford diesel would be miles ahead of the Sail in economy, but such economy comes at the cost of power. The Sail feels more luxurious, but few in these trying times would want luxury at such a premium (and besides, General Motors has shut down the Opel range). At its very best, the Sail can achieve about 9 km a litre inside the city, while the Ford Ikon diesel, from what its executives say, can double that performance with 17 to 18 km.

Economy is going to be the main attraction of the Ikon diesel. If you're keen on an Ikon, you might want to weigh the merits of the petrol against the diesel before you make up your mind. The diesel is slightly noisier and more expensive by a lakh, but makes up with its everyday wallet-friendliness. So if you're regularly driving long distances and are cost-conscious, diesel could be what works for you.

On the Nice highway, I touched 130 km, and the car felt steady and fully under control. Kiran N Gupta, the knowledgeable sales consultant who accompanied me on the drive, said he had hit 160 without any hitch. I didn't want to push the car, and my luck in Formula-style racing, that far!

The Ikon is competing mainly with diesels such as the Swift Dzire and the Renault Logan, and perhaps to a smaller extent with petrol cars such as the Chevrolet Aveo. The economic slowdown doesn't seem to have dented the prospects of the Ikon diesel. Kiran told me several buyers contemplating Rs 8 lakh-plus cars were now going in for lower-priced Fords. The Ford diesel stands out for its frugality, but overall, when it comes to spare parts prices and service, the Suzukis score with their affordability and accessiblity.

The dashboard on the Ikon looks utilitarian, and the AC cooled well even with five passengers inside (but remember, a test drive won't do to judge long-term efficiency). On the safety question, you may be disappointed that the Ikon diesel does not offer airbags.

The Ikon diesel could be a good choice if you're doing frequent long distances, and are looking for a car that's slightly bigger than the Santro and the Wagon R, and not so expensive to run. The diesel is Rs 75,000 more expensive than the petrol. But before settling on the diesel, I'd think hard which side of the fence I'd like to be on: petrol or diesel. And I'd also spend some time weighing slightly noisy economy against quiet indulgence.