Category: City Cars 
Price Range: £7,395 to £11,195
Great fun to drive, distinctive looks, appealing character, responsive handling, all-round practicality and usability
Refinement not the best, girly image, not many choices of engine or specification
The Ka continues to be the modern answer to the (original) VW Beetle or Citroen 2CV, only more comfortable, safer and much nicer to drive
Ford's curvy, cuddly Ka still looks as fresh as the day it was launched in 1996, and at long last, the Ka family has expanded to include the Streetka roadster (reviewed separately) and the Sportka, which has a 1.6-litre, 95bhp engine. The 1.3-litre Ka continues, with a new, more powerful and more refined engine. Although the Ka's basic underpinnings are based on those of the last-generation Fiesta, Ford says that the Ka range will continue for a few years yet, and indeed, last year, record numbers of Ka 1.3s were sold - it belies the age of its design and engineering in many ways.
This cheaply-priced city car continues to be popular for good reason: it's easy and fun to drive, and surprisingly spacious for something so small. The Ka is ideal for around town yet is comfortable and capable on the motorway, and although it's not especially well-equipped, it is good value for money and, well, just so cute and lovable. The new Sportka is not really a properly sporting hot hatch, but it has a good bit of extra zip and should prove both amusing and insurance-friendly.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Ford Ka
wrote on 14 08 2006