Volkswagen Ameo vs Ford Figo Aspire, a diesel comparison

    We compare two of the most exciting diesel compact sedans you can buy today.

    Published On Oct 26, 2016 09:24:00 AM

    1,15,734 Views

     If the diesel versions of the Volkswagen Ameo and Ford Figo Aspire are the top contenders on your compact sedan shopping list, there’s a good chance power and performance are high on your list of priorities. Because with 110hp and 100hp from their respective 1.5-litre diesel engines, the Ameo and Aspire are the most powerful diesel compact sedans on sale, and for many, that’s a major point of distinction in what has become a crowded segment. Before you ask, we’ve given the 100hp Honda Amaze a miss because it’s a car that does little to stir up emotions for the driver. For this duo at least, it’s the experience behind the steering wheel that gets more weightage than overall practicality. Yes, we’ll be going over their practical bits too but today the driver’s seat is the one in focus. Here goes.

    110 on 100

    Do a cursory brochure-to-brochure comparison, and you’ll know the Ameo is the more powerful car here. Its 110hp and 250Nm easily betters the Aspire’s 100hp and 215Nm. Dig a bit deeper though and a figure that should stand out is these car’s kerb weights. Weighing in at just 1,048kg, the Figo Aspire is a full 115kg lighter than the Ameo! How do all these numbers translate to real-world performance? There’s only one way to find out and that is to bring out our trusty Vbox timing gear. True, the conditions aren’t ideal (we tested on a damp road), but the performance figures are still telling. The Ameo gets to 100kph from a standstill in 10.74 seconds, or 0.4 seconds quicker than the Aspire. But it’s the in-gear timings that give the Ameo the clear edge. It is good at low revs but VW’s latest tweaks to the 1.5 engine seem to have added more punch in the mid-range. Sure, power delivery has become spiky but it’s quite exciting to see how readily and quickly revs rise from 2,000rpm to 5,000 and beyond. The Ameo feels genuinely powerful and what only adds to the experience is the crisp-shifting five-speed gearbox.

    Both models are near identical to their hatchback siblings until the B-pillar.

    The Aspire may be the slower car here but it is still quick as small diesel cars go. It’s just that the power delivery is more linear and the engine isn’t as quick revving as the Ameo’s, and this tends to mask its performance. Power does come in nice and early making the Ford a bit friendlier to drive at lower town speeds, but press on and you don’t get that meaty mid-range surge the Ameo provides. Further, the Aspire’s rubbery gearbox also doesn’t like being hustled. The Ford motor does run quieter for the most part (the VW has the busier sounding idle too), but cross 3,000rpm and the decibel levels go up drastically. Whilst the Ameo’s powertrain pushes you to drive with more vigour, the Aspire’s inspires you to adopt a more relaxed driving style.

    Left, right, left

    You may not expect family-oriented compact sedans to shine on your favourite set of twisty roads but both still do a good enough job. The Ameo feels very Germanic, very Volkswagen in the sense there’s a good feeling of control at all times, but you know there are some electric motors involved between the steering and the front wheels, and this takes away some connection with the car. The VW does turn in well though and the slightly firmer setup helps to this end. The Aspire is clearly the more agile of the two with a sharper turn-in and a quicker steering. A fly in the ointment is a bit of un-Ford-like looseness in the steering at the straight-ahead position and a bit of body roll too. Also, the Aspire isn’t quite as adept at dealing with mid-corner bumps as the Ameo.

    Even out cruising on straight highways, it’s the Aspire that moves around more. Not uncomfortably so, but it doesn’t feel as planted as the Ameo at triple-digit speeds. However, again, it’s when you tone things down that you see the best of the Aspire. It’s got the more absorbent low-speed ride and rounds off bumps really well, despite running on smaller 14-inch tyres. The Aspire’s lighter steering also calls for less effort in town. 
     

    The right environment

    Powertrain and suspension settings aside, these cars are identical to their petrol-hearted versions which we compared only a few months ago. And just as we stated back then, we’ll say so again – the Ameo’s great cabin quality truly sets it apart. Right from that nice thunk on door shut, there’s a sense of robustness in the Ameo’s cabin that you just don’t get in any other compact sedan. Agreed the dashboard looks a bit boring but there are more than a few feel-good elements in the cabin that enhance the ambience. The flat-bottomed steering wheel for one looks really special. Additionally, the front seats are nice and large, there’s a dedicated dead pedal, and what further aids comfort for drivers is that the steering adjusts for both rake and reach.

    If the Ameo cabin’s highlight is its quality, the Aspire cabin’s highlight is space. There’s more room between the front seats, and the large windows and low dash only enhance the sensation of space further. The dash has an interesting look thanks to the spread-out centre console but the numerous buttons for the audio player are hard to navigate through on the move. What’s also a disappointment is the boring instrument cluster that oddly has same-sized dials for the tacho and fuel gauge. The bigger issue though is quality that is good in places and average in others. For instance, as rich as the knurled climate control dials look, the door handles look cheap and flimsy. The leather seats on the top-spec Aspire Titanium+ do help the overall look and are really well cushioned too.

    Ameo cabin has typical VW attention to detail and feels far more premium.

    Over to the equipment on board, and what’s worth highlighting is the safety kit top Aspires get in addition to the usual creature comforts like steering-mounted audio controls, Bluetooth-ready audio system and automatic climate control offered on both these cars. Titanium+ Aspires get six airbags, Ford MyKey that lets you set speed limits for programmable driver profiles and also Emergency Assistance that can automatically alert emergency services in the event of an accident using a synced phone’s mobile network. Unfortunately, Ford’s Sync infotainment system itself isn’t particularly nice to use and its dot-matrix display looks small and outdated.

    Fully loaded Ameos get only two airbags and there’s no option for leather seats, but otherwise VW has gone to town with the equipment. There’s a nice touchscreen for the infotainment system, MirrorLink (it replicates your smartphone screen), reverse camera, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, one-touch operation for all four power windows, a front-centre armrest and even an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. Quite something from a carmaker not known to be generous with equipment. 

    Practically speaking

    Bring the rear seats into the picture and suddenly the Aspire begins to shine. It’s got the larger rear doors, significantly more legroom and generally feels roomier. There’s also a well-positioned rear-centre armrest so two, if not three occupants can sit in good comfort in the back. The Ameo feels tight in comparison despite VW’s best efforts of squeezing out vital few millimetres of kneeroom by scooping out the front seat backrests. For what it’s worth, there is a rear air-con vent but it does eat into the already limited legroom for the middle passenger.

    Aspire is the car to buy if rear-seat space is a priority.

    The Ameo also has the marginally smaller boot (330 litre to the Aspire’s 359 litres) but it is better-shaped and a slightly more usable space. It’s also better finished and what’s more, the Ameo gives the option to fold the rear seat forward (not flat though) to make space for odd-shaped items.

    Price possession

    So which one should it be? It’s quite simple really. If you are looking for a practical family car and have regular use for the rear seats, it’s got to be the Aspire. It’s the more spacious car and the more rounded package. The Aspire also makes for a good city car thanks to its light controls and absorbent ride. And post Ford’s recent price revision, it’s become more affordable and is the model here with the lower price tag. But for all its strengths, the Aspire doesn’t leave a lasting impression. It doesn’t excite for a relatively powerful car nor does it drive with the same slickness as older Fords; you could even say it feels a bit pared down in places.

    Incidentally, it is these very areas where the diesel Ameo feels special. The engine is strong, performance is good and there is a degree of fun to be had behind the wheel. It’s also solidly put together and feels like the German car it is. Yes, the Ameo is undeniably down on rear seat space to most rivals, but if that’s not a deciding factor for you, the VW offers enough and more to win you over, and for not too much more money than an Aspire. Crucially, it is overall a nicer car to drive and that seals the deal for the Ameo.

     

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