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MEET THE RIVALSToyota Etios Cross 1.5 Xs>PriceR171 40 0 >Engine1 496cc 4cyl, 66kW@5 600rpm,132Nm @ 3000rpm>Transmission5-speedmanual, FWD>Stats11.3sec0-100kph, 165kph, 6.0ℓ/100km,138g/km``````VW Polo Vivo GT>PriceR1 84900 >Engine1 598cc 4cyl, 77k W@5 250rpm, 155Nm @ 3 50 0rpm>Transmission5-speedmanual, FWD>Stats10.6sec0-100kph, 187kph, 6.6ℓ/100km,157g /km``````OUR CHOICE:A brand new Fordfrom India, ajacked-up Toyotathat’sgreat value if challenging on theeye,ora classystalwart that looks datedbut is the safest bet? Yes, that one.40 TOPCAR.CO.ZA|January 2016Road test: FordFigoLooks like MarmiteWhile the prev ious Figo resembled afacelifted old-gen Fiesta, this new iterationdoesn’t even attempt to echo the currentFiesta. Sure, it gets an on-brand hexagonalgrille treatment, an ‘organic’ head- and tail-light cluster treatment plus fresh designarchitecture, but that’swhere it ends. And that’ssimplybeca usewhen itwaspenned itwasn’tmeant tobe ‘Figo:The Sequel’at all, ratherthe new FordKa, which isexactly what itsbadge will say when itis released elsewhere.Suddenly, its appearan cemakes moresense to me withthose trun cated overhang s andthat smiling visage, but wherethe prev ious Figo wasgenerally a pleasant thing tobehold, the new car is moredivisive. I like it, many don’t.The rear aspect especiallygarners the most unfavourablecomments, if only beca use itnow resembles pretty mucheverything else in thatsegment. I guess everyone justNewFigocabin apestheFiesta. Generally,lifeaboardhas beenimprovedinthe 20 16 carmisses the vertically stacked lights but it’sstill a neat little rump. The alloy wheels,despite measurin g a tidydiameter at 14 inchesacross, are swallowed bygaping arch gaps makingthem look somewhatcomical. Stance? You mustbe joking. It sort of givesyou an indi cation of whata ‘Figo Cross’would looklike though.``````Stepping inAha! Here are the Fiestabits. The original Syncsystem lives here, neatlyarranged in a fashion thatresembles the currentFiesta. Materials arerough, geomet ryrudimentary, but it allworks. While I don’texpect it all to fall apart, Ido expect it to scratchbadly. Ergonomics arefamiliar but they workwell too. I like it. I like thestacked centre binnacleand hidey holes too, thenook s and even the plastic