New Ka vs rivals

	The new Ka shares its underpinnings with the latest Fiat 500. Can Ford cash in on that model’s success, or is the identity of its smallest three-door compromised?

Great design has no sell-by date. Even though the original Ford Ka was launched in 1996, it was a tough city car to beat in every year of production, right up to 2008!

Replacing an accomplished model is always a challenge, especially when you hand most of the engineering process over to another company – the new Ka shares its underpinnings with the latest Fiat 500.

The Italian has been a hit in the UK, so can Ford cash in on that success, or has the blue oval compromised the identity of its smallest three-door? In this definitive first UK test, we’re going to find out.

We’ve brought together the 500 and Ka in affordable 1.2-litre petrol form, and drafted in two rivals from mainstream marques which know a thing or two about value for money. In basic 1.2-litre form, the Renault Twingo is a pared-back city car in the traditional French mould, while Volkswagen’s Fox mixes a premium badge with great practicality and the lowest price of our quartet. It’s time to find out if the Ka can follow in the wheeltracks of its predecessor, or if it’s taken a wrong turn.