Ford Ka review (2008-2016) - Reliability and Safety

The Ford Ka Mk2 didn't feature in the latest Auto Express Driver Power satisfaction survey, but the closely related Fiat 500 finished in 87th position. That was an impressive 27-place improvement on its ranking in 2014.

Ka owners haven’t reported any major reliability problems, and as it’s a relatively simple machine, any glitches should be fairly straightforward to rectify.

You’ll never be far from a Ford garage, although that may not necessarily be a good thing – the network ranked only 26th out of 31 in the Driver Power 2015 dealer survey.

The Ford Ka Mk2 only came with two airbags as standard, so it’s no surprise it achieved a disappointing four-star score in the Euro NCAP crash tests in 2008. As the test was carried out when the Ka was fresh in showrooms, it would do worse under the independent body’s current crash test regime, which has become more stringent over the years.

At least stability control and tyre pressure monitoring were standard across the Ka range, while curtain airbags could be added. However, there was no option to specify more advanced safety equipment such as autonomous emergency braking.

This is quite a contrast to the latest city cars – the Hyundai i10 earned five stars under the more rigorous Euro NCAP test regime, and side airbags are included on every model, while the same goes for the VW Group’s trio of city cars.

Warranty

All Fords come with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty, which is about average for this class, but way short of the manufacturer packages offered by the best. For example, Hyundai covers its i10 for five years and 100,000 miles.

Servicing

Ford main dealers are free to set their own servicing costs, as there’s no nationwide fixed price scheme. However, the prices are usually pretty competitive.

If you’re considering a used Ka, Ford is currently offering fixed prices for all models over four years old - £195 for a major service, and £125 for an intermediate check-up.