Auto car: 2018 Ford Aspire vs rivals: Specifications comparison

Ford has launched the updated Aspire compact sedan. Additions to features aside, the model gets new petrol engines, a diesel engine tweaked for better efficiency, as well as a new automatic gearbox option. We analyse how the Aspire measures up to its key rivals, namely the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Honda Amaze, Hyundai Xcent, Tata Tigor, Tata Zest and Volkswagen Ameo.

Dimensions

To take advantage of the excise benefits on ‘small cars’, all the sedans measure just under 4 metres in length. However, at 2,490mm, the Aspire has the longest wheelbase, while the Amaze, Zest and Ameo come in at a close second, measuring 2,470mm between the two axles. With an overall width of 1,704mm, the Aspire is almost as wide as the Tata Zest. It is beaten only by the Dzire, which has a width of 1,735mm. The Amaze, Ameo, Tigor and Xcent have narrower bodies.

How do the exterior dimensions translate to cabin space? The Dzire, Zest and Amaze are the most spacious cars in the segment (in that order), while the Ameo offers the least cabin room. The Aspire slots in between its rivals. It is important to bring in the fact that the Dzire and Zest offer the most comfortable seating for three passengers in the back.

A word on boot space, too. The Aspire has one of the smallest boots in the segment, with a capacity of just 359 litres, besting only the Ameo’s 330 litres. Those indulging in frequent weekend getaways will find the Amaze and Tigor to offer the most room for luggage, as both cars offer segment-leading boots of 420 litres and 419 litres, respectively.

Of the other things, Ford has upsized the Aspire’s wheels to 15-inch rims. Resultantly, the Ford not only looks better but is also finally at par with the rest of the competition in this area.

Dimensions
	Ford Aspire	Maruti Suzuki Dzire	Honda Amaze	Hyundai Xcent	Tata Tigor	Tata Zest	Volkswagen Ameo
Length	3995mm	3995mm	3995mm	3995mm	3992mm	3995mm	3995mm
Width	1704mm	1735mm	1695mm	1660mm	1677mm	1706mm	1682mm
Height	1525mm	1515mm	1498-1501mm	1520mm	1537mm	1560-1570mm	1483mm
Wheelbase	2490mm	2450mm	2470mm	2425mm	2450mm	2470mm	2470mm
Kerb weight	1016-1103kg	860-990kg	905-1039kg	NA	1035-1130kg	1115-1185kg	1027-1184kg
Boot capacity	359 litres	378 litres	420 litres	407 litres	419 litres	390 litres	330 litres
Tyre size	175/65 R14, 195/55 R15	165/80 R14, 185/65 R15	175/65 R14, 175/65 R15	165/65 R14, 170/60 R15	155/80 R13, 175/65 R14, 175/60 R15	175/65 R14, 185/60 R15	175/70 R14, 185/60 R15, 195/55 R16

Engine and Transmission

The big talking points on the updated Aspire are its new petrol engines. There’s Ford’s new 1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol mill that comes in place of the older 1.2-litre, four-cylinder unit. The new 1.2 engine’s 96hp and 120Nm of torque not only better the outgoing unit’s figures by 8hp and 8Nm, but also make it the most powerful of the 1.2-litre petrol engines in the segment. The Aspire only extends its advantage on the power scale when you take into account the new 1.5-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine that is exclusive to the automatic version. The Aspire 1.5 makes 123hp and 150Nm, which are significantly more than the pre-facelift model's four-cylinder 1.5’s 112hp and 136Nm of torque.

Producing 90hp each, the petrol Amaze and Zest come closest to the Ford in terms of power. The Tigor, Xcent and Dzire aren't that far behind either. The Ameo's new 1.0-litre motor produces all of 76hp and 95Nm of torque, which is significantly down on the Ford's output figures. Do note, when you factor in the car’s kerb weights, it’s the Dzire with the best power-to-weight ratio.

Except the Zest and Ameo, all other petrol-powered compact sedans come with the options of manual and automatic transmissions. In the case of the Aspire, the 5-speed manual is paired with the 1.2-litre engine and the 6-speed auto (now a torque converter as opposed to the dual-clutch unit on the earlier car) is mated to the more powerful 1.5-litre mill. The Xcent makes do with a 4-speed torque converter, the Dzire and Tigor use 5-speed automated manual transmissions (AMTs), while Amaze is the only one that employs a CVT.

Petrol powertrain
	Ford Aspire	Maruti Suzuki Dzire	Honda Amaze	Hyundai Xcent	Tata Tigor	Tata Zest	Volkswagen Ameo
Displacement	1194cc (MT)/1497cc (AT)	1197cc	1199cc	1197cc	1199cc	1193cc	999cc
Engine type	3 cyls (MT/AT)	4 cyls	4 cyls	4 cyls	4 cyls	4 cyls	3 cyls
Power	96hp at 6500rpm (MT)/123hp at 6500rpm (AT)	83hp at 6000rpm	90hp at 6000rpm	83hp at 6000rpm	85hp at 6000rpm	90hp at 6000rpm	76hp at 6200rpm
Torque	120Nm at 4250rpm (MT)/150Nm at 4500rpm (AT)	113Nm at 4200rpm	110Nm at 4800rpm	114Nm at 4000rpm	114Nm at 3500rpm	140Nm at 1500-4000rpm	95Nm at 3000-4300rpm
Power-to-weight ratio	92.04hp per tonne/111.51hp per tonne	92.73hp per tonne	91.2hp per tonne	81.5hp per tonne	80.04hp per tonne	80.72hp per tonne	70.2hp per tonne
Gearbox	5-speed manual/6-speed automatic	5-speed manual/5-speed AMT	5-speed manual/CVT	5-speed manual/4-speed automatic	5-speed manual/5-speed AMT	5-speed manual	5-speed manual

Shifting focus to the diesels, the Aspire's diesel remains unchanged in terms of power, putting out a strong 100hp and 215Nm of torque. The Aspire’s power and torque figures are second only to the Ameo’s 1.5 unit, which makes a class-leading 110hp and 250Nm of torque. As in the case of petrol, the diesel Amaze and Zest follow close up on the heels of the Ford and Dzire, while the Xcent and Tigor are found lagging behind.

This time around, too, Ford has decided to skip on an automatic offering for its Aspire diesel. Those looking for a diesel-automatic will find their choices limited to just four cars – Dzire (AMT), Zest (AMT), Amaze (CVT) and Ameo (dual-clutch transmission).

Diesel powertrain
	Ford Aspire	Maruti Suzuki Dzire	Honda Amaze	Hyundai Xcent	Tata Tigor	Tata Zest	Volkswagen Ameo
Displacement	1498cc	1248cc	1498cc	1186cc	1047cc	1248cc	1498cc
Engine type	4 cyls	4 cyls	4 cyls	3 cyls	3 cyls	4 cyls	4 cyls
Power	100hp at 3750rpm	75hp at 4000rpm	100hp at 3600rpm (MT)/80hp at 3600rpm (AT)	75hp at 4000rpm	70hp at 4000rpm	75hp at 4000rpm/90hp at 4000rpm	110hp at 4000rpm
Torque	215Nm at 1750-3000rpm	190Nm at 2000rpm	200Nm at 1750rpm (MT)/160Nm at 1750rpm (AT)	190Nm at 1750-2250rpm	140Nm at 1800-3000rpm	190Nm at 1750-3000rpm/200Nm at 1750-3000rpm	250Nm at 1500-3000rpm
Power-to-weight	92.59hp per tonne	75.76hp per tonne	96.25hp per tonne	NA	61.95hp per tonne	63.29hp per tonne/75.95hp per tonne	92.91hp per tonne
Gearbox	5-speed manual	5-speed manual/5-speed AMT	5-speed manual/CVT	5-speed manual	5-speed manual	5-speed manual/5-speed AMT	5-speed manual/7-speed dual-clutch

The facelifted Ford differs from the former model in terms of fuel efficiency. The 1.2-litre petrol-manual’s official figures of 20.40kpl on lower variants and 19.40kpl on top spec trims, and the diesel’s 26.1kpl, are an improvement over comparable versions of the outgoing Aspire. Do note that the Aspire petrol-automatic does sees a slight dip in efficiency, with a figure of 16.30kpl. However, if the rising fuel prices are something of a concern for you, choosing the less powerful Dzire and Tigor will reap benefits in the form of lower running costs. The Maruti and Tata offerings have class-leading fuel economies of 22kpl (Dzire petrol), 28.4kpl (Dzire diesel), 23.84kpl (Tigor petrol) and 27.28kpl (Tigor diesel).

Fuel efficiency
	Ford Aspire	Maruti Suzuki Dzire	Honda Amaze	Hyundai Xcent	Tata Tigor	Tata Zest	Volkswagen Ameo
Fuel tank capacity (petrol)	42 litres	37 litres	35 litres	43 litres	35 litres	44 litres	45 litres
ARAI fuel efficiency (petrol)	20.40kpl (MT - Ambiente, Trend, Trend+) 19.40kpl (MT - Titanium, Titanium+) 16.30kpl (AT)	22kpl	19.5kpl (MT)/19kpl (AT)	19.1kpl (MT)/16.1kpl (AT)	23.84kpl (MT)/20.3kpl (AT)	17.57kpl	19.44kpl
Fuel tank capacity (diesel)	40 litres	37 litres	35 litres	43 litres	35 litres	44 litres	45 litres
ARAI fuel efficiency (diesel)	26.1kpl	28.4kpl	27.4kpl (MT)/23.8kpl (AT)	24.4kpl	27.28kpl	22.95kpl (75PS-MT)/20.65kpl (90PS-MT)/21.58kpl (90PS-AT)	21.66kpl (MT)/21.73kpl (AT)