• Uses little fuel: both engines equally efficient
• Insurance costs are attractively low
• Maintenance costs will prove reasonable, too

The Ford Ka+ in Studio trim is the only five-door car in its class to fall into insurance group one, meaning that it should be one of the very cheapest cars to insure. Step up to Zetec trim and the Ka+ slots into insurance group two with the range-topping 85hp model falling into group five. As a result, all three should prove inexpensive to insure.

Claimed fuel economy lags behind some rivals at 56.5mpg – regardless of which engine you opt for.

As with other Fords, the sheer number of Ka+ models sold should mean that servicing and maintenance are inexpensive. A number of parts are shared with the Fiesta – which has been the UK’s best-selling car for many years – so parts for the Ka+ should prove cheap and plentiful.

For a car of this size the claimed 114g/km CO2 emissions are on the high side, with a number of rivals managing to creep below the 100g/km mark, warranting free car tax. With no other engines arriving imminently, it’s likely that 114g/km is the lowest the Ka+’s emissions will drop for the time being.

Reliability

• Few things to trip up Ka+ reliability
  
• Completely different from the previous Ka
• Feels robust and well-assembled

Ford has a reasonably good reputation for sturdiness, with the Ka+ using very much proven technology from the Fiesta. This isn’t the most high-tech car available – for instance the engines do without power- and economy-boosting turbochargers – so there should be few grounds for concern in terms of mechanical problems.

With a simple media system in both Studio and Zetec trim cars there should be little to go wrong inside the Ka+. The interior also feels tough and should stand up to the test of time.