Ford Aspire Facelift Will Launch on 4th Oct 2018

The Ford Aspire has always had a small but loyal fan base in India. It was never the car that topped the sales charts, but people who drove it often had good things to say about how it handled on the road and how solid it felt compared to some of its rivals.

If you grew up hearing your uncle or a colleague talk about their Aspire and how “it drives like a proper car,” there was a reason behind that. This piece looks at what made the Ford Aspire tick — its price, mileage, specifications, and features — and also clears up where things currently stand with the car in India.

A Quick Word on Where the Aspire Stands Today

Before getting into numbers, it’s worth being upfront about one thing: Ford pulled out of the Indian passenger car market a few years ago, and the Aspire is no longer sold as a new car here. The company stopped taking fresh orders and shifted its India operations toward exports and after-sales support instead of new launches. So anyone searching for the Aspire today is mostly looking at it as a used car, or reading up on it out of curiosity about how it compares to sedans that are still around, like the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Honda Amaze, and Tata Tigor.

That said, plenty of Aspires are still running on Indian roads, and resale listings for the car are common. This makes the price, mileage, and specification details just as relevant for someone hunting for a good used sedan as they were for someone shopping new a few years back.

Ford Aspire Price

When Ford was still selling the Aspire brand new, the car came in petrol and diesel forms, with prices stretching from a little over ₹7 lakh to close to ₹9 lakh, ex-showroom, depending on the variant and transmission chosen.

The facelifted version, which arrived with cosmetic tweaks and a new petrol engine, sat in roughly the same bracket, since Ford positioned it to fight directly with the top sedans in the compact segment rather than undercut them on price.

If you’re looking at the Ford Aspire price today, it really comes down to the used car market. A well-kept Aspire, especially the later BS6 diesel with six airbags, tends to hold its value reasonably well because buyers trust the engine and the way the car sits on the road.

Petrol variants are usually a bit cheaper to pick up second-hand, partly because diesel versions built a stronger reputation for durability among Aspire owners.

Ford Aspire Mileage

Fuel efficiency was one of the stronger points for this car, and it’s a big reason people still ask about it. The diesel Aspire, powered by the 1.5-litre TDCi engine, was known to return figures around 25 to 26 kmpl on paper, which made it one of the more frugal diesel sedans in its class.

Real-world numbers were naturally a bit lower depending on driving habits and city traffic, but owners commonly reported comfortable mileage in daily use, which is why the diesel variant found favour with buyers who covered long distances regularly.

The petrol version, running on the 1.2-litre Dragon series engine introduced with the facelift, wasn’t quite as frugal as the diesel but still managed decent numbers for a petrol sedan, generally in the high teens to low twenties depending on how it was driven.

For someone comparing the Ford Aspire mileage against rivals, the diesel remained the stronger pick if long commutes or highway driving were part of the plan.

Ford Aspire Specifications

Under the hood, Ford gave the Aspire a mix of engines meant to appeal to different kinds of buyers. The base petrol engine was a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder unit producing close to 94 bhp and 114 Nm of torque, paired with a five-speed manual gearbox.

There was also a 1.5-litre petrol option for those who wanted more punch, and this one could be had with either a manual or an automatic transmission, giving city drivers a break from constant gear shifting.

On the diesel side, the 1.5-litre TDCi motor remained mostly unchanged through the car’s life in India, delivering strong low-end torque that made it feel lively in city traffic and confident on highways. This engine produced around 100 PS, which was more than what most rivals offered in the same segment, and it’s one of the reasons enthusiasts still rate the Aspire’s driving experience above the competition.

In terms of size, the Ford Aspire measured close to 3,995 mm in length, sitting comfortably within the sub-4-metre category that Indian buyers favour for tax benefits. Boot space came in at around 359 litres, which was among the best in its class and made it a practical choice for families who needed room for luggage on trips.

The car also earned praise for its ride quality and handling, with a suspension setup tuned to soak up rough roads without feeling too soft or too stiff.

Ford Aspire Features

Ford didn’t try to overload the Aspire with unnecessary gadgets, but it made sure the car covered the basics well and added a few surprises that punched above its price point. Higher variants got a touchscreen infotainment system with support for voice commands, which was fairly advanced for a car in this price range when it launched. Owners also got Ford Aspire features like automatic climate control, keyless entry, push-button start, and a rear parking camera on the top-spec models.

Safety was one area where the Aspire genuinely stood out. The BS6 version offered up to six airbags along with ABS with EBD, making it one of the safer choices in the compact sedan space at the time.

This focus on safety, combined with a solid build quality that many owners still talk about, helped the car earn a loyal following even though its overall sales numbers never matched segment leaders like the Dzire.

Interior quality was another highlight. The cabin used a dual-tone theme in most variants, and Ford also offered a sportier all-black Blu edition with blue accents for buyers who wanted something different from the usual beige-and-black look common in this segment.

Should You Consider a Used Ford Aspire?

If you’re weighing a used Aspire against other second-hand sedans, it holds up well, particularly the diesel variant with the later safety upgrades. You get a car that drives nicely, sips fuel reasonably, and comes packed with a safety kit that some rivals from the same era didn’t offer.

The one thing to keep in mind is after-sales support, since Ford’s dealership and service network in India has shrunk following the company’s exit from new car sales here. It’s worth checking with local mechanics or service centres about parts availability in your city before finalising a purchase. A detailed report on the Aspire facelift’s original India launch plans can be found on BharatStories, for readers who want more background on how this car came to be.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ford Aspire still available as a new car in India?

No, Ford stopped selling new cars in India, including the Aspire, after exiting the domestic passenger vehicle market. It’s only available through the used car market now.

What is the mileage of the Ford Aspire diesel?

The diesel Aspire, powered by its 1.5-litre TDCi engine, was rated at around 25 to 26 kmpl, making it one of the more efficient diesel sedans in its segment.

How many airbags does the Ford Aspire come with?

The BS6 version of the Aspire offered up to six airbags on its higher variants, along with ABS and EBD as standard safety features.

What is the boot space of the Ford Aspire?

The car offered around 359 litres of boot space, which was considered generous for a compact sedan and useful for family trips.

Which engine options did the Ford Aspire offer?

Buyers could choose between a 1.2-litre petrol, a 1.5-litre petrol with manual or automatic transmission, and a 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine.