We review the Ford Ka+ from price to economy and all its features

THIS is the Ford Ka . . . rein-Ka-nated.

No longer a cute first chariot for teens, it is now a five-door, five-seat Tardis — bigger inside and big on value.

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Hence the new name . . . Ka+.

It will cost £8,995 when it hits showrooms in October — around £100 a month on finance — and the 70hp 1.2-litre petrol will do up to 56mpg. Road tax is £30.

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Ford say the Ka+ is for savvy shoppers who want a well-equipped car on a budget. Big for the price of small.

So how does the Ka+ measure up?

It is still Ford’s smallest car — but only just.

It’s shorter than a Fiesta but taller, and two 6ft lumps can easily sit one in front of the other. I know that because I tested it.

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It has the best front headroom in class and the best rear legroom and the 270-litre boot will take the weekly shop.

It also borrows key parts from the Fiesta so it should be fun to drive too. All good then. As for kit, there’s a pop-up dock on the dash for a smartphone/ sat-nav, electric front ­windows, central locking, hill start assist, speed limiter, 60/40 folding rear seats, four cup holders for the drive-thru and six airbags.

Clever storage includes a secret driver’s pocket to hide shrapnel for parking.

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Pay another £1,000 for the Zetec trim and you get a punchier 85hp engine and Ford’s SYNC system with built-in ­sat-nav.

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Options include heated seats, privacy glass, parking sensors, folding mirrors and alloys.

Right, that’s the + side done.

Any minus points?

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Er, that back end. It looks good at the front — and both ­versions get body-coloured bumpers and door mirrors.

But it ain’t going to win rear of the year.

Also, to keep prices down, Ford won’t sell it with the award-winning 1-litre three- cylinder EcoBoost available on most cars — including the ­Mondeo.

VERDICT: Value + space = A+ for Ka+. Good work, Ford.

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20-year Ka-reer

THE original Ka was an instant hit with Brits, toured with Kylie and starred in a Bond film. It was also Wayne Rooney’s first car.

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Celebrity designer Bruce Oldfield made a dress with Ka parts and Julien Macdonald covered one in £1million of diamonds.

Here’s a quick guide to the Ka’s 20-year KAreer.

1996 – Ford Ka goes on sale at £7,350

2001 – Ford Racing Ka wins Rally GB (1.4-litre class), driven by yours truly

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2002 – Kylie promotes StreetKa on European tour

2002 – Record UK sales of 62,863

2003 – Race-tuned SportKa launched with 1.6-litre engine. It’s Rooney’s first car.

2006 – Now a seven-Ka family with cheapest costing £255 LESS than in 1996

2008 – Bond girl Olga Kurylenko drives all-new Ka in Quantum of Solace

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2009 – UK sales pass half a million

2010 – Ka Grand Prix, Ka Digital and Ka Tattoo launched

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2015 – Sales top 620,000

2016 – Ka is replaced by Ka+

PUB FACT

KA+ is called Figo in other parts of the world. But European bosses decided it was too close to Figa, the Italian word for lady garden.

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