Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Damian B Oh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Photo: Damian B Oh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Verdict
Economical city car with 5 seats and a 270 L boot, with few mechanical faults reported (What Car?). It achieved only 3 Euro NCAP stars in 2017, for lack of autonomous emergency braking. Examples built between September 2017 and May 2019 are affected by a recall for a short-circuit risk on the battery wiring: have this checked before buying.
- Reliability
- 4.5/5
- Indicative prices
- €6,990 – €12,235
- Monthly cost
- €355
- Euro NCAP
- 3/5
Which version to choose
Versions to favour: 1.2 Ti-VCT 70.
1.2 Ti-VCT 70
✓ RecommendedPetrol · Manual · 70 hp · 5.0 L/100 km · 114 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 1
1.2 petrol with 70 hp and 5-speed manual gearbox: the entry-level version, suited to town driving.
1.2 Ti-VCT 85
Petrol · Manual · 85 hp · Crit'Air 1
1.2 petrol with 85 hp and 5-speed manual gearbox: slightly better acceleration.
1.5 TDCi 95
Diesel · Manual · 95 hp · 4.1 L/100 km · 108 g CO₂/km · Crit'Air 2
Diesel with 95 hp and 215 Nm, 4.1 L/100 km and 108 g/km of CO2 announced (Ka+ Active sheet, 2018). Suited to high-mileage drivers.
Market prices
€6,990 – €12,235
Indicative range: 2017 to 2019, yearly medians of 15 online listings collected by AutoUncle (years with at least 3 listings).
Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.
Known faults
Clutch and manual gearbox: wear and hard shifts
Severity 2/3 · CostlyKa+ owners report clutches that wear out or fail prematurely (cases cited at 10,000, 50,000 and 70,000 km) and a gearbox that clunks or is hard to shift. These accounts remain isolated and are not statistics: check on the test drive.
- Versions
- 1.2 Ti-VCT 70, 1.2 Ti-VCT 85, 1.5 TDCi 95
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Battery monitoring system wiring (recall)
Manufacturer recallOn Ka+ models built between 8 September 2017 and 15 May 2019, the battery monitoring system wire may be misrouted and pinched under the battery's metal bracket, which can cause a short circuit and a fire. The wire is not protected by a fuse, so the risk is real. To be checked at a Ford dealership with the serial number.
Fixed free of charge by a dealer and not counted in the reliability score: ask for proof the work was done (invoice, or a VIN check at a dealer).
- Versions
- 1.2 Ti-VCT 70, 1.2 Ti-VCT 85, 1.5 TDCi 95
- Onset
- not documented
- Repair
- not documented
Manufacturer recalls
See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Ford Ka+”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.
Real monthly cost
Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated
| Fuel or electricity | €123 |
|---|---|
| Insurance | €88 |
| Maintenance | €28 |
| Depreciation | €116 |
| Total per month | €355 |
⚠ Estimates to treat with caution
- NEDC consumption (older, more optimistic than WLTP) as no WLTP figure is published: fuel is probably slightly underestimated.
- Insurance: average for a closely related model (other generation or same platform).
- Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
- Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
- Fuel (petrol)€123
1.2 Ti-VCT 70 version: combined consumption of 5 L/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 2.14 €/L, for 1,000 km a month.
5 × 1.15 × 2.14 € × 10 = €123
Petrol price (SP95-E10): French national average on 7 October 2026.
- Insurance€88
Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.
- Maintenance€28
Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.
- Depreciation€116
Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.
Inspection checklist
Ford Ka+ 2016-2020 — inspection checklist
Things to check
- Have a Ford dealership check, using the serial number, that the battery wiring recall has been carried out (models from September 2017 to May 2019).
- On the test drive, check the clutch (slipping, high biting point) and shift through all the gears, cold and in reverse.
- Listen to the gearbox: clunks or jolts when changing gear.
- Check idle and starting, as well as the operation of the Stop & Start.
- Require the service book and invoices.
Questions to ask the seller
- Has the battery wiring recall been carried out? Do you have proof of the visit to Ford?
- Has the clutch already been changed, and at what mileage?
- Does the gearbox go through all the gears without clunking or stiffness?
Test-drive tip: read the fault codes
A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.
Electric or hybrid equivalent
No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost
Alternatives
Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0
Peugeot 108
I · 2014–2021
- Price
- €6,000 – €9,100
- Reliability
- 4/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol
Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Toyota Aygo
II · 2014–2021
- Price
- €7,000 – €10,900
- Reliability
- 4/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol
Photo: BarnCas, CC BY-SA 4.0
Citroën C1
II · 2014–2022
- Price
- €4,900 – €9,000
- Reliability
- 3.5/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol
Photo: M 93, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Renault Twingo
III (2014-2024, facelifted in 2019) · 2014–2024
- Price
- €5,890 – €12,299
- Reliability
- 3/5
- Fuel types
- Petrol, Electric
Before you buy: check and equip
Check the history
Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.
Read fault codes
An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.
Parts and maintenance
Compare prices of parts for the Ford Ka+ 2016-2020 (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.
Insure the car
Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ford Ka+ safe?
It achieved 3 stars out of 5 at Euro NCAP in 2017, mainly because it has no autonomous emergency braking and its rear seats have no belt pretensioners or load limiters.
What is the boot capacity of the Ford Ka+?
270 litres, with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat.
What should I check on a used Ka+?
The battery wiring recall (models from September 2017 to May 2019), then the clutch and gearbox, which some owners find occasionally fragile.
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