Should you buy a used Ford Ka Mk2?

As it did when it was new, a used Ford Ka Mk2 has plenty of competition. Check out the Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto, and the Ka’s technical-twin, the Fiat 500 for the best combination of condition, kit and mileage near you, as second hand small economical cars are in demand.

Younger examples offer better value against rivals, but once you’re considering pre-2013 cars you may find the same money will buy you a Ford Fiesta Mk7, or even a SEAT Ibiza or VW Polo. These cost much more than the Ka Mk2 when new, but the difference in used prices can be quite small.

Where the original Ford Ka had a lot of personality, the Mk2 doesn’t have quite the head-over-heart appeal. Our advice is to let the brain win this time, and compare the cars available to you carefully. If the Ka Mk2 has the best history, the straightest bodywork and the happiest engine it’s a perfectly good choice.

Ford Ka Mk2 or Mk1, which one makes the best first car?

The Ford Ka is a great first car. If you are considering a Mk2, it has better safety credentials in terms of body strength, technology and modernity overall. It’s easier to drive, but harder to see out of, and it’s a little bigger but still very small compared to the latest superminis. It rusts less, too. It’s an excellent choice if you want cheap transport and don’t have a lot of interest in cars.

If you’ve been waiting eagerly to turn 17 and get your first taste of motoring, the Ford Ka Mk1 offers a very connected experience. No, not 5G; mechanical. The engines in the original are crude, designed in the 1960s and ideal for learning about mechanics, and the brakes and steering are equally hands (or feet) on. They handle well, but don’t jump to save you if you get it wrong, and they’re very easy to judge where the corners are. But they do rust, and they’re quite loud and unrefined on the motorway. An early Ka, looked after, is an introduction to owners’ clubs and car enthusiast groups, and it’s a design classic. It’s the perfect choice if you want to learn about cars or find a community and a hobby as well as transport.

What we like

Whether well equipped, or bare-bones, the Ford Ka Mk2 offers pleasing solidity and quality for the price, and it’s easy to live with and a sensible size for everyday use. The petrol engine is refined and economical, and easy to maintain, though it doesn’t like being neglected. A looked after Ka Mk2 should last a long time and cost very little to run, and it’s not short of character.

What we don’t like

You can tell it’s not entirely a Ford design, and some of the ‘personality’ is lost compared to the original Ka. The move upmarket was still shaped to avoid crossing into Fiesta sales, so there’s no automatic, and the diesel has turned out to be short-lived and unpopular. Without a SportKa, StreetKa or Puma, Ford could have done more with the Ka Mk2.

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