DEMAND for small cars is increasing in Europe with price, fuel efficiency and comfort among the leading factors in decision making.

And the latest offering is the all-new Ford KA+ which offers good interior space and, good fuel efficiency for less than £9,000.

Sales of 410,000 small cars priced under £11,000 in 2015 accounted for 13 per cent of the small car segment and Ford is already one of the biggest players in this sector.

All KA+ models come with a chrome front grille, front fog lamps with daytime running lights, powered front windows, electrically operated door mirrors with side indicators, perimeter alarm with remote central locking and a speed limiter as well as Ford's Easy Fuel system designed to prevent forecourt mishaps.

The KA+ is slightly shorter than a Fiesta, but more than an inch taller with a cabin that has enough room for a six foot tall tall passenger to sit behind a similarly proportioned driver.

The KA+ uses a new 1.2-litre Duratec petrol enginewith a choice of 70bhp and 85bhp power outputs. It's derived from the same family as the 1.25-litre engine in the Fiesta.

Both engine options achieve CO2 emissions of 114g/km, with combined fuel consumption of 56.5mpg.

Standard safety equipment includes six airbags, electronic stability control with hill start assist, and a tyre pressure monitoring system that can advise drivers with a warning light when a tyre is significantly under-inflated.

Entry level Studio models will be offered with the 70bhp engine and higher specification Zetec cars will be available with both 70 and 85bhp.

There will also be special Black and White edition models available to order later this year with the KA+ range priced from £8,995.