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Starting and running: VERY GOOD The carbureted four had a raving fast idle when cold. As the engine warmed up (and occasionally when it was fullywarm) it hesitated slightly while accelerating. The exhaust smelled like rotten eggs.
Acceleration: VERY GOOD Surprisingly peppy.
Transmission: EXCELLENT Shifting was easy, although reverse was sometimes stubborn. The gear ratios provide an effective combination of performance and economy. We felt no need for a fifth gear (standard on the LX model).
Economy: EXCELLENT Frugal. Approximately 37 mpg overall.
Routine Handling: VERY GOOD Responsive and competent. In tight turns, the Festiva tended to slide its front wheels outward a bit.
Emergency Handling: EXCELLENT Nimble. The Festiva negotiated CU's pylon course (a test representing abrubt accident avoidance maneuvers) at an exceptionally high speed. It was responsive and predictable in the hard turns of the test track.
Braking: EXCELLENT Top notch performance and very short stopping distance.
Ride: GOOD The typical small-car ride: jiggly on expressways (with occasional thumps from tar strips or pavement joints); more active on back roads, with choppy pitches and rocking motions. But, overall, motions were well controlled; large bumps caused no distress. A full load taxed the Festiva's suspension, and passengers suffered some jolts.
Noise: FAIR Moderately noisy on smooth highways; very noisy when driven on coarse pavement.
Driving Position: VERY GOOD Superior for a small sedan. Drivers sit tall, with an excellent view over a stubby, sloping hood. Head room is unusually generous, and legroom to the pedals is nearly adequate for a six footer. If the steering wheel weren't so high (it's not adjustable), the driving position would have been even better.
Front Seating VERY GOOD Chair high seats with firm support. Side contouring could have been stronger for better support against cornering forces. The angle of the seatbacks is adjustable. The uphlstery is cloth.
Rear Seating FAIR Two six foot tall riders fit into the rear seat, but not comfortably. The seat provided poor support. Rear seat access was about as easy as it gets in a small two door car. The Festiva's front passenger seat slides forward automatically when it's seat back is folded. To get out, rear passengers step on a pedal to scoot the front seat forward.
Heating VERY GOOD Primitive but adequate. Warm-up was quick, and the three speed fan, though noisy, produced a strong jet of warm air. Response to reducing the temperature was slow: As we moved the temperature slide toward cold, air volume was strangled to a feeble breath. Unlike domestic Fords. the Festiva has a Bilevel setting that provides unheated air from the dashboard vents and warmed air from the footwell registers. Windhsield and side-window defrosting was just satisfactory. The standard rear defroster ($267 on the basic L) worked slowly but thoroughly. A rear-window wiper/washer isn't available as an option on the L or L Plus.
Ventillation VERY GOOD Ample. Fresh-air flow from the dash vents can be boosted by the fan, but the air can't be warmed. Elimination of stale air wasn't a problem in the Festiva, but the rear quarter windows do tilt open for those who do not mind some extra noise with their fresh air.
Controls VERY GOOD A button on each of the two steering wheel spokes toots the horn (The horn should be in the center hub, as it is on most cars.) The heater labels are hidden by the control knob. For some drivers, the rim of the steering wheel hides the rear defroster switch. The glove compartment a small coin bin are the only storage areas.
Displays EXCELLENT On bight days, the orange on black guages lacked sufficient contrast. At night the panel lights must be dimmed so the guages don't reflect into the windshield.
Trunk FAIR The cargo area is small but expandable with some fuss (you have to slide the front seats forward to make room to do the job). The space is nicely finished except for an emergency wing nut holding the jack to the rear wall. There is no security panel in the L or L Plus models, and no cubbies or bins in any model. The open hatch lid stands about six feet high and has a sharp, protruding latch. A compact, limited-service spare resides in a shallow well under the floor. A full-service spare (not available as an option) would raise the floor an inch or so. Ford advises against trailer-towing with the Festiva.
Servicing EXCELLENT Straightforward. Ford provides a one-year or 12,000 mile basic warranty ; a six year or 60,000 mile powertrain warranty (with a $100 deductible), and a six year or 60,000 mile rust-perforation warranty.
Safety The seatbelts are comfortable to wear, but the rear belts are a struggle to get at: They're wedged into a cavity betwee the seat and the side of the car. All belts can secure any child safety seat, but a locking clip is required for the front passenger belt. The driver's view out is good, but a right outside mirror would make it better. It's not available for the L or L Plus. The Festiva, a new model, has not been crash-tested by the Government. Insurance data isn't available.
Bumpers EXCELLENT No damage from the five and three mph blows from our basher.
Relaibility No data, new model. The Ford Festiva is a Mazda design. Mazdas built in Japan have proved quite reliable. But this Korean-made car has no track record on which to base predictions. Our Festiva chalked up eight defects attributable to sloppy assembly or incomplete dealer preperation. The driver's window came off its track. The climate control was out of adjustment, so the settings did not correspond to the control detents. The front wheels toed out instead of in. And we noted several exterior finish and interior trim flaws.
Engine Revs 60 mph 3170
0-30 5.1 Sec.
0-60 14.1 Sec.
mph at end of 1/4 mile 71
EPA MPG 38/40 City/Highway
CU's 195 mile trip 41 mpg
City driving 28 mpg
Expressway driving 47 mpg
Braking 60-0 no wheel lock 155 Ft
Acceleration: VERY GOOD Surprisingly peppy.
Transmission: EXCELLENT Shifting was easy, although reverse was sometimes stubborn. The gear ratios provide an effective combination of performance and economy. We felt no need for a fifth gear (standard on the LX model).
Economy: EXCELLENT Frugal. Approximately 37 mpg overall.
Routine Handling: VERY GOOD Responsive and competent. In tight turns, the Festiva tended to slide its front wheels outward a bit.
Emergency Handling: EXCELLENT Nimble. The Festiva negotiated CU's pylon course (a test representing abrubt accident avoidance maneuvers) at an exceptionally high speed. It was responsive and predictable in the hard turns of the test track.
Braking: EXCELLENT Top notch performance and very short stopping distance.
Ride: GOOD The typical small-car ride: jiggly on expressways (with occasional thumps from tar strips or pavement joints); more active on back roads, with choppy pitches and rocking motions. But, overall, motions were well controlled; large bumps caused no distress. A full load taxed the Festiva's suspension, and passengers suffered some jolts.
Noise: FAIR Moderately noisy on smooth highways; very noisy when driven on coarse pavement.
Driving Position: VERY GOOD Superior for a small sedan. Drivers sit tall, with an excellent view over a stubby, sloping hood. Head room is unusually generous, and legroom to the pedals is nearly adequate for a six footer. If the steering wheel weren't so high (it's not adjustable), the driving position would have been even better.
Front Seating VERY GOOD Chair high seats with firm support. Side contouring could have been stronger for better support against cornering forces. The angle of the seatbacks is adjustable. The uphlstery is cloth.
Rear Seating FAIR Two six foot tall riders fit into the rear seat, but not comfortably. The seat provided poor support. Rear seat access was about as easy as it gets in a small two door car. The Festiva's front passenger seat slides forward automatically when it's seat back is folded. To get out, rear passengers step on a pedal to scoot the front seat forward.
Heating VERY GOOD Primitive but adequate. Warm-up was quick, and the three speed fan, though noisy, produced a strong jet of warm air. Response to reducing the temperature was slow: As we moved the temperature slide toward cold, air volume was strangled to a feeble breath. Unlike domestic Fords. the Festiva has a Bilevel setting that provides unheated air from the dashboard vents and warmed air from the footwell registers. Windhsield and side-window defrosting was just satisfactory. The standard rear defroster ($267 on the basic L) worked slowly but thoroughly. A rear-window wiper/washer isn't available as an option on the L or L Plus.
Ventillation VERY GOOD Ample. Fresh-air flow from the dash vents can be boosted by the fan, but the air can't be warmed. Elimination of stale air wasn't a problem in the Festiva, but the rear quarter windows do tilt open for those who do not mind some extra noise with their fresh air.
Controls VERY GOOD A button on each of the two steering wheel spokes toots the horn (The horn should be in the center hub, as it is on most cars.) The heater labels are hidden by the control knob. For some drivers, the rim of the steering wheel hides the rear defroster switch. The glove compartment a small coin bin are the only storage areas.
Displays EXCELLENT On bight days, the orange on black guages lacked sufficient contrast. At night the panel lights must be dimmed so the guages don't reflect into the windshield.
Trunk FAIR The cargo area is small but expandable with some fuss (you have to slide the front seats forward to make room to do the job). The space is nicely finished except for an emergency wing nut holding the jack to the rear wall. There is no security panel in the L or L Plus models, and no cubbies or bins in any model. The open hatch lid stands about six feet high and has a sharp, protruding latch. A compact, limited-service spare resides in a shallow well under the floor. A full-service spare (not available as an option) would raise the floor an inch or so. Ford advises against trailer-towing with the Festiva.
Servicing EXCELLENT Straightforward. Ford provides a one-year or 12,000 mile basic warranty ; a six year or 60,000 mile powertrain warranty (with a $100 deductible), and a six year or 60,000 mile rust-perforation warranty.
Safety The seatbelts are comfortable to wear, but the rear belts are a struggle to get at: They're wedged into a cavity betwee the seat and the side of the car. All belts can secure any child safety seat, but a locking clip is required for the front passenger belt. The driver's view out is good, but a right outside mirror would make it better. It's not available for the L or L Plus. The Festiva, a new model, has not been crash-tested by the Government. Insurance data isn't available.
Bumpers EXCELLENT No damage from the five and three mph blows from our basher.
Relaibility No data, new model. The Ford Festiva is a Mazda design. Mazdas built in Japan have proved quite reliable. But this Korean-made car has no track record on which to base predictions. Our Festiva chalked up eight defects attributable to sloppy assembly or incomplete dealer preperation. The driver's window came off its track. The climate control was out of adjustment, so the settings did not correspond to the control detents. The front wheels toed out instead of in. And we noted several exterior finish and interior trim flaws.
Engine Revs 60 mph 3170
0-30 5.1 Sec.
0-60 14.1 Sec.
mph at end of 1/4 mile 71
EPA MPG 38/40 City/Highway
CU's 195 mile trip 41 mpg
City driving 28 mpg
Expressway driving 47 mpg
Braking 60-0 no wheel lock 155 Ft
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