Talk:Ford Festiva

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As far as I know, the first generation Festiva was only built by Mazda and Kia - and never Ford in the US. Could someone comfirm this? --Zilog Jones 03:19, 7 January 2006 (UTC)

I believe this is correct, but I can't recall any reliable source for it. —Matthew Brown (T:C) 04:20, 7 January 2006 (UTC)
Also, is it true to believe they were all built by Mazda until 1992? I know Mazda stopped building them in 1992, but I'm not sure exactly when Kia started. --Zilog Jones 17:24, 7 January 2006 (UTC)
My 1989 US Model Ford Festiva was "MFD. BY KIA MOTORS CO. FOR FORD MOTORS CO." according to the sticker in the drivers door area. I belive the Chilton's Manual also shows that Festiva/Aspires were always made by Kia for the US Market (including engines) if someone wants to look it up. It also starts with a K in the VIN for Korea. The Auto manuals also have Festiva and Aspire together (Haynes and Chilton's) as the same design, the Aspire was a completely different BODY, not new internal design. I think they should be merged. Christopher Poole 5 April 2006
It wasn't just a new body it was a new updated chassis. The driveline was the same.
No Festiva or Aspire was ever built in the United States, all were imported from Korea.


Festivas existed from 1988 to 1993 in the United States. The Aspire is a compltely different car than what is generally known as the Festiva (except in areas where it's referred to as the Festiva Trio) and thusly there's no point in merging the article. 199.218.242.62 17:30, 9 March 2006 (UTC)


Hey, the top picture is of an Aspire, which is basically a newer festiva, but not the same production line. Festiva stopped in 1993. I own a ford festiva, and in answer to the kia question, yes, it says on the door panel that the ENGINE is made by Kia Motors...


All American Ford Festivas & Aspires were made in Korea by Kia with Mazda B3 1.3L engines. Ford was part owner of Kia at the time. The Aspire is a second generation Festiva and the Kia Rio is the third generation (up to 2005). Ford simply renamed the newly redesigned car the Aspire in America although they still used the Festiva name elsewhere. Kia is now owned by Hyundai and no longer builds cars for Ford or Mazda, which is still owned by Ford. Also, Kia still built and sold the original Festiva as the Kia Pride until the year 2000.

As far as the United States and Canada, the Ford Aspire is a different car and needs a separate entry from the Festiva. But in other English speaking countries such as Australia a Ford Aspire is in fact a Ford Festiva so there is going to be overlap in the articles.

Does anyone know if the car was ever built in Japan then? It seems to have been sold there since 1986 anyway --Zilog Jones 17:48, 18 April 2006 (UTC)
From what I have read Japaneese Festivas and Mazda 121 were produced by Mazda in Japan. Most of the rest of the world Festiva/Pride were produced by Kia in Korea --Christopher Poole 28 April 2006
In Chilton Manuals, the Festiva (body and engine) are installed by Kia. However, the engine has certain parts that are built by mazda then shipped to kia to be assembled in the car. the entire body of the car (its frame) is built by kia. In contrast to the Aspire, the entire engine is built and manufactured by kia along with its body. Design for the Aspire was also created by kia; not mazda.


In Australia, the last models were known as Ford Festiva Trio and had DOHC 1.5L engines with MPI replacing the TBI SOHC 1.3L models. I beleive this was to comply with more stringent EC regulations (?). The bodies and trim appear identical. 203.39.81.92 (talk) 09:00, 22 November 2007 (UTC)

Actually the article is incorrect in stating that Mazda built all the RHD models. They made the first generation which was basically identical to the Mazda 121 sold in Australia. When the Mazda 121 went to the 'bubble' shape, they continued to import the old 'square box' model, rebadging it as the Festiva first generation, also bringing out a four door model. The second generation Festiva was always a Kia as far as I know see used car review: http://www.rentalpath.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=9407&vf=18 My daughter in law owns a mark 1 four door and my son has just bought a mark 2 two door, which is definitely a Kia. Ford lost the model in the early 90s when Kia (who had been purchased by Hyundai in 1998 - see Wiki article on Kia) started to sell the Rio in the Australian market and Ford had to basically walk away from the small car market in Australia until they started importing the more expensive Fiesta from Spain/Germany. As a stopgap they brought out the Ka to Australia which was a total flop --MichaelGG (talk) 13:17, 17 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Overhaul

I Gave this article a complete overhaul. Karrmann 21:12, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

I removed "the Yugo quickly fell due to alleged reliability problems, and that left the Festiva nearly monopolizing the market, with the 4 door Dodge Omni being its only real competition, until the introduction of the aerodynamically styled Geo Metro in 1989" because it's not really true. The Festiva had lots of competition, lots of automakers had a small subcombat car in the class of the Festiva, ie Sprint, Tercel, Colt, Micra, Justy. The Geo Metro is just another name for the Chevy Sprint, which was sold from 1985. Edrigu 18:50, 26 September 2006 (UTC)