The Ford Festiva does 33.7 mpg combined (31 city, 38 highway), which works out to about $1,139 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Ford Festiva engine, compared
The Ford Festiva was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3L 4-cyl | 31 / 38 | 1988–1993 | $1,139 |
What that actually costs
The Ford Festiva burns a gallon every 33.7 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 356 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.095 |
| Fuel per year | $1,139 |
| Fuel over five years | $5,695 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$355 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $1,867 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Ford Festiva gives up 7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 38 out there against 31 in town, a 23% drop worth $228 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 31 mpg | $1,239 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 38 mpg | $1,011 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7 mpg (23%) | Typical for its type |
How the Festiva changed over the years
The Festiva peaked in 1989 at 35 mpg (33 city, 39 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1993 at 33 — 2 mpg apart, or $67 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1993 car does 33. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 30 / 38 | 1 | $1,164 | |
| 1992 | 30 / 37 | 1 | $1,164 | |
| 1991 | 30 / 38 | 1 | $1,164 | |
| 1990 | 30 / 37 | 1 | $1,164 | |
| 1989 | 33 / 39 | 1 | $1,097 | |
| 1988 | 33 / 39 | 1 | $1,097 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 6 EPA ratings of the Ford Festiva — 1 engine across 1988–1993. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $1,867. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Ford Festiva get?
33.7 mpg combined on average — 31 in the city and 38 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1988–1993.
How much does a Ford Festiva cost in fuel per year?
About $1,139 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $5,695 over five years, or 0.095 dollars a mile.
Which Festiva engine is the most economical?
The 1.3L 4-cyl at 33.7 mpg.
Is the Festiva good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Festiva figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Ford Festiva is $1,867 against the $1,139 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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