1996 Ford Contour Review

Ford executives, after adding more room to the 1996 Contour, can stop sulking about media criticism that last year's model wasn't roomy enough for a four-door family sedan.

The Contour, which was new for 1995, has a 106.5-inch wheelbase--nearly the same as the wheelbase of most mid-size sedans. While the media gave the European-style car generally high marks, it said the rear seat was best suited to kids.

Angry Ford officials argued that most compact-sedan buyers plunk kids, not adults, in the back. But the media said Contour rivals had a roomier back seat and that the front-wheel-drive car's new design should allow more rear room.

Part of the problem is that the $13,785-$16,170 Contour is derived from Ford Motor's European Mondeo. That model easily accommodates the generally smaller European physique, but many Americans are bigger than Europeans.

So for 1996, Ford addresses the Contour criticism by scooping out the back of the new model's front seats to give rear occupants one more inch of leg room.

The rear seat area of the $16,170 Contour SE I drove adequately accommodates two 6-footers. But there still is comfortable space only for a child behind a tall driver--if the driver adjusts his seat for maximum comfort.

Also, while the thick side bolsters on the SE's bucket seats offer great support, occupants who are on the heavy side may find the seats confining.

The SE is the sportiest Contour, with sport suspension, performance tires on handsome alloy wheels, rear spoiler, leather-wrapped steering wheel and four-wheel disc brakes--instead of the inferior front disc/rear drum brake setup.

Also, the SE has the best Contour engine--a smooth 2.5-liter V-6, with double overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder instead of the usual two.

The 170-horsepower V-6 is about a $1,000 option for the base GL and mid-range LX Contour models. They come with a standard dual-camshaft, 125-horsepower four-cylinder, which is fine for errand-running and commuting.

Ford says most Contours are ordered with the decent--if somewhat noisy--2-liter four-cylinder and optional ($815) four-speed automatic transmission, mainly for reasons of price and convenience.

That's too bad, because the Contour is faster and quieter with the 2.5-liter V-6 and standard five-speed manual. The V-6 with the manual whisks the Contour SE from 0-60 m.p.h. in 8.5 seconds and provides quick merges into traffic and fast passes on two-lane highways. However, hard acceleration from a standing start on slippery pavement causes front-end shudder and steering wheel shake.

The V-6 turns over at nearly 3,000 r.p.m. in fifth gear. That means the engine is in the right power band to allow the Contour to pass at 65 m.p.h. most of the time without the driver's needing to downshift to fourth gear.

The manual transmission shifts fairly smoothly and is much improved over the balky manual in the 1995 Contour. If one must have the convenience of the Contour's crisp-shifting automatic, the V-6 works better with it than the smaller four-cylinder. Moreover, Ford says the V-6 can go 100,000 miles between tune-ups with regular fluid and filter changes.

Fuel economy is important to many compact car buyers. With the V-6 and manual, the Contour delivers an estimated 21 m.p.g. in the city and 31 on highways. The four-cylinder/automatic combination provides 23 and 32.

All Contours generate a fair amount of road noise, but are fun to drive. They have the sharp steering, nimble handling, good brakes and supple ride one finds with many European sedans. The SE's V-6, sport suspension and wider tires make it a definite motoring kick.

The Contour has rigid construction and a well-designed dashboard. All models have dual air bags, power steering, reclining seats, AM/FM radio, console, dual mirrors and a fold-down rear seat to provide more cargo area. The car offers plenty of cargo room in its easily loaded trunk, even with the rear seat in its normal position.

The $14,470 LX model adds heated power mirrors, console with armrest and cup holders, tachometer and cassette player.

Some drivers of 1995 Contours with power door locks found themselves inadvertently locking its doors when their elbows accidentally hit the interior power door lock assembly. So the assembly has been modified for 1996 to avoid contact with a driver's elbow.

Ford clearly is reacting quickly to criticism of the Contour, which racked up sales of 174,214 units last year despite media criticism. That compares with combined sales of 135,993 cars for its most direct U.S. rivals, the also-new-for-1995 Chrysler Cirrus and Dodge Stratus.

The improved 1996 Contour might do even better.