Overview & Reviews

Mazda wasn't the first to arrive at the modern minivan soiree in the 1980s -- that honor belongs to Chrysler. However, Mazda did shine (albeit briefly) as the guest that brought the most unusual gift to the party.

Introduced in 1989, the Mazda MPV did more than simply ape the competition. It was the first true minivan that was rough-weather-friendly, thanks to available all-wheel drive -- Mazda's marketing at the time played this up by calling the MPV the only "go anywhere" minivan on the market. It was also fairly compact and distinguished itself from the burgeoning minivan field with its right-side traditionally hinged rear door (as opposed to a sliding door). In addition, rear-wheel drive was standard. Powered by a four-cylinder or optional V6 engine, the MPV met with a warm response in its early years from both buyers and journalists. Its moment of glory was short-lived, however; by the mid-'90s, other minivans had sailed past the MPV in terms of handling, versatility and engine power.

A much-improved second generation of the Mazda MPV came in 2000. This van maintained its predecessor's bantam dimensions, but in almost every other respect, it was a new animal. Gone was the country-cousin awkwardness of the early MPV, replaced with a look that was more coiffed and urbane. The new minivan had a front-wheel-drive layout and more convenience features -- it also offered unique touches like roll-down windows in its sliding doors. These qualities won this Mazda a few new fans, but at the end of the day, the MPV still came up short in two areas that were of prime importance to most minivan buyers: power and interior room.

Waning sales made 2006 the end of the line for the Mazda MPV, but its "compact minivan" philosophy lives on (with better execution) in a recent addition to the Mazda fleet, the Mazda 5.

Most Recent Mazda MPV

By the time the turn of the century rolled around, the MPV needed help. Other vans like the Honda Odyssey had raised the bar in areas like feature content and performance, and Mazda's seven-passenger hauler was left lagging in the distance. The second-generation MPV was Mazda's effort to close the gap, and it went a long way toward making the minivan more competitive.

With this all-new, more attractive front wheel-drive MPV, Mazda discontinued the van's four-wheel-drive availability, and traded its hinged rear doors for sliding-door convenience. Its size remained constant, though, and the MPV continued to be the runt of the minivan litter; as a result, cargo capacity wasn't as generous as that of others in its class. However, the redesigned minivan made up for it with a wealth of unique features. Second-row captain's chairs were multiconfigurable, easily sliding fore and aft; they could also be positioned together for instant bench seating. The third-row bench seat could be readily folded into the floor. It could also be turned to face the tail end of the vehicle when the tailgate was up, in case its owner was ever invited to a soccer-mom tailgate party. It's worth noting, too, that the MPV's compact size had a silver lining -- it was one of the most maneuverable choices on the market.

Those who wanted the most affordable Mazda MPV could opt for the base DX trim, which offered 15-inch wheels, dual manual-sliding doors and a CD player. The next step up was the LX, which added full power accessories and cruise control, as well as center and overhead consoles. Keyless entry was yours to enjoy with the ES trim, along with leather upholstery, 16-inch wheels and heated mirrors. Options included rear air-conditioning, a power moonroof and a CD changer. Power sliding doors were not available, however.

Mazda took steps to address the first-generation MPV's lack of power by installing a standard 2.5-liter V6 good for 170 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque; this V6 was wedded to a four-speed transmission. This engine was an improvement, but Mazda hadn't gone far enough -- the MPV still felt underpowered relative to its rivals.

Mazda did its part to keep the van current, lavishing it with updates over the years. The MPV got a power upgrade in 2002 via a 3.0-liter 200-hp V6 and a five-speed automatic transmission. That year, MPV buyers could also enjoy the blissful convenience of the van's new power sliding doors; other 2002 upgrades included available 17-inch alloys, traction control, a refined braking system and revised suspension tuning. In addition, the DX trim was dropped that year, leaving just the LX and ES.

In 2003, a new base-model trim joined the lineup -- the LX-SV -- and a rear DVD entertainment system appeared on the options list. (A VHS-based system was offered in 2001 alone.) The LX-SV model disappeared (temporarily) in 2004. Also that year, the Mazda MPV also got revised front-end styling, a rear air-conditioner and four-wheel disc brakes.

In reviews, our editors agreed that the Mazda MPV was a stylish-looking vehicle and a respectable choice for small families who desired a vehicle that was bigger than most station wagons, yet still more maneuverable than larger competing minivans. Plus, the MPV had a coolness to it that other family haulers were hard-pressed to match: Get this youthful van side by side with its sedate competitors, and the contrast is what you'd see if a twentysomething crashed a party at a retirement home. And in more practical moments, the MPV's multiconfigurable seats lent it a great deal of versatility.

However, the van was stymied by its lack of power relative to the competition; our editors noted that minivans by Honda and Toyota easily managed freeway maneuvers that the MPV struggled to accomplish. Acceleration wasn't helped by the MPV's five-speed transmission, which had a tendency to upshift too quickly in certain situations. And though the MPV scored top marks in government crash tests, safety was an issue, since the van didn't offer common minivan features like stability control or side curtain airbags.

Past Mazda MPVs

The first-generation MPV lived from 1989-'98 and distinguished itself from its rivals with features like available all-wheel drive and slight dimensions. The model's traditionally hinged passenger-side rear door opened wide and helped give the vehicle a clean look, but it lacked the functionality of other minivans' sliding rear doors. Originally, Mazda offered a 2.6-liter, 121-hp four-cylinder engine with either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic. Optional was a 150-hp 3.0-liter V6. The van had seating for up to seven passengers.

Mazda made a few upgrades over the years. In 1992, eight-passenger seating became available and the manual transmission was dropped. In 1993, a driver-side airbag was added; for '95, the V6 engine became standard. Versatility was enhanced for 1996 when Mazda added a driver-side rear door; the MPV was, in fact, one of the first minivans to have four doors.

Though always distinctive, this generation of the Mazda MPV was outclassed by the early '90s. Many shoppers at the time found the vans from Chrysler or Dodge more appealing due to their more useful interior designs and extra power and convenience features.

User Reviews:

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  Mada MPV ES - 2004 Mazda MPV
  By good_luck - December 17 - 10:00 am

  the price value for money. we compared this with a Sienna, and we find there is a $7000 difference (incl the premium we have to pay to the dealer). Over all - very satisfactory.

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  Great van - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By medicineman - December 15 - 10:00 am

  With 2 growing kids we needed more room than our Altima had to give. We looked at all the minivans rated with good reliability and it was down to this or the Honda. The Honda dealers wont deal at all and the Oddity was bigger than I wanted. It looked like it wouldnt fit in the garage very well. The MPV is the perfect size. The 200 HP engine is very responsive for a van. It handles great, you almost forget it is a minivan.

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  Zoom,Zoom,Zoom - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By loconn11 - November 26 - 10:00 am

  I now have the sports van since April 29th. I have 600 miles on her. I am dying to take a long distance drive but it rains here in the northeast every weekend. I paid $21,300 for the LX. The ride is solid and so far the transmission feels SUVie (I guess since it is from the Tribute) Excellent acceleration and handling. It is a sharp looking vehicle and I am frequently stopped and asked questions. Considering all the other minis are around 30K this is a great value.

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  I love my new MPV! - 2005 Mazda MPV
  By New MPV Owner - November 19 - 2:50 am

  I love the sporty look of MPV and its so much fun to drive. Much safer than an SUV and it doesnt look like a "Mommy Mobile."

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  I Cant Complain - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By wiz8mom - November 16 - 12:37 am

  We purchased our MPV used in 2005 with about 45,000 miles on it. With an extended warranty, we paid total about $11,000. It now has 227,000 miles on it (365,000km). We had to have the transmission replaced at 95K miles, but it was covered under our extended warranty. We had coils replaced at one point, and a couple of other repairs around the $300 mark. Regular oil changes and routine maintenance (brakes, trans. fluid, etc), this van has kept chugging along. Along with daily driving, we drove from Auburn, WA to B.C. Canada twice a week for 2 years (6 hours round trip), while hauling 2 drums, harnesses, 2 sets of bagpipes, and 4 teenagers, 2 adults. We averaged 22-24 hwy mpg

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  One of best cars Ive ever driven - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By mazda_guy - November 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car a month ago. This is one of the best cars I ever had. Very quiet even at high speeds. At 80 MPH engine rev at only 2300 RPM. Plenty of power with 200 HP. Great acceleration.

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  So far, so good - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By BacktoMinivan - November 7 - 10:00 am

  Coming from a fully loaded V8 Explorer, I am missing some nice little features like puddle lamps, auto on/off lights, and, strangely, door lock button on passenger side. But overall, Im happy. Didnt want a minivan but this is a good compromise if you need one. Size-wise, it drives about the same as the Explorer, except without the bumpiness. I dont notice the power loss coming from a V8 too much. The air conditioner is already making a rattling noise, so Im hoping that turns out okay.

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  MPV is nearly perfect - 2004 Mazda MPV
  By John C. Pratt - October 29 - 10:00 am

  The MPV is by far the sexiest minivan on the road, and it has plenty of room in all rows. The controls are awesome, and the shift lever over the air conditioning is not a problem. Acceleration is great even with only 200 HP. I wouldnt say it corners like a car, but it does corner well and takes bumps with hardly a twitch that make my Nissan Sentra shudder. The controls on the steering wheel are fabulous and the wheel itself is very comfortable to hold. See Favorite Features below for more compliments. My main gripe: mileage is 15/21, although Im still tweaking the tire pressure.

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  Mazda MPV - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By indricothere - October 23 - 10:00 am

  I bought an 02 MPV and I thouroughly love it. Very nice styling,it is just the right size for kids. It drives and feels like a car, and is much more responsive than dodge,ford, chevrolet. It also is a good used deal, not as expensive as the pricier Honda, and Toyota with comparible options. The optional sliding doors have been perfect and very convient. The ES is nice with leather. I was most impressed with the second row seating options. I never thought I would enjoy a minvan however, I love this one.

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  What a great deal!! - 2004 Mazda MPV
  By ldl20 - October 23 - 10:00 am

  The wife and I finally purchased one after two years of mulling it over. We couldnt pass up the deal--LX with 4-seasons, Traction-side airbags, LX Plus, roof rack, for $20,500 plus tax, and 3.9% financing. Its ride is unlike any other minivans. In fact, the suspension is downright firm (surprising, almost BMW-ish?), and it handles great. On top of that, its the best looking mini out there, inside and outside. The size is just right, power is just right, and Im glad I made the purchase. P.S.--did they change the console from 03 to 04? The gear shift lever only blocks the temp wheel and a/c button--it never blocks the radio for me.