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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  Mazda MPV LX - 2004 Mazda MPV
  By van dad - April 3 - 2:00 am

  We purchased this van for the family. Our 61" son is very comfortable inside and it handles like a dream. Dash panel controls are easy to manipulate and the radio/cruise buttons on the steering wheel are a great plus. We LOVE this vehicle! The ride is extremely quiet.

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  New to the minivan - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By prlamz - April 2 - 7:20 pm

  We now have 600 miles on our new MPV and feel very good about our choice so far. We had planned on buying an Odyssey but, luckily, did not find one in time. We were a little anxious to drive a behemoth. The MPV feels like a car. It takes less place in our garage than the Volvo station wagon it replaces. The power of the engines makes us long for a manual transmission.

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  Good Quality - 2004 Mazda MPV
  By Edco - April 2 - 4:40 am

  Overall the MPV is good quality but a very hard ride. Having struts instead of shocks makes a big difference in the ride. I get only 21mpg on the road and about 17 in town. The short wheel base also contributes to the harder ride. On a 10 scale I would give the MPV a 7

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  Zoom Zoom in this sporty mini-van - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By Turp - March 27 - 10:00 am

  We never considered a mini-van before. We were headed for a mini-SUV but got side tracked on mini-vans. This van is sporty . It is well designed and with alot of bang for the buck. It rides and handles great on a suspension that is sure and sporty while quietly soaking up the bumps. The engine is very quiet has very good power and torque. The interior has ample room and is nicely flexable. With this on the market why consider a 2WD suv.

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  2002 MPV - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By Steveeee - March 27 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned my 2002 MPV for 4 months and love it. I considered every minivan and ended up with the MPV for its sporty look, feel and drive, considering its a minivan. Its smaller and easier to maneuver for my wife and handles better than any minivan out there.

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  The best small minivan out there! - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By Saxoplay - March 20 - 2:00 am

  This is my 2nd MPV....first one was a 2000 model. I liked it a lot....my only complaint was the lack of power. So upon reading that the 2002 models would have a 3.0L engine, I decided to upgrade. The extra power and the powered sliding doors (I have small children how dont like closing doors when dropped off at school) were worth the upgrade.

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  A great Minvan - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By mjhenny - March 15 - 2:00 am

  We owned a Chrysler T&C LX (2000) before buying this 03 Mazda MPV. The Chrysler was a POS, and time will tell with the Mazda, but it seems like a great decision to purchase this. The Mazda really does drive more like a car than a van - so much better acceleration, brakes, handling, and steering than the Chrysler- very solid and impressive. The backseat is not meant for adults to sit in for long (not enough leg support), but it is great for kids, and folds into the floor. The middle seats slide together or stay apart as quads. Its worth the test drive - I didnt think wed have a chance of buying it, but looking at it and an driving convinced me.

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  The best one for our $$$ - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By mpvowner2 - March 15 - 2:00 am

  This is our first Mini Van. Really worth for the money paid. We looked at Honda and Toyota but let go becos of the pricing and availablity. So far this van is fun to drive

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  Excellent van so far. - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By mayday2 - March 3 - 10:00 am

  We didnt want a huge van, so we tried the MPV. It has many of the same features as the Odyssey, but smaller and less cost. We have take a couple of trips and driven it around town, and it has performed very well so far. It also handles nice for a mini-van, and the interior feels bigger than it looks.

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  Love my van - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By Texan on the go - March 3 - 10:00 am

  It is fun safe, and spaces the kids out well to eliminate fighting! Manuvers great, love the looks, upohlstery is like a luxury car! I had Toyotas for a long time, and they kept getting cheaper, and breaking. So glad I investigated vans on this site and others for 6 months, and choose this one. The paint doesnt come off from bugs like all the Toyotas, and the ride is smooth