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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  SWEET - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By PINMAN - September 6 - 2:00 am

  NOT THE BIGGEST MINIVAN OUT THERE, BUT THE PERFORMANCE AND HANDLING ARE EXCELLENT. THE HIDE AWAY THIRD SEAT CREATES A NICE CARGO AREA. MY WIFE SWORE UP AND DOWN SHE WOULD NEVER BUY A MINIVAN, NOW SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVES THIS VEHICLE !!! WE SPRUNG FOR SOME OF THE EXTRAS, POWER DOORS, IN DASH CD CHANGER, WHICH PUSHED THE PRICE A LITTLE HIGH (THE WIFE HAD TO HAVE LEATHER...) BUT THE BASE MODEL IS AN EXCELLENT VALUE VEHICLE.

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  Sportscar of Minivans - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By Eileen Gallagher - September 5 - 9:20 pm

  Have been driving this great little minivan for the last 2.5 yrs. Excellent for kids, roadtrips, hauling stuff. Drives beautifully: smooth, good pick-up (even on steep mountain passes), nice ride, and really can corner on those curves. Plenty of room for 64" son and many more. Very dependable mechanically, no big repair disasters like other vehicles I have owned. Probably the nicest car Ive ever had.

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  MAZDA MPV - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By t walsh - August 31 - 2:00 am

  Comfortable on long trips. Good seating position reduces fatigue. The automatic side sliding door make putting an infant in the car much easier. Good handling. Good looks for a minivan. The interior is simple with good fit and finish. I drove a 1889 MPV to 210,000 mile with few problems. It was a rare 5 speed, manual transmission. I got 170,000 mile out of the original clutch. I hope the new one will repeat this reliability.

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  Sauna in the Summer - 2005 Mazda MPV
  By Mom Parker - August 21 - 8:56 am

  We bought the MPV when we were expecting our first child. We were very pleased at first until we realized that the van was not equipped with rear air vents. There are four vents for the entire van. The summers in the south are brutal. We can no longer make our children endure the heat with no air vents. Needless to say we are now in the process of finding a new vehicle. Aside from that we are pleased. The only other complaint is the driver side window motor had to be replaced. We have put 36,400 miles on it and it still is going strong.

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  Love This Minivan - 2006 Mazda MPV
  By stellabludream - August 19 - 10:30 am

  Used to have SUVs and sedans; with 2 kids needed something bigger - OMG! a van! NO WAY I thought. Loved this one for style, features, price, not a gargantuan van. Drove Honda and Toyota too big and too pricey. This one is just right size for city and Handles like a dream! Everyone is happy now in this van. LOVE the dual sliding doors and section controled air. Never thought Id say it but I just love this thing! Wish they would bring it back. The Mazda 5 is just too small for us with pets and relatives aboard.

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  Problems, problems, problems! - 2000 Mazda MPV
  By PAH - August 14 - 10:00 am

  I have had nothing but problems with my van from the check engine light constantly coming on and off (And it isnt because of the gas cap which has been replaced as well as the entire fuel line), replacing tires 4 times (!) and no one can tell me why, the passenger back door malfunctions, the seats are uncomfortable on long trips, and the Mazda dealership has been difficult to deal with. I cant wait to unload this thing!

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  Great Minivan - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By gem76_girl - August 7 - 10:00 am

  This mini van a great mini van with a good price. Our first choice was the over priced Honda Odyssey. After reviewing all of the mini vans on the market we came across the MPV. I believe it is the most comparable to the Honda Odyssey with a better price.

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  Very well executed... - 2005 Mazda MPV
  By Jeff Nyquist - August 6 - 10:10 am

  I did a lot of shopping in the minivan arena and while I liked the Sienna, I didnt like the price. The 05 Odysseys were just out, but again very pricey for what you get. I drove both the Honda and the Toyota, fully expecting to buy the Toyota. While I thought both were great vehicles, it was ultimately my test drive of the MPV which put me into the Mazda camp for good. Felt great to drive, good power and flexible interior. Ive owned a Miata for years and it has been the most reliable vehicle Ive ever owned... Im counting on the same with my MPV. Previously Id owned a Chrysler T&C and put over 120k miles on it; what a piece of garbage.

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  Love my minivan - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By Jilene - August 2 - 2:00 am

  This has been a great trouble free vehicle.

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  Nice Minivan - 2000 Mazda MPV
  By Bad Dog - July 31 - 10:00 am

  I am not a big fan of minivans. But as minivans go, this one is ok. It was well designed with some nice features that werent common when this was new (dual sliding passenger doors with electric windows, slide over middle seat, back seat folds down into the floor or folds back to make a tailgate seat, etc). The stereo system is nice for a factory stereo too. It has run well and we have had no problems with it at all. I would highly recommend the MPV ... if you HAVE to have a minivan.