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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  For a niche buyer - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By sugoiya - October 8 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car out of pure necessity. I couldnt wedge anything bigger into the underground parking stall for our condo. The new 300hp V6 gives it a surprising zip when passing or driving on hills, and the smaller wheel base provides excellent maneuverability on our narrow city roads. The folding 3rd row seat was also an important feature to me since I dont have a garage. The trade off for the MPVs small size comes at the expense of passenger comfort, especially for the poor souls sitting in the third row. Definitely unsuitable for long commutes.

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  consider MPV its a 9.9 for us! - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By matluoma - October 8 - 2:00 am

  excellent van & worth it! dont just take my word for it - you should consider this van. no concerns about power & torque. (hp to weight ratio is awesome - so dont just compare hp to hp...0

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  Stay clear of this vehicle! - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By Jim Barnes - October 4 - 2:00 am

  I have had engine oil leaking problems since I bought this van in May 2003. I have learned recently that Mazda has issued an advisory that the particular V-6 used in the MPV had a faulty die that was miscasting engine block parts that cause seals to leak where the cam housing meets the block. This vehicle has been a service nightmare. Mazda is currently trying to fix the problem at their dealers. Catalytic converters and O2 sensors have also been faulty and have had to be replaced. I am currently applying for Lemon Law status with the State of Florida and have appealed for replacement by the dealer.

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  Makes the transition to a mini-van easy! - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By indykoch - October 2 - 10:00 am

  I had a Protege in high school, a Miata STO before the child, and now an MPV - Mazda has treated me good! I never thought Id own a mini-van, but the wife obviously had more input. I must say Im quite impressed! This is easily the best looking, best engineered, fun to drive (I know, its still a mini-van) van on the market. Its a bit on the small side at times, but that was one of its attractive features, and we knew it from the start. It makes the transition from sports cars to mini-vans easier to digest. By far... the best choice!

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  Reliability - 2004 Mazda MPV
  By Guy Lafleur - September 30 - 10:00 am

  I have had the MPV for two years now. No issues whatsoever. Great van for the family. Great vehicule in the snow (I am Canadian). I am a "car guy" and have had many cars this is by far the best. Bottom line...if you are thinking of getting one Just get it! You wont regret it. Mazda has really improved , so much so that Ill be getting the Mazda 6.

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  cool van - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By AZ driver - September 27 - 10:00 am

  Needed more room and versatility. Tried the Sienna but was unimpressed for the price. MPV met our needs and with cash back incentive, we got a lot for our money. Dealership was very easy to deal with during purchase. Have only had for 2 weeks, so cant really comment on reliability. Could use more storage bins (lose one in back due to additl speakers in ES). Could also use a place to put jumper cables etc...without having to remove when reconfiguring back seat (Honda has a little recessed area to put these items w/net).

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  Great Mini-Van - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By Animator - September 27 - 10:00 am

  Love the interior layout and body styling. I know its a minivan but, it does have a sporty look. It drives great. Appears to have plenty of power. Ive had it loaded with passengers and it drove as if there was only the driver. I got a great deal. You would think you would see more MPVs on the road. Fun to drive and easy to park.

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  Zoom-Zoom and Quality - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By texasjps - September 15 - 2:00 am

  We replaced our 2001 MPV with a 2003. The only reason we upgraded was to get the new 3.0L V6. The previous 2.5L V6 did OK in our Texas flatlands, but when we took it to the mountains in Colorado it was a strain to get up the slopes (especially loaded with luggage). Our 2001 was perfect other than the engine, and we expect the same with the 2003. This makes our 4th Mazda (2 626s and 2 MPVs) theyve all been rock-solid reliable and last many years and many miles, plus they are exciting to drive (even the minivan). Weve owned a Honda, Chevys, Chryslers, Mazdas, and Nissans. Mazdas and Nissans are all I will consider now.

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  Satisfaction - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By rj557 - September 4 - 10:00 am

  We looked at the Caravan (boring, pricey), the Venture (ugly, pricey), the Sedona (boring, inferior), the Montana (ugly, pricey) and the MPV (sharp, solid, good value), which one do you think we purchased? Good guess. We bought our MPV last week and we absolutely love it! Its a 2003 with silver metallic paint, rear air, roof rack and rear bumper step, the MSRP was $24,500.00 we paid $22,300.00 minus the $2000.00 rebate and our trade-in. Not only is this the best looking mini van available, it feels solid, rides great, the engine is so quiet we cant tell when its running, the interior is beutiful and functional and it handles really well.

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  Drive like a sportscar & the best look!! - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By RaymondandSally - September 4 - 10:00 am

  I was considering both new Quest and MPV, the MPV handling is amazing since I am used to the firm suspension of my Mazdaspeed Protege, I like how the MPV gives me feedback of the road. It feels sporty and speed from 0-60 in no time. There is lot of driving pleasure even with family members and friends. It is a 7 seater sportscar!! Fuel economy is pretty good, about 20.9 per gallon on avg. I push the paddle a lot!