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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  Luv my 2000 MPV LX - 2000 Mazda MPV
  By Alex - June 17 - 4:16 pm

  First time minivan owner. I really like the flexibility of the seats. I threw a party for my 5 year old and had to borrow chairs from my dad. I removed the 2 second row seats and folded down the 3rd row seat. I was able to haul 50 plastic stacking chairs, 2 six foot plastic tables, 1 large ice cooler, and 8 steam pan holders. Removable seats were fairly light. If you are offered one for under $10,000 with less than 70K miles then go for it!

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  2003 MPV ES - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By Jay Burkman - June 11 - 2:00 am

  I currently work for a multi-brand dealership that carries Ford, Mazda, Isuzu and Hyundai. I reviewed every model in this class of vehicle and found that for the money, I could not a better van with more options. The look and ride of this van almost make you forget you are driving a "mini-van"!

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  nice car so far - 2005 Mazda MPV
  By topcatken - June 5 - 10:34 pm

  I bought this a few months ago with 53,000 miles on it. Except for a vacuum hose which was expensive, it is serving us well. The vehicle is easy to handle because it is smaller but easy to adjust for different uses. Rear seat folds down into floor or you can flip it back for tailgating. Has a/c vents front and rear, seats 7 and is easy getting in and out. Have driven it back and forth across west Texas twice now and did what I asked it to do.

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  Good choice for small families. - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By JJJA - June 5 - 10:00 am

  The MPV is a best bet for a small family. The pick-up and handling are car-like and spritely for a minivan. The interior is simple, flexible and functional. Standard alloy wheels look good and help in gas mileage. The real opening windows on the sliding doors give the dog some air.

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  Unknown Gem - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By MMG - June 5 - 10:00 am

  The worthwhile trade-off for less interior space is manuverability and handling. Features are useful but not excessive. (How many cupholders do you really need?) Compared to the lauded Odyssey and Chrysler vans, one wonders whether the automotive press (Edmunds included)assigns too much significance to size. Granted, size is what draws many to vans, but the 7/8 scale MPV is more than adequate for many. Plus, it has great reliability (beats the Odyssey and Sienna in the latest Consumer Reports survey) and sells for thousands under list. Do not be a sheep; there is life beyond the Odyssey.

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  I love my VAn - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By LAinee - May 31 - 10:00 am

  its been great. i have never had any issues with this car and the kids love it!

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  2003 MPV ES - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By 2003 MPV ES - May 31 - 10:00 am

  I have driven nothing but Honda Accord EXs for the last 10 years and as such was waiting for the Honda Oddy price to come down to a reasonable level. Well that day apparently will never happen and as such I purchased for an incredible price a Metallic Silver MPV ES with ground effects, etc. Two days later we packed up the family for a 2 hour journey for some R&R and this vehicle was great. Cruised and handled effortlessly at 80 to 90 mph, the kids were comfy and all our stuff fit easily. I just hope that is as reliable as my Accords which both were into the 100,000+ mile range with no major part failures.

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  The Perfect GUV (golf utility vehicle) - 2005 Mazda MPV
  By retiredgolfer - May 27 - 12:43 pm

  Im retired and the primary use for my vehicle is to take me and my buddies to and from golf. Ive had a pickup for years, but decided I wanted something that would keep the clubs/carts inside and have the capability to carry more than 2 golfers in comfort. Tried several different SUVs and smaller station wagons but none had adequate cargo capacity for my needs. Tried some other minivans but they seemed too big or too pricey. Stumbled on the MPV and found it perfect at the right price!

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  Kid Hauler - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By CRSMP5 - May 25 - 2:00 am

  I was very reluctant to buy a mini- van. Now that I have owned it for 6 months I couldnt be more happy that I purchased it. The electric sliding doors are a major convienance with 2 kids. There is a plenty of room for all your needs when you fold down the 3rd row seat. Good feel when cornerning and has car-like to drive to it. Great alternative if you would rather spend 20k instead of 30k plus for Toyota or Honda.

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  great minvan - 2004 Mazda MPV
  By heiusa - May 18 - 2:00 am

  this is a very good minivan, we love ours. we had a nissan quest before and this is even better!