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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  The Best - 2005 Mazda MPV
  By Wally Greer - August 22 - 9:53 am

  Tried to buy an 07 but found out Mazda quit importing these to the US. Bad mistake but my new 05 will do me fine. Mine was a dealer loaner and was like new. I put 250000 miles on my 94 MPV so I expect this one to do the same. This vehicle has everything in the same spot so there was no learning curve. Pulling a trailer is no problem. I use this for camping and everyday use, at 62" I find it roomy and very comfortable on long trips. The sticker said 25 mpg and I find this to be true even pulling a trailer. I get the same mileage in the city too. The middle seats are a snap to get out.

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  This minivan kicks ass!!! - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By mpvowner - August 16 - 2:00 am

  When I decided to trade in my 2001 CR-V for a minivan, I wanted to make sure I would get the ample space I needed, but without sacraficing the looks and reliability. Guess what? This van kicks its ass!!! Everything about it is fantastic. The side by slide seating,fold down rear bench seat,alloy wheels,CDplayer, and beautiful handling absolutely won me over. No other minivan can compare. Although I bought this primarily for my wife and kids, honestly i cant wait to get behind the wheel!!

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  2000 Mazda MPV - 2000 Mazda MPV
  By Tom Brosz - August 11 - 2:00 am

  For 3 kids under 10, this has been a good car. We have had it for 3 years. Many interior features make long trips easy. We have done some 1200 mi. in one day trips w/all 3 kids. Not really a lot of fun to drive, but moves people well and it was about $4,000 less than the Odyssey & Sienna and about the same price as a domestic. Interior easily configures by wife. No moving 60 pound seats. Havent had any serious mechanical problems except the front suspension after the wife ran into a curb.

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  Its really nice but could be great... - 2005 Mazda MPV
  By Aaron Strasswimmer - August 9 - 11:23 am

  My wife and I shopped for a minivan for over a year. We needed more seating space than our Saturn VUE provided us. We didnt want to get a van that was oversized so we focused on the MPV, Kia, Caravan and even considered the new Saturn Relay. After driving them we decided on the Mazda by a landslide. Weve taken it on a few trips now and it is very comfortable. I really cant tell why Edmunds says "clunky transmission." I havent found it to be that way at all. We would recommend it to anyone looking for seating of up to six regularly.

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  Zoom Zoom - 2005 Mazda MPV
  By Good MPV Van - July 31 - 5:53 pm

  Great MPV for its price. Paid about $20,500.00 for LX model with LX Plus pPackage and power sliding doors (great Needed option). Gets about 21 mpg on mixed hwy/city driving (35/65). It does not have clunky transmission problems as others have reported. Its slow to shift sometimes when you wanna pass people on the interstate. Solution, turn off the overdrive and bring it down to a 4 speed ... zoom zoom. Turns tightly on curves like a car. We picked this because the Toyota and Hondas were just too expensive -- $23,000/$26,000 for low end models. And because it gives a standard 4/50,000 warranty.

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  Zoom, Zoom - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By psc - July 22 - 2:00 am

  Test drove, plan to buy in summer. New engine is wonderful addition to already well concieved design. The right size for parking, carrying stuff and exploring. With or without the kids.

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  Van for Young at Heart - 2004 Mazda MPV
  By BRIAN KIRBY - July 2 - 5:53 am

  I bought this van for my wife for Christmas 04. She was against a minivan, except for a Mazda. We both agreed that it is the only van that looks even somewhat sporty. We have had NO problems with it of any kind. The only thing that can be annoying is the stiffer than normal ride. I can still deal with it though. It just mostly rattles change and other items stored in its many compartments. I am very pleased with the quality and value this van has provided. Definitely the best vehicle I have owned. Very smooth engine. Quick and sporty without a minivan sway and feel of bulk. Fuel mileage on the highway is actually better than my 2000 Ford Focus. The 5 speed auto helps keep revs down. GREAT VAN.

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  Sporty design and fun to drive - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By Acepsu94 - June 18 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I were interested in purchasing an Odyssey as our first van, but came across the MPV in the Consumer Report mag. Read and research this vehicle and was impressed by the reviews and safety features. The wife and I stopped by a local dealer and checked it out and my wife fell in love with it. A week later we bought it at dealer cost (try to negotiate below invoice - Dealer holdback of $459). I just can not stop loooking at our new van. The design ROCKS!!!!

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  LX plus - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By MJDU - June 18 - 10:00 am

  Recently purchased an LX and am very happy with it. I bought quite a few options. I also wanted leather but wasnt impressed by the factory leather on the ES so instead had dealer (via a contractor) install nicer quality leather for the same cost; did the same with the DVD -- had Circuit City install a more recent Audiovox unit (w/TV tuner) for about $300 less than dealer would have charged (despite buying a 5 yr. warranty).

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  Mazda van - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By John Madden - June 12 - 2:00 am

  This is the second Mazda Van we had. We had the 2000 and the 2003. the 2003 Has a better engine and 16 in tires which give it a better ride.this van is good for a small fam.