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 - 2004 Mazda MPV
  By HoJo - December 29 - 2:00 am

  Excellent road holding and ride. Powerful V6 2.5L. Ample cargo and passenger space for a small family. All in all much better than any of the other similar sized vans on the market. The cargo space is VERY versatile. I like the way the third row seats fold half down and tip over to make a tailgate seat for the ball games and the beach. My vehicle was fully imported from Japan and has that Japanese attention to detail and quality that others only wish they had.

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  Not Perfect, But still the best - 2000 Mazda MPV
  By Zoomie Stopper - December 27 - 10:00 am

  Original owner of the van. After almost two years I have managed to pile up 38k easy miles. Power/Transmission: The engine, a Ford Duratec 2.5L V6, has been very reliable, a little noisey and slightly underpowered. Handling/Ride: Better than most cars, Very satisfying! Wind noise is a little elevated at highway speed but not terrible. Versatility: Flip under third row seat is AWESOME! In my opinion, a must have. This lets you carry ALL your stuff to Grandma and Grandpas and still haul the grand parents around when you get there. Bottom Line: Still happy with my purchase.

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  Family Zoom Zoom ? - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By Needed Room - December 27 - 10:00 am

  This was the 1st minivan we have purchased. It came down to this or the Honda. Didnt need as much room as the Honda had, so didnt warrant the price difference. Really like the more car like ride than the bigger vans, doesnt feel nearly as clumsy, easier to park. the 3.0L goes just fine and the 5 speed AT is very nice. My wife is the primary driver of the MPV and she gave up her 200 Diamante, which ran like a scalded cat, for the room. She doesnt buy that Zoom Zoom tag, still needs to realize it is a VAN!

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  Mazda Magic - 2004 Mazda MPV
  By Chris Read - December 24 - 10:00 am

  Wonderful mini-van; perfect size; not too much a goliath like most. And the second seat windows go down!(Only mini-van in which they do.) Wish the second seats folded into the floor. A couple of small design glitches, like you cant see the A/C button behind the gear selector when driving. Has been problem-free (11000 miles).

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  ZOOM ZOOM - 2004 Mazda MPV
  By Rick Bogey - December 24 - 10:00 am

  This mid size MPV has the soul of a sports MPV. The handling is great and the size is an advantage. The gas mileage is a plus. This is the second MPV I have owned. We have also owed a Toyota Sienna.

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  review - 2004 Mazda MPV
  By lmatt464 - December 24 - 10:00 am

  this is my 3rd mpv and i would not buy anything else. i have driven other minivans and the mpv is by far the best van on the market.

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  Title? - 2000 Mazda MPV
  By vanninit - December 9 - 2:00 am

  Very solid vehicle. I leased it originally because I was unsure of the engine/transmission combination.. while its not particularly powerful, I cant say its been a huge negative, and in fact I purchased the vechicle when it came off lease.

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  Completely Happy - 2002 Mazda MPV
  By Alvin - December 8 - 6:00 am

  My wife and I wanted a minivan that wasnt so bulky, with 3RD row stow away seats, and something with decent power under the hood. The 3.0L motor is both powerful and smooth. You forget its a minivan youre driving. The 5 speed automatic makes a world of difference on the freeway and weve found it to be smooth on shifts. We have 118,000 miles, and so far so good. We were going to buy a Honda, but after research, they had just as many complaints from its customers and was bigger than we liked

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  Solid Vehicle - 2000 Mazda MPV
  By m - December 6 - 9:30 am

  After 112,000 miles only a few major repairs - one door actuator and cracked exhaust manifold. Lots of great features in the van, especially for the time. Really like the fold flat rear seat. No problems with CD or moonroof. Great stereo. Biggest disappointment is the lack of power. The transmission kicks and the whole car jumps (not to move fast, just jumps). Its been a good dependable car and with 23/24 mpg on the highway not bad for a van.

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  zoom-onology of mpv lx - 2003 Mazda MPV
  By Geno - December 4 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I conducted extensive research on the purchase of an suv, when we decided to purchase the MPV instead. It handles like a well tuned car and with three young children, it not only represents a great value, compared to other similar vehicles, but provides comfort and space for our needs. The sliding side doors are a must and the electric windows are a major plus for kids that like to feel fresh air. We are thrilled with our purchase!