Mazda MPV: Filling the Small Niche

There is something you must know about the Mazda MPV and that unless you absolutely need a handier sized van and its trimmer ride there is nothing here you can’t get elsewhere in a larger size without paying more. Essentially, this is a small van for a small niche in the family vehicle segment.

The MPV is smaller inside than comparable priced vans from Chrysler and others yet still offers the same family friendly features such as a rear seat that folds into the floor, dual sliding side doors, and seating for seven. The decision point is whether Mazda’s tidier version is what you need because the MPV pricing does not provide any advantage short or long term over the competition. We felt that this Mazda was an agreeable ride, but it hardly has the zoom-zoom ability of its stablemates such as the most excellent RX-8, underrated Mazda Six, and Miata.

Mom’s view: There is a lot to like with the Mazda MPV and that includes a peppy 200-hp 3.0L V6 engine, five-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and options such as power sliding doors. For a young family this would be ideal, but it does not offer the sensational stow and go feature that the Chrysler vans offer. I like the idea of the MPV, but the annoying shift lever placement was a serious distraction. Every time I wanted to adjust the stereo or the temperature setting the lever got in the way. Very awkward.

A turning radius that is quite large for its length makes the MPV more difficult to park than one would think, especially when compared to the ability of the new Toyota van to cut corners with ease. Handling is as fine as any van except last year’s Honda Odyssey.

ABS is standard, which is a must for a family vehicle, and you have your choice of two models: the base LX and well equipped ES. I would not consider the LX because nearly everything you need is an extra cost option such as front side airbags, traction control, and rear air conditioning.

Seating wise, you get second row bucket seats that can slide together for easier rear seat access or separated should the sibling decide to fight. The third row is a bench seat that folds flat into the floor. I found that using the bay created when the rear seat was upright was excellent for groceries and the low lift over height made is usable even when wearing shorter dresses. As for the comfort of the front seats, I was not pleased. Despite the many manual adjustments, even lumbar is offered, I could not find a position that was comfortable for longer trips. The dual sliding doors were very easy to use, although the remote did not clearly indicate which side you were opening. Best of all, the windows in the optional sliding doors have power windows that roll down. This is an excellent feature. The Mazda is quite easy to get in and out of and provides a fairly commanding view of the road. Despite this I never was comfortable in the MPV as it felt narrow and confining.

Dad’s view: We were unable to get more than 22 mpg from the V6 which compares to what we have noted from almost every other van we tested with the exception of the Toyota Sienna which averaged 24 mpg. Outside of its tall thin stature that promotes a lot of body lean, the MPV is nearly car like. The steering is responsive, the brakes decent, and the smaller dimensions of the Mazda make it easier to maneuver in tight situation that don’t require you to make tight turns.

I truly believe that Mazda’s pricing of this van needs to be rethought. Since it is priced so closely to the entry level Dodge, Toyota, and Honda vans one has to wonder if the added niftiness of the Mazda is worth it. One thing for sure is that if I bought one the first thing I would do is get larger tires with more offset rims to take advantage of the handling possibilities. As it is now, Mazda has placed tires on the MPV that don’t work well with chassis.

On the road the MPV does not respond well to strong sidewinds that makes steering corrections more complicated than one would initially think. The Mazda sports wagon would be a better choice for most people who don’t need the extra seating. I also felt that the view to the front was strangely limited by the position of the A pillars. All in all I would advise that you seriously consider the MPV if the dealer provides you with the payment you are after, but don’t misjudge this Mazda as a zoom-zoom.


Young businesswoman’s view: The most endearing feature of the MPV is the fact that you can easily lean in to remove a child’s seat or to pull out groceries or other items. It is extremely handy and I would recommend it highly to any woman under 5’5’’. A real extra bonus is the fact that the windows for the second row passengers automatically roll down making it an easy way to quickly cool the van.

Driving the MPV is a mixed bag as it is difficult to adjust the stereo controls and locate the air conditioning buttons because of the intrusive gearshift and the fact that the V6 needs constant prodding to make significant progress when fully loaded or when driving in hilly terrain. It took regular gas, and with our 22-mpg average, made it as inexpensive as it gets for a van in mixed driving. The ride is well-behaved over most bumps and the chassis does not feel overwhelmed by changing road surfaces, but it never feels as solidly connected as the Honda Odyssey van.

There are a lot of questionable features on the MPV. For example, you need to make sure you know where the spare tire is before driving home in this Mazda because it is located under the middle of the MPV. It takes a while to figure out how to lower it, too. I also noted that there wasn’t a lot of creative family friendly thinking in the MPV as in the Dodge and Chrysler vans. For example, although the rear seats folds readily into the floor there is no hooks for plastic grocery bags on it and the woven pull handles are quite thin and make your hands sore. The second row buckets are easy to remove, but they weigh about 40 pounds. They do slide from side to side as well as forward if you wish, but the base unit stays in place resulting in a cramped third row. I also did not like the fact that all the seat tracks collected dirt and odds in ends almost magnetically. You need to have a vacuum with a thin nozzle to do the job on this van. The collapsible tray between the front seats is handy, but it is nearly flat so items fly off during sudden braking or cornering. The cupholders are adequate.

Working in the business world has proven many times that to have an attractive product you need to be different, but not too different. To this end the Mazda succeeds. Unfortunately, the MSRP of a loaded MPV is such that it places itself in the direct path of competitors who have given more thought to their product. The bottom line is that the MPV is only a good business decision if it fits your budget and height.

Young college going male’s view: I am growing older, but not gaining any wealth in my quest for hip-hop fame. In other words, I feel like the Mazda MPV, enjoyable, but apparently not noteworthy (pun intended). The engine does not make its power until well into the higher rpm range so driving it requires frequent right leg prodding. The stereo is barely adequate, the interior noise low, and the interior materials above average. The sliding doors don’t create as large an opening as on other vans and the interior lighting is more sublime than most families would like. At night the headlights are okay, but when it rains they seem to lose their candlepower.

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Family conference: It is not difficult to make a case for buying the MPV van from Mazda from a utility standpoint. However, we would recommend you spend a while shopping price and also make sure the seats feel good after a test drive. Above all have the patience to live with the steering lever.

Written by The Car Family