Not everyone rushes to buy the latest and greatest gadget on the market, whether it's a portable phone, a videocamera or a minivan. As a matter of fact, there are some people who see considerable virtue in choosing a product that's been around for a while, figuring that the manufacturer has, at some point, ironed out most of the bugs. A case in point is the
Mazda MPV.
There are plenty of minivans to choose from, more than were available when Mazda introduced its people mover a few seasons back. Today, the MPV faces the likes of the Nissan Quest/
Mercury Villager twins as well as powerhouses such as the Chrysler minis, Ford Wind-star and several General Motors vans. All are formidable competitors, yet the MPV still has strong appeal, as it has since introduction day.
The MPV's primary attraction may be that it is a genuinely pleasant van to drive, an easy move upward from a compact sedan. Another plus for many buyers is its traditional rear-wheel-drive powertrain that allows the MPV to pull heavier trailers than front-wheel-drive vans can manage. In fact, a trailer-tow package - which includes automatic load-leveling and cooling system upgrades - gives the MPV the wherewithal to tow a 4500-lb. load.
It is safe to say the MPV has matured over the years. Some past features have been dropped - most notably the 4-cylinder engine that powered base MPVs until this year - and the model lineup has been reshuffled a bit, but the MPV is as good as ever. In many respects, it's even better.
Few people will ever choose the MPV because it has cutting-edge styling. Frankly, it does not. When parked among newer aero-look vans, the MPV appears a little pudgy and old-fashioned. But it does have clean, efficient lines that have aged well. Details - such as the subtly flared fenders - keep the MPV from looking bland.
The top-of-the-line LXE's two-tone Bordeaux/Silver paint scheme, as on our test van, provides a touch of elegance.
It is more likely that buyers will be attracted to the generous interior access afforded by the three large doors and the tailgate. Mazda defied conventional van-building wisdom when it gave the MPV a normal hinged third (right side) door instead of the more common slide-back panel.
Some owners see this as a safety feature, and others appreciate its ease of operation and the wider opening it allows. The full-width tailgate is convenient for loading bulky items, though the high liftover is a bit of a nuisance if the items are heavy.
Another plus for the MPV is its relatively small size. It is more than a foot shorter than the Nissan Quest, and nearly 2 ft. shorter than the GM minivans. For close-quarter maneuvering, every inch counts, and that makes the MPV a winner in at least one area.
With the demise of the puny base engine, all MPVs are now powered by a 155-hp V6, which drives the rear wheels through a 4-speed automatic transmission. The only powertrain option available is a shift-on-the-fly 4-wheel-drive system with a lockable center differential.
Few external features differentiate the three MPV trim levels. Only a body-color grille and rear license plate border set the LX apart from the base L, and the aforementioned two-tone paint scheme and alloy wheels are the only clues that the MPV you're looking at is the upper-crust LXE. Other differences are only apparent from inside the MPV's cabin.
