The Mazda MPV is a small multi purpose vehicle which first appeared as a minivan in the 1980s and despite wearing the Mazda badge, the MPV lacks adequate space and “zoom-zoom”.
From this early beginning the Mazda MPV distinguished itself from competitor MPVs by featuring a hinged rear door, instead of the traditional sliding door. Improvements over the next few years for the Mazda MPV included standard features that included ABS, V6 power plant and removable third row seating. In the late 1990s the MPV earned a reputation for being a “small SUV” due to its sporty package and four-wheel drive options. At this time Mazda did not offer a SUV vehicle. The MPV soon lost sales ground due to the market success of the SUVs like the Ford Explorer and the Mazda MPV had to be re-designed.
The new Mazda MPV series was released with flat-folding third row seating and roll-down windows in the sliding rear doors. The unimpressive 2.5-liter V6 and lack of passive safety equipment made the Mazda MPV an unattractive buy. Over the next few years Mazda introduced 3.0-liter V6 with 200 horsepower and individual rear air conditioning, which made it more competitive.
The latest Mazda MPV comes with a five-speed automatic transmission, four wheel ABS, traction control and side airbags, Secondary trim levels include full-length side curtain airbags and stability control. The Mazda MPV earned itself 5-points in side and front impact crash tests performed by the IIHS
Interior layout for the rear includes three rows of theatre style seating, with, removable second row seating and flat-fold third row, which can be maneuvered into multiple layout configurations.
If compared to the more complete Mazda 5, the MPV holds its advantage in handling and styling, but when it comes to space and latest technological features, the Mazda 5 wins hands down.
