Mazda MPV
The Soul of a Sofa
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By Richard J. Newman
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NITS: The automatic-transmission stalk juts out of the steering column straight in front of the center console, forcing you to reach around it to adjust the radio or climate controls. Seems like an elementary mistake that should never have made prime time.
G-FORCES: The 200-horsepower V-6 is powerful and smooth, and the MPV's relatively light weight makes it feel nimble. But only in a straight line. On curves, you can feel the MPV tilt like a sailboat in the wind.
GIZMOLOGY: The dashboard layout is straightforward and pratical, which is what it should be in a minivan. The center console is set on a sporty design that looks pretty cool and doesn't interfere with anything functional.
KID MARKS: The third row is the place to be if you're a kid. Cupholders are at hand level, whereas in the middle row they're at the bottom of the doors, unreachable to kids in car seats. The only downside–or is it an upside?–is that back there, Mom and Dad have to crawl through the car to reach you. There's lots of cargo space throughout the vehicle and in the back, but beware the cargo door–the MPV is so tall that the door swings out wider than you might expect and can actually knock you in the head.
HOT OR NOT? Not. Most of the effort on this vehicle went into the interior. The outer design would barely have looked fresh 10 years ago.
ENVIROMETER: Two stars out of five on the EPA's "green vehicle" ratings scale. Mileage is 18 mpg city/24 mpg highway. Details: http://www.epa.gov/autoemissions/
mnvn-02.htm
CRASH COURSE: Ten stars out of 10 on both the government's frontal crash test and its side-impact test. The MPV's rollover resistance rating is three stars out of five. Details: http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/
testing/ncap/Cars/2002Vans.html
PRICE POINTS: Base prices range from $23,290 to $28,232. Price as tested: $29,087.
MORE INFO: http://www.mazdausa.com/mpv
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Model year tested: 2002
They're not getting much prettier, so minivans these days need to find other assets to show off. The MPV's attributes start with the seats. The third-row "Tumble-Under" seat, which folds flat into the cargo compartment, seats three smallish adults, and has better legroom than third-row seats in many other vehicles, which tend to accommodate kids only. That allows Mazda to put two comfy bucket seats in the middle row, instead of a bench. And those seats can be configured in two ways as well. They can be separated, with space in between for crawling into the back. Or they can be pushed together to form a minibench, which is also how you make space for grown-ups who need to climb into the back.
The MPV's doors stand out too. By now, sliding doors on both sides is a standard offering for minivans. The MPV's higher trim line, the ES, comes standard with electric sliding doors that can be activated either by pulling the handle or by hitting the L or R button on the key fob. Another nifty feature, unique to the MPV, is side windows that buzz down at the touch of a button-just like regular electric windows! That's possible because Mazda engineers found a way to reduce the weight and thickness of the door enough to accommodate the extra machinery needed for the windows. Overall, the MPV's interior delivers all the comfort and practicality you'd expect from a minivan, plus a surprise or two. With the third-row seat upright, for instance, the cargo well is extra deep, which let me transport a four-foot-high bush that never would have fit in the back of an SUV.
Mazda claims that enhancements to the '02 MPV also give it the "soul of a sports car." Which makes me wonder if Mazda, which is relying on the aging legacy of the Miata and the old RX-7, remembers what a sports car really is. Yes, the 200-horsepower V-6 engine is quick and smooth. But push the MPV even slightly on a curve, and you'll feel that timeless top-heaviness of a minivan that just wants to be driven straight and level. The MPV is somewhat lighter than other minivans, which makes braking a little more sprightly. And add-ons like alloy wheels reduce the dumpy factor, although the MPV still looks boxy and unmotivating, even with jewelry.
Mazda claims that enhancements to the '02 MPV also give it the "soul of a sports car." Which makes me wonder if Mazda, which is relying on the aging legacy of the Miata and the old RX-7, remembers what a sports car really is. Yes, the 200-horsepower V-6 engine is quick and smooth. But push the MPV even slightly on a curve, and you'll feel that timeless top-heaviness of a minivan that just wants to be driven straight and level. The MPV is somewhat lighter than other minivans, which makes braking a little more sprightly. And add-ons like alloy wheels reduce the dumpy factor, although the MPV still looks boxy and unmotivating, even with jewelry.
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