2006 Mazda MPV Reviews

Moving people is the most basic of our motoring needs, and once it was a simple choice between a sedan and a wagon, but today the choices are many and varied. The sedan and wagon are still with us, but the four-wheel drive wagon has become a popular choice for families who might once have bought a wagon, as is the peoplemover that offers a range of seating options with plenty of space to carry the gear that goes with the kids.The first peoplemovers were based on commercial vans and were pretty unsatisfactory devices. They had miserable performance, were uncomfortable, unstable, handled poorly and braked in a fashion.With that ancestry it’s no wonder that peoplemovers got a bad rap, but it’s an unfair one now that carmakers have taken them seriously and produced a generation of cleverly engineered, safe and comfortable vehicles. And if you believe Honda’s advertising for the Odyssey peoplemovers are even sexy.MODEL WATCHToyota was one of the first companies to move away from a commercial base when it purposely designed the swoopy Tarago as a peoplemover. It sparked a whole new generation of similar peoplemovers, including the MPV from Mazda.The MPV isn’t perhaps the best known of the peoplemovers on offer, but it was a solid performer that is still giving its owners good service.Unlike the space-age styled Toyota Tarago there was nothing flashy about the MPV’s looks. It was a basic box on wheels, albeit a big box able to seat eight people, at a squeeze, in three rows of seats.The packaging was conventional with a bonnet at the front and drive through the rear wheels, which in many ways was a compromise that ate into the available interior space.Rather than sliding doors as used by most other people-movers the MPV had four regular swing open doors.If the exterior was a trifle bland it was matched by the interior, which was plain to say the least and awash with dull and dreary grey plastic everywhere you let your eye wander.The MPV’s saving grace, however, was its long list of standard equipment, which meant you had to consider it if you were in the market to buy a peoplemover then, and now if you’re thinking of buying a second hand peoplemover.On the features list were dual-zone air-conditioning, cruise control, airbags and ABS, and you could add to that a V6 engine which gave it a turn of speed lacking in most other models in the class.With 115 kW and 232 Nm on tap from the 3.0-litre single overhead camshaft V6 the MPV could outperform most of its rivals. While it was quick off the line the downside was its fuel consumption. It simply couldn’t match the four-cylinder models at the pump.There was one transmission choice, a smooth four-speed auto with a column shift.When launched in 1993 the MPV was a seven-seater with colour-coded bumpers and door handles, central locking, power front windows and mirrors, and a six-speaker radio-cassette sound system.A revised model range in 1996 saw it grow into an eight-seater with a flexible seating arrangement that can be adapted to the many and varied needs of a family on the move.IN THE SHOPWith the last of the first generation MPVs around 100,000 km and due for a major service it’s imperative that you check for a service record. Cam belts need to be changed so make sure they have been done according to the service schedule.It’s worth taking a close look at the interior. A combination of kids and cloth trim can be a sticky one so look for gum, discarded sweets and their wrappers stuck to seats or in crevices.Take a close look at the exterior for signs of panel damage, mismatched paint, scratches, scrapes and dings etc. from action in the supermarket war zones sometimes called parking lots.Generally the Mazda holds up well in service, the engine and driveline give little trouble and rear drive layout is simple.IN A CRASHWith dual airbags standard and ABS brakes the MPV safety picture is quite bright. Its conventional bonneted layout, with rear wheel drive adds to its safety.OWNERS SAYJo and Garry Hubbard have done 128,000 km in the 1996 MPV they have owned for eight years. They say it has been a very reliable family car able to seat eight in comfort with good performance and handling. Their only criticism is its fuel consumption, which they describe as “average”.LOOK FOR• bland but safe styling• high level of equipment• safe, responsive handling• good performance from V6 engine, but at the expense of fuel economy• seats up to eight• generally robust and reliableTHE BOTTOM LINESolid and reliable family transport with good performance. but at the cost of fuel consumptionRATING70/100

The MPV provides individual eating for up to seven people in a two-three-two arrangement. However if you have less people and more luggage, any of the five rear seats can be folded to make use of a table-like surface on the back, double folded to provide extra space, or removed completely.The MPV is smaller on the outside than competitors of the same time, such as the Chrysler Voyager. Therefore it did not match that vehicle on maximum load length or width.Nevertheless the MPV has proven more than adequate for an average mix of adults and children.Child restraint anchorage points are provided for all five rear seats and there are 10 cupholders throughout the cabin. Both the front windows and the windows in the dual side sliding doors are electrically operated.Also included in the MPV's generous array of standard equipment is dual climate-control air conditioning. Rear occupants have their own fan speed controls and overhead outlet events.Other convenience equipment includes power assisted steering, electrically operated exterior mirrors, remote central locking tilt steering wheel, cruise control, a trip computer and a four speaker sound system with a single compact disc player.Standard safety equipment includes dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution and front seatbelt pretensioners.The MPV is powered by a 2.5-litre DOHC V6 engine that drives the front wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission.This model is marginally quicker than previous ones, but there are still times when a bigger capacity engine would be welcome.The 2.5-litre struggles on steeper hills, with the transmission sometimes dropping back to second gear, with an accompanying unpleasant roar from the engine. A full complement of passengers (or other similar loads), slows the vehicle noticeably.Up front, there is good leg room and plenty of head room and the seats are generally comfortable, although lacking a little in lateral support and thigh support.Leg and head room are not as generous in the middle row seats, but there is still enough for average size adults. The rear seating compartment is best suited to two children as although leg and head room are reasonable, the shape and height of the rear seats can result in an uncomfortable knees-up seating position for adults.Also, access to the rear seats is not easy – the left front seat has to be slid forward first and then the second row outer seat double-folded to get past.

Vehicles such as Mazda's new MPV are a cross between a minibus and a family wagon, but the MPV's strength is that it drives like a car.While the MPV is new to Australia, it's not new to the world market. It was introduced to the US in late 1998 as a 1989 model-year vehicle and a replacement is due in another year or so. It's not as stylish as the Toyota Tarago, and it's not as box-like as the Volkswagen Caravelle. But it's the only vehicle of its type that has four outward-opening doors like a conventional car. The doors open almost at right-angles to reveal two bucket seats in the front, a two-seat bench in the middle and a three-seater at the rear which folds forward easily to provide a large cargo space.Mazda's MPV comes as a single model with no options. Standard features are impressive - automatic transmission, air-conditioning for the front and rear, cruise control, electric antenna, and anti-lock brakes on the rear wheels only.The 3.0-litre V6 engine, basically the same engine which propelled the old 929, provides enough power and torque to shift with ease the MPV's kerb weight of 1722kg and a full load of people and their luggage.Probably the worst aspect of the car is the automatic transmission with the lever mounted on the steering column. It's almost impossible to hit the chosen gear at the first attempt - moving from park to drive, it will usually slip past the "D" into second gear which is a damn nuisance. When you eventually get it into drive, the shifts are smooth.The big engine and stirling performance of the MPV has its penalty in fuel consumption, using about 14 litres for every 100km.On the road, the MPV's suspension is on the soft side for absorbing bumps and, even with the live rear end, rides well over the rough stuff. Mazda has endowed the MPV with four-wheel disc brakes plus an anti-lock system (ABS) which operates on the rear wheels only due to the cost five years' ago of developing a full ABS.Overall, the MPV provides smooth and pleasant driving with the convenience of outward-opening doors and good specification. Pity about the auto and I'd prefer three seats in the middle row.Mazda MPV People MoverENGINE: 18-valve, single overhead camshaft, fuel-injected 3.0-litre V6 which drives the rear wheels. This engine has stood the test of time, coming from the old 929.POWER: 115kW at 5000rpm, torque 232Nm at 4000rpm. Enough to transport seven people and luggage.SUSPENSION: Front - struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar. Rear - live axle, coil springs, trailing links, Panhard rod, anti-roll bar. Supple settings soak up corrugations and patched roads.BRAKES: Front power discs, rear discs. Anti-lock system on the rear. Anti-lock system helps, but shows the vehicle's age.TYRES: 195/70 radials. Normal at this level.FUEL CONSUMPTION: Average 14.5 on test. 74-litre tank gives theoretical range of about 500km.PRICE: $42,990. Beyond the price-range of most families.