Mazda's attention to detail shows inside. The speedometer and tachometer
are housed in a rounded instrument panel. Ventilation and audio controls,
cupholders and storage for small items are located front and center for
easy access. A sporty four-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel houses
the driver's airbag, while the passenger-side airbag is above the glove
box. A rear air conditioning blower with separate controls adds to the
comfort of passengers in the back rows. A storage tray under the front
passenger seat is a thoughtful touch.
Other standard MPV features include power windows, doors and outside
mirrors, cruise control, tilt steering column, power steering, AM/FM/cassette
sound system with digital clock and four speakers, rear wiper/washer/defroster,
dual vanity mirrors and remote fuel door release.
All MPV's come with reclining front bucket seats. LX models are upholstered
in nice velour cloth, while ES models come with leather seating surfaces.
A key MPV consideration is choosing between seven- and eight-passenger
seating. Eight-passenger models use a second and third row of bench seats
that hold three passengers each. Both rows can be folded flat to carry
cargo and the middle bench reclines and adjusts fore and aft. It looks
good on paper, but the width of the middle bench makes getting to the third-row
bench seat difficult.
We don't want to sway you, but seven-passenger seating is the preferred
layout in the MPV. A pair of captain's chairs replace the middle row bench.
The captain's chairs are more comfortable than the bench seat and they
make it easier to get to the back row. ES models come standard with seven-passenger
seating and it's an option on the LX models.
Either way, the third row can be folded forward to provide more cargo
space or removed completely. The MPV does not offer nearly as much cargo
space as a sport-utility, but it does a superior job of hauling seven humans.
The MPV is fun to drive on a winding road. It handles much better than
a sport-utility vehicle. Ride quality is also superior on pavement and
on smooth dirt roads.
Rough dirt roads pose few problems for the All-Sport as long as speeds
are kept to reasonable levels. The four-wheel drive system works well on
slippery surfaces and handling is predictable. Our MPV climbed a steep,
silty hill that would have left a sedan in the dust, and it cut through
snow and ice with no worries. The 4WD system automatically splits power
between the front and rear wheels as needed. When the going gets really
sloppy, the center differential can be locked by pushing a button. This
locks the traction split equally between the front and rear wheels, which
helps when driving up a steep slope of mud, snow or ice.
All-Sport or not, a 4WD MPV is not designed for trekking along the Continental
Divide. It lacks the suspension travel, tires and the low-range set of
gears found on most sport-utilities, so knowing its limits and slowing
down for big obstacles is important.
Plenty of power is on tap and the V6 engine works well with the four-speed
automatic transmission. Steering is light and precise and the disc brakes
instill confidence. With its independent A-arm front suspension and five-link
live rear axle, the MPV is stable at high speeds. Anti-roll bars at both
ends minimize body lean in corners.
We found the MPV to be a stable vehicle for pulling light trailers.
Based on a rear-wheel drive platform, the MPV is far superior for towing
than the front-wheel drive minivans comprising the majority of the market.
An optional load leveling package allows the MPV to tow up to 4,500 pounds.
This makes it a good choice for pulling ATVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles,
personal watercrafts, canoes, small boats and other light loads. It's a
stretch, but we've even used it to pull light car trailers.