1997 Mazda MPV Minivan Reviews & Ratings

  Read this 1997 Mazda MPV review at UsedCarsChannel.com. These professional and consumer 1997 Mazda MPV reviews include car comparisons, road tests, interior and exterior options and features, safety information, specs, and more.
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1997 Mazda MPV Reviews

 

Welcome to the car reviews section of UsedCarsChannel.com, where you can search for consumer 1997 Mazda MPV car reviews for all trims! How does this car handle? What kind of 1997 Mazda MPV ratings did the car receive? How large is in the interior? Is it comfortable to drive? Learn all of this and more in each of the consumer 1997 Mazda MPV reviews at UsedCarsChannel.com.

 
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Mazda MPV Interior Review

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.



Mazda MPV Road Test

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.



Mazda MPV Lineup



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