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 all 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 slides out and is
handy for keeping mail and other small odds and ends from sliding around the cabin.
New for 1998 is an AM/FM/CD stereo with four speakers that comes standard on all trim levels. An optional
cassette player is useful for those who enjoy books on tape or already have a big cassette collection.
Other standard MPV features include power windows, locks and outside mirrors, cruise control, tilt steering
column, power steering, a digital clock, rear wiper/washer/defroster, dual vanity mirrors and remote fuel
door release.
All MPVs come with reclining front bucket seats. LX models are upholstered in nice velour cloth, while ES
models come with leather seating surfaces.
One of the most important considerations when ordering an MPV 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 prefer the seven-passenger layout. A pair of captains chairs replace the middle row bench. The captains
chairs are more comfortable than the bench seat. More important, they make it easier to get to the back row.
LX (cloth) models come standard with eight-passenger seating, but seven-passenger seating is optional. ES
(leather) models come standard with seven-passenger seating.
With either layout, the third-row bench seat can be folded forward to provide more cargo space or it can be
removed completely. The MPV does not offer as much cargo space as a sport-utility vehicle--42 cubic feet compared
with a Ford Explorer's 81 cubic feet--but it does a much better job of hauling seven people in comfort.
In its own way, the MPV is fun to drive on a winding road. It handles better than a sport-utility vehicle.
Ride quality is better as well, whether on pavement and smooth dirt roads. Rough dirt roads are easily handled
by the MPV as long as speeds are kept to reasonable levels. Thrash away like you're trying to win the Baja
1000 and the suspension begins to bottom out.
On slippery surfaces, the four-wheel-drive system improves traction and handling. We climbed a steep, silty
hill in Southern California that would have left a sedan choking in the dust. We later drove it through the
snow and ice of a New England winter with no worries.
The 4WD system automatically splits power between the front and rear wheels as needed, improving traction
in the snow. When the going gets really sloppy, the driver can push a button that locks the center differential.
This splits traction equally between the front and rear wheels, which helps when driving up a steep slope of
mud, snow or ice.
Even with four-wheel drive and those rugged-looking All-Sport trim pieces, the MPV is not ready for rock
climbing. It lacks the long suspension travel and low-range set of gears found on many sport-utilities. So
knowing its limits and slowing down for big obstacles is important in the backcountry.
Plenty of power is on tap and the V6 engine complements the four-speed automatic. Steering is light and
precise. The four-wheel disc brakes instill confidence. At high speeds, the MPV is stable, a benefit of its
independent A-arm front suspension and five-link live rear axle. Anti-roll bars at both ends minimize body
lean in corners, adding to that fun-to-drive quotient.
Our experience is that the MPV is 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. 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 watercraft, canoes, small boats and other light loads. It's a stretch, but we've used it to pull light race car trailers.