Mazda MPV
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The Mazda MPV is a MPV (minivan) manufactured by Mazda. It was introduced in 1989 as a rear wheel drive model and was replaced in 2000 with a more modern front wheel drive version. As of March 31, 2005, 950,051 MPV models had been sold worldwide since its introduction.
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[edit] 1989-1998 (Rear wheel drive)
The minivan boom of the 1980s caught the Japanese car makers by surprise. Each maker had its own response: Toyota was first with an adaptation of their mid-engined Van, based on the Japanese Town-Ace in 1984. Nissan and Mitsubishi quickly followed suit with conversions of cargo vans in 1987. None of these were particularly successful, since all were small and only offered 4-cylinder engines.
The 1989 MPV was radically different. It was designed from the ground-up as a minivan for the American market. It was based on a car, but Mazda started with the best platform they had, the large rear wheel drive 929's HC. It would be called the LV platform, and equipped the MPV with a V6 engine and optional all wheel drive. Like the later Honda Odyssey, it featured traditional hinged doors instead of sliding rear doors, though the original MPV only had a single rear door. Because of the AWD option, the Mazda Navajo (sold from 1991-1994) version of the Ford Explorer was only offered as a 2 door. The middle row was available as a bench, allowing seating for 8 when most minivans seated 7.
The van was a hit with the press, being named to Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1990 and 1991 and featured as one of their "vehicles for the coming (fuel) crisis". Initial sales were strong as well, but rapidly fell off once other makers introduced all wheel drive and V6 engines. However, Toyota's 1991 Previa, Nissan's 1993 Quest, and Honda's 1995 Odyssey all featured purpose-built platforms and eroded Mazda's lead.
Although the Mazda MPV was well-received by the press and public, crash testers were less impressed. The MPV received one star out of four in the Australian ANCAP crash tests and a "Marginal" rating in the American IIHS crash tests.
The van was refreshed in 1996, with the I4 engine retired for the United States, though it was replaced with a similar 2.5 L unit for the rest of the world. The all wheel drive MPV was now marketed in the United States as the All Sport. Although similar to most minivans on the market, the All Sport was mildly restyled and marketed as a crossover SUV. This provided a brief sales bump, but the entire minivan market had turned against rear wheel drive by that time. The original MPV was retired after the 1998 model year, but in Japan this car was produced under the name of Mazda MPV since 1997.
[edit] 2000-2006 (Front wheel drive)
The MPV was replaced for 2000 with a front wheel drive LW platform based on the 626. This second generation MPV was much more traditional, with sliding rear doors and front-wheel drive. Some differentiating factors included a rear seat that folded flat into the floor and rear-door windows that rolled down.
The MPV was initially reviewed as underpowered, using the Mazda AJ (which was actually Ford's Duratec) 2.5 L V6, an engine initially designed by Porsche before it was sold to Ford and used in the Contour. This was replaced in a 2002 refresh with Mazda's AJ 3.0 L V6 and a 5-speed automatic transmission that produces 200 hp and 200 ft·lbf of torque, matching Mazda's "zoom zoom" theme. Also updated at this time were the grille, which now was larger, with a single chrome bar at the top rather than a full surround.
In 2004 it adopted a more aggressive look with new headlights and taillights resembling the appearance of "tuner cars" with "Altezza" style clear taillights, and aggressive headlamps. The LX Sport package further added body side skirts, and air dam bumpers with optional spoiler. The ES model added leather seats, rear air conditioner, and power sliding doors, with a choice of sunroof or roof mounted DVD player.
By 2006, the MPV was virtually the only minivan which had not adopted the size form factor of the long wheelbase Chrysler minivans, including Kia and Nissan. Those who do purchase the vehicle appreciate its narrow and short size, light weight and maneuverability. Some car reviews called it Ford's best minivan. It has a low price as a used vehicle or sales incentives as new. For example, in 2005, it was possible to pay just US$15,000 for a 2004 MPV with 22,000 miles after being retired by a rental car company, while a the trade in for a 2003 Honda Pilot with 44,000 miles was $24,000. While the rear seats aren't as large as the Odyssey, for users who just need occasional 7 passenger seating, and not 4 wheel drive, the MPV is a much more affordable alternative to a popular Honda minivan, or an SUV.
The Japanese Mazda website already shows the next MPV with lazy-boy recliner feature seats and turbo 4 engine. However, with the introduction of the smaller Mazda5 minivan, CX-7 and CX-9 crossover SUVs to North America, Mazda has recently stopped selling the MPV (and Tribute) after the 2006 model year.
Engines:
- 2000-2001 2.0 L FS-DE I4 (non-US)
- 2000-2001 2.5 L GY-DE I4 (non-US)
- 2000-2001 2.5 L AJ V6
- 2002-present 3.0 L AJ V6
[edit] Price
Pricing for 2006 as follows:
- LX-SV:$22,115
- LX:$22,950
- ES:$28,515
[edit] 2007
The MPV will reportedly[1] no longer be imported to the United States for 2007. A redesign is expected for other markets, however.
[edit] External links
- Mazda Japan new MPV product website
- YahooAutos-2006 Mazda MPV
- AutomobileMagazine-2005 Mazda MPV (review)
- Hong Kong Mazda8 product website
- MPV Club
- Mazda MPV Specifications from 1997 to 2002
- Mazda announces 1 million built, introduces gen3 and planned turbo version for Japan
[edit] References
- ^ Future Products - Mazda. AutoWeek. Retrieved on August 16, 2006.
| Mazda – part owned by the Ford Motor Company, road car timeline, 1990s—present | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| Subcompact | Revue/121 | Demio/121 | Demio/2 | Demio/2 | ||||||||||||||||
| Verisa | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact | Familia/323/Protegé | Familia/323/Protegé | Familia/323/Protegé | Axela/3 | ||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size | Capella/626 | Capella | Capella/626 | Atenza/6 | Atenza/6 | |||||||||||||||
| Cronos/626 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| MS-8/Eunos 800/Xedos 9/Millenia | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size | Sentia/929 | Sentia | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sports / coupé | MX-6 | MX-6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| MX-5/Miata | MX-5/Miata | MX-5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| MX-3 | MicroSport | Kabura | ||||||||||||||||||
| RX-7 | RX-7 | RX-8 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cosmo | ||||||||||||||||||||
| AZ-1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Minivan | Premacy | Premacy/Mazda5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| MPV | MPV | MPV | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crossover | Navajo | Tribute | CX-5 | |||||||||||||||||
| CX-7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| CX-9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Trucks: | B-Series/Proceed/Truck (International) (North America) | BT-50 | E-Series/Bongo | T-Series/Titan | |||||||||||||||||||
| Kei cars: | Spiano | AZ-Offroad | Scrum | Laputa | AZ-Wagon | Carol | |||||||||||||||||||
| Historic models: | GLC | Luce | Savanna | Proceed | RX-2 | RX-3 | RX-4 | RX-5 | Roadpacer | REPU | |||||||||||||||||||
