1994 Mazda MPV review

1994 Mazda MPV

By Professional Test Driver

Overview

The Mazda minivan, enjoyed a great deal of success-especially among import-happy Californians-when it was first introduced as a Japanese answer to the American minivan. After all, back then, most believed that the Japanese could top any American effort-even if the concept was generated in the United States.

The fly in Mazda's ointment, however, came later with the unveiling of its 4WD offerings. Compared with its American counterparts, the minivans suffered from a serious power shortage something pretty much unexpected from the makers of the powerful RX7 and 626.

Indeed, we found the Mazda MPV 4WD minivan to be slow and steady, and yes, the fuel-injected, 3.0-liter, 155-hp V6 engine could have used a little more punch. But despite its lack of get-up-and-go, this solid, heavily-built vehicle gave us confidence when driving in icy, snowy conditions. We found a number of annoying shortcomings with some of the vehicle's features-and the MPV is loaded with extra creature comforts and gadgets. Taken on their own, most of the problems were fairly minor. But added up, they could become bothersome, especially on long trips.

The base MSRP was $23,395 and included a driver-side air bag, rear anti-lock brakes (ABS) and alloy wheels. Optional equipment such as dual air conditioning and a power moonroof raised the sticker price considerably to $30,680.

Walkaround

From the front, our 1994 test MPV looked more like a sport utility vehicle with its slightly forward-pushing nose. The sides were well designed, with fender lifts atop lace spoked aluminum alloy wheels, tinted windows that gave the minivan a very private look and a third door on the side that swung rather than slid open.

Our MPV was a two-tone Hunter Green Metallic and Prestige Silver Metallic. The optional moonroof was a cool addition on this cruiser.

The optional towing package we added included automatic load leveling, a special heavy-duty transmission oil cooler, a larger engine cooling fan and a full-size spare tire.

Interior Features

The most striking feature of our test vehicle's interior was the leather upholstery in an attractive blend of light and dark tan that prevented all seven seats from looking monotonous.

Our driver faced an ergonomic, feature-rich control panel- vent and lighting controls, a remote lock transmitter, a hold button to help with towing and an easy-to-find 4WD switch on the transmission lever.

The front seats were extremely comfortable, and the hood line was dropped just the right amount to allow visibility of the front bumper when parking . However, it was in the driver's seat that we noticed several annoyances: First, the frontseat armrest was short and placed too close to the driver's body; second, finding the seat recliner handle underneath the armrest was awkward; and finally, the brightly lit instrument panel didn't have a dimmer switch-or so we thought. We finally found it to the far left of the instrument cluster.

Our MPV offered ample storage space on all doors and behind the front passenger seat, but we were disappointed with the small size of the glove box-there was room only for the owner's manual and insurance documents. And for you java junkies, our coffee actually tipped while we parallel parked due to a poorly designed front cupholder.

As is the case with most minivans, our MPV had a clear passageway on one side to enable access to all three rows of seats. Rear passengers had some degree of autonomy: They could activate heat for the vehicle's rear vents. And middle passengers had their own cupholders. Legroom was adequate, but middle passengers lost about two inches of headroom because of the moonroof.

Driving Impressions

We chose a slick day to check the MPV 's 4WD performance under adverse conditions. We found a lot of good gearing for acceleration in low speeds, but on the highway the vehicle lacked power when we went from 50 to 70 mph. The lack of power made merging into the fast lane a little too adventuresome for our taste. When we switched to 2WD at 60 mph, however, we got a little more acceleration at passing speeds.

When we took a turn off the highway at 70 mph, there was a fair amount of body roll, but we always felt secure. Throughout the ride, visibility was excellent, and driving at higher speeds was quiet, even when passing noisy vehicles. We opened the moonroof while driving at 40 mph and found that the wind deflector didn't prevent an annoying blowing sound, probably because the opening was so large.

Looking for a place to truly test the MPV's 4WD, we found a nasty, uneven road and locked the center differential to split the power evenly between the front and rear axles. This feature put the MPV a cut above other minivans, which usually don't offer this level of traction. If it weren't such a civilized minivan, the MPV could go toe-to-toe with some of the sport utility vehicles we've tested.

Winding up the ride, we braked and noticed a slight locking in the front wheels. We never really lost control but this vehicle could probably benefit from a four-wheel ABS as opposed to having it only in the rear.

The Mazda MPV boasts a 19.8-gallon fuel tank, and it gets a reasonable 15 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway.

Summary

The 4WD MPV is more of a suburban family hauler than a long-distance travel machine-probably because its cargo-carrying capacity is a little smaller than some of the popular domestic minivan models. With the middle seat removed and the rear seat folded down, there is 6.5 feet of cargo length. When all the seats are in use, the rear storage space could accommodate a wheelchair or a few bags of luggage, but it's not ideal for a weekend ski vacation.

Another point to consider on the middle and rear seats: These could have benefited from a few mover-friendly touches. The middle seat would be best transported by two people rather than one, while the rear seat's bolted-in engineering requires a bit of time and sweat if you care to remove it. Unfortunately, no manufacturer has come up with a perfect solution to this problem, but with this vehicle you may find the aggravation factor unusually high.

Performance-wise, the MPV can't brag about being a powerhouse, but it does offer solid, steady performance, especially in 4WD. As a short-hauling people mover, it's definitely a luxurious way to go. just remember to watch out for the little problems - they could add up.

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