Its almost like every car company had to get into the minivan craze once Dodge showed
how popular and lucrative there Caravan brand was selling at their dealerships. So it was no surprise that Mazda enter this part of the automotive market place to get its piece of the pie. Mazda used cars like the MPV originally came with a rear-wheel-drive package and this made the MPV the only vehicle in the Minivan market place to use such a platform. Then in 2000 Mazda decide to switch over to a front wheel drive system.
Mazda MPV used cars:
The MPV is much smaller than other minivans and Mazda only offers it in one size. The result of it being smaller than other competitors minivans gives it less cargo space but still plenty of room for a family of five. In 2000 the MPV would now have tighter suspension and this gave it a feeling like you were driving a car more than a minivan. The 2000 MPV had a 2.5-litre, V6, 170 horsepower engine, but most people suggested that this engine was too small to power this vehicle.
In 2002 Mazda used cars like the MPV changed the motor to a 3.0-litre, five-speed automatic transmission. This was done to give the MPV more power. Mazda felt the MPV lacked the power other minivans had in its segment of the auto industry, so it made the change to the 3.0-litre engine. I found only one statistic to show that Mazda wasnt going to win any green awards with its fuel economy. The 2006 MPV had a 13.3l/100km and 8.8l/100km for both city and highway driving.
Lets take a look at some of the pros and con of the MPV.
1-In 2000 and 2001 the MPV scored four stars for driver and passenger protection in frontal crash tests and five starts for rear and front tests.
2-In 2002 to 2006 the Mazda MPV received five stars in crash tests done with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
3-There are problems with the five speed transmission from the 2002 model.
4-There has been a problem with the engine ignition coil that comes with the 3.0-litre engine.
5-There is a problem with a cracked exhaust manifolds.
Over all the MPV gets great grades for safety but only gets an average rating for dependability. Mazda stop making these vehicles in 2006, so remember that if you do decide to buy one.