Car Gazing
Mazda adds some "zoom-zoom" to minivan formula
By Derek Price
While the concept of a nimble minivan isn't so strange, you've got to admit
it's funny to hear Mazda say its MPV "boldly goes where no minivan has gone
before – to the race track."
O.K. So the folks at Mazda are a little overly enthusiastic, but can you
blame them? They're staking their reputation on a lineup of sporty,
driver-oriented vehicles in an attempt to become a sort of Japanese BMW,
which has worked well for cars like the Miata, 6, and upcoming RX-8.
But a minivan designed for crisp handling and driving fun, this we had to
see – and drive – to believe.
It turns out the MPV is no Ferrari beater, but it does have surprisingly
good performance for a minivan. Acceleration, braking, handling, and
steering are all superb, and we'll admit a slight, naughty temptation to do
some handbrake turns just for thrills.
MPV is also among the narrowest and shortest minivans on the market, which
is great for parking and handling. It's not so good for those of us who are
– what's the politically correct term? – horizontally challenged.
And in a weird way, Mazda is right when it says the MPV has "the body of a
minivan and soul of a sports car," as odd as it may seem. While it feels
about as fun as a large sports sedan, it doesn't sacrifice any
family-friendly minivan attributes, like dual sliding doors and lots of room
for kids.
At its heart is a stunning 200-horsepower, 3.0-liter engine. It's among the
best engines you can buy in a minivan because it delivers such smooth,
seamless power no matter when you step on the throttle, making it a far cry
from the wheezy powerplants stuffed under minivan hoods just a few years
ago.
Working in concert with the terrific engine is a noteworthy five-speed
automatic transmission. Engineers carefully selected each gear ratio to fit
the MPV's sporty character, Mazda says, while also making sure each shift is
smooth. It seems to work perfectly, and sometimes the only way to tell when
it shifts is to watch the gauges.
Mazda keeps up with the competition by offering a built-in DVD player this
year to keep the kids happy. MPV also offers exclusive power windows on its
sliding doors, though they only lower about two thirds of the way.
Inside, the MPV doesn't disappoint. Fit and finish of interior materials is
outstanding, with the exception of a tad too much hard plastic on the dash.
As in every Mazda, controls are well-placed and logical.
Mazda has good reason to brag about the MPV's safety, as it earned top
ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's frontal
crash test. It also previously won a five-star rating for side-impact
collisions.
All in all, Mazda goes a little too far in calling the MPV a race car for
the family. But it is easy to drive and can be fun on twisty roads,
something you can't say about many family haulers.
(Derek Price is a newspaper editor and freelance writer living in Texas.
Contact him at dprice@cargazingonline.com)
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