Why mazda mpv discontinued

Come see what we have here at Royal South Mazda and schedule a test drive with us today. We look forward to seeing you! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. What happened to the Mazda 5 minivan? Will the Mazda 5 ever be replaced? The middle row was available as a bench, allowing seating for 8 when most minivans seated 7.

The van was named to Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for and 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 Previa, Nissan's Quest, and Honda's Odyssey all featured purpose-built platforms and eroded Mazda's lead.

The van was refreshed in , adding drivers' side rear door. While the I4 engine retired for the United States market, it was replaced with a similar 2. The '97 and '98 models received a mild refreshing with "all-sport" body cladding and wheel arches, and polished alloy wheels. Mazda discontinued the original MPV after the '98 model year. This second generation MPV featured dual sliding rear doors,front-wheel drive, a third row seat that folded flat into the floor and rear door windows that rolled down.

A 4-speed automatic was standard. The base DX model had a two-place middle bench seat. Its bodystyle is somewhat based upon the V platform Ford Windstar. The LX model featured two middle buckets with a feature whereby the passenger side seat could slide sideways marketed as "side by slide" , power windows and locks, heated power mirrors, privacy glass, and antilock brakes. The ES model added leather seating surfaces, wood tone interior trim, side impact air bags on the front seats, bigger wheels, and dual zone front and rear air conditioners.

In model year , all models added child-safety seat tether anchors. The model year ran long, extending into early in anticipation of the refresh. In model year , power operation of the side doors was made optional on the LX and ES. A base LX-SV model was added midway into the model year. In model year , the MPV received a mild exterior and interior makeover.

The exterior featured new headlights and Altezza style clear taillights. Interior changes included a new steering wheel, gauge surrounds, and a spring assist to ease folding the third row seat into the floor.

The LX Sport package added a customized look with alloy wheels, body side skirts, enhanced tail lights, anti-lock brakes, an air dam under the bumper, and an optional rear-mounted spoiler. The ES model added leather seats, rear air conditioner, power sliding doors, and a choice of moonroof or roof-mounted DVD player. No LX-SV model was offered. In model year , dual zone air conditioning became an optional feature on the LX it had been standard on the LX in Australian models were available with 3 seats in the 2nd row, and two seats in the 3rd row instead of a folding third row.

The Mazda MPV earned an "Acceptable" rating in the IIHS offset frontal crash test in for fair structural performance and very high forces on the dummy's right foot. In , it earned a "Poor" rating in the side-impact crash test without the optional side airbags, indicating that high injuries to the driver and rear occupant are possible.

The 2nd row reclining seats feature an unusual retracting footrest feature. The gear shift was moved from the steering column to the center console, much like most other minivans by Japanese automakers today.

The 4WD and Turbo models are available only in the domestic Japanese market. The third-row bench seat could be readily folded into the floor. It could also be turned to face the tail end of the vehicle when the tailgate was up, in case its owner was ever invited to a soccer-mom tailgate party.

It's worth noting, too, that the MPV's compact size had a silver lining -- it was one of the most maneuverable choices on the market. Those who wanted the most affordable Mazda MPV could opt for the base DX trim, which offered inch wheels, dual manual-sliding doors and a CD player. The next step up was the LX, which added full power accessories and cruise control, as well as center and overhead consoles. Keyless entry was yours to enjoy with the ES trim, along with leather upholstery, inch wheels and heated mirrors.

Options included rear air-conditioning, a power moonroof and a CD changer. Power sliding doors were not available, however. Mazda took steps to address the first-generation MPV's lack of power by installing a standard 2. This engine was an improvement, but Mazda hadn't gone far enough -- the MPV still felt underpowered relative to its rivals.

Mazda did its part to keep the van current, lavishing it with updates over the years. The MPV got a power upgrade in via a 3. That year, MPV buyers could also enjoy the blissful convenience of the van's new power sliding doors; other upgrades included available inch alloys, traction control, a refined braking system and revised suspension tuning. A VHS-based system was offered in alone. The LX-SV model disappeared temporarily in Also that year, the Mazda MPV also got revised front-end styling, a rear air-conditioner and four-wheel disc brakes.

In reviews, our editors agreed that the Mazda MPV was a stylish-looking vehicle and a respectable choice for small families who desired a vehicle that was bigger than most station wagons, yet still more maneuverable than larger competing minivans. Plus, the MPV had a coolness to it that other family haulers were hard-pressed to match: Get this youthful van side by side with its sedate competitors, and the contrast is what you'd see if a twentysomething crashed a party at a retirement home.

And in more practical moments, the MPV's multiconfigurable seats lent it a great deal of versatility. However, the van was stymied by its lack of power relative to the competition; our editors noted that minivans by Honda and Toyota easily managed freeway maneuvers that the MPV struggled to accomplish.

Acceleration wasn't helped by the MPV's five-speed transmission, which had a tendency to upshift too quickly in certain situations. And though the MPV scored top marks in government crash tests, safety was an issue, since the van didn't offer common minivan features like stability control or side curtain airbags. Past Mazda MPVs The first-generation MPV lived from '98 and distinguished itself from its rivals with features like available all-wheel drive and slight dimensions.

The model's traditionally hinged passenger-side rear door opened wide and helped give the vehicle a clean look, but it lacked the functionality of other minivans' sliding rear doors. Originally, Mazda offered a 2. Optional was a hp 3. The van had seating for up to seven passengers.