Gutting and redoing an interior is less costly than chassis or sheetmetal changes. Plus, there were too many hard, slick surfaces, resulting in the nickname, Mostly Plastic Vehicle. If anything dated this hauler before the revamp, it was an interior design that lacked coherence and optimum space utilization - the non-removable rear-most bench and the cupholder stuck on a seat base were good examples. Again, the MPV's performance is as good or better than its "all-new" competitors. ![]() Then the ABS does its thing with a minimum of drama. The system is strong and easily modulated right up to wheel lock. Slowing and stopping are accomplished via four-wheel disc brakes augmented by a four-wheel anti-lock system. Smooth and quiet, but athletic enough if the situation warrants. The MPV set early standards for minivan ride and handling, and it was an eyeopener to realize just how competitive it remains. I've spent considerable time in the latest Ford Windstars and Chrysler Magicwagons, and the comparison was instructive. Memory of previous MPV outings did not serve to discern any improvement in road dynamics, but that is no criticism. The '96 MPV stands taller by 20 mm on the 2WD and 16 mm on the 4WD chassis - the result of larger tires and revised suspension specifications. No change in the vehicle's width or in the length of its wheelbase. The better to park you with, m'dear.Ī longer beak plus new bumpers front and rear add a total of 19.5 cm (7.7 inches) to the MPV's overall length. The new snout is distinctive, bearing crisp lines that complement the body's contours - to my eye, better than its more softly executed predecessor.Īs a side benefit, when the fenders were raised to meet the grille's height, they were also brought into the driver's sightline. Shape changes were exacted on the nose, which has been extended to incorporate the "crush zone" mandated by U.S. ![]() Both rear doors have operating windows for '96. Revisions to the body shape are immediately noticeable and there's now a fourth door.Ĭontinuing to eschew the rear side-sliders common on most minivans, the MPV goes four-door with an additional swing-out on the driver's side. Thus, a reno job, the first major renovation for the MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) since its intro in 1988 as an '89 model. Somewhat cashstrapped these days, Mazda could not afford to design and launch an all-new machine. While minor upgrades have kept the van in play, the time had come for more radical action. The most popular import minivan has recently been faced with new and fearsome competition. Adding to the excitement created by all the striking new vehicles at February's Toronto car show was the buzz surrounding an eight-year-old minivan.ĭressed up for the show in a roof rack, gnarly tires and wheelwell lips, Mazda's 4WD MPV All-Sport drew crowds every day of the exposition.
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