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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.
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