In today’s automotive world, there are a huge number of Japanese brands, and some are big players, while others remain more discrete. If you ask people around you what the first Japanese car manufacturer brand is they think of, you’re bound to get responses like Honda and Toyota.
The spotlight seems to be on these 2 manufacturers, but Mazda offers some excellent vehicles too, and they don’t seem to be judge accordingly by the public. Competitive cars that offer good value for money and reliability don’t have that unique feature and the brand is not shining in the world’s big racing championship. Only models like the Roadster (aka MX-5, Miata and Eunos) and the RX-7 or 8 get the manufacturer out of the big unknown, and the executives at Mazda have noticed this too (as well as a negative effect on the sales of their 10 other models), so they asked the engineers to offer more attractive and appealing vehicles with a distinct character. The first cars that lived up to this demand are the Roadster, the RX-8 and this MPV.
This Multi Purpose Vehicle really is an example of this new desire at Mazda, besides the new Roadster and the RX-8. It doesn’t look like any other MPV out there, this family car really offers a lot of charming features and looks, and it packs the sex-appeal the previous generation was lacking. It became much more dynamic with its long lines and packs that sporty spirit that could also be found on the successful RX-8 for example.
We got in touch with Mazda to check whether a press vehicle was available because we wanted to check out that the car really lived up to its looks and promises in the brochures.
The outside really looks the part, this new MPV offers seductive lines and we were immediately won over by the design. When looking at the front, it becomes immediately clear that this car takes a sporty direction with the huge air-intake under the bumper and the very aggressive grille with mesh design. Add almond shaped fog lights and head lights that follow the shape of the bodywork, and you get a pretty aggressive and sporty package. The powerful impression is accentuated when looking at the car from the side. Light and sleek lines, big front and rear doors that provide access to the spacious interior, but nothing gives this car a heavy or massive look. We were impressed by the front of the car, but the same goes for the rear, with double exhaust pipes and a rear spoiler. The MPV wants to look young, dynamic and sporty, and the superb 18” aluminum rims add to that effect.
Aesthetically, this MPV is a true success on the outside, and we were curious to find out whether the interior would be on par with the outside of the car.
Comfort and space are the 2 key words on the inside. This vehicle has the perfect dimensions for this type of vehicle: 4.86m long, 1.68m high and a wheelbase of 2.95m. It can accommodate up to 8 people, depending on the configuration you choose. On our test model, the 23T, the driving position was good, and the passengers were quite spoilt too with 4 individual seats and 2 “emergency” seats in the boot. The 2 front passengers even get the luxury of having 2 reclining seats with footrests.
An MPV is designed to make long journeys with the family, so what do you need during those long trips? Right, entertainment and distraction! And when it comes to keeping the passengers busy, this Mazda MPV has what it needs. Our model came with a DVD/TV player for the rear passengers hooked up to a Bose 5.1 audio system! You can even connect your game console thanks to the audio/video-in connector and a mains plug to power the console.
The driver also gets a number of cool gadgets like a rearview camera and a camera on the left outside mirror (on the Japanese models, just to make parking easier). The driver can also open or close all the windows as well as the sliding doors and the boot of the MPV. The vehicle also has an electronic key, and the dashboard has a very nifty speedometer and rev-meter with some kind of 3D effect. The gear stick of the automatic version we drove, is positioned to provide even greater comfort while driving.
So what does this MPV have under the bonnet? In Japan, you can choose between a 2260cc DOHC engine that develops 163bhp at 6500rpm and 210Nm of torque, and a DOHC Turbo iDISI engine that delivers 245bhp at 5000rpm and 345Nm. Our MPV 23T test model had the turbocharged engine. The competition in Japan usually goes for V6 based solutions, but Mazda is going for low fuel consumption with this new engine. According to the manufacturer, this iDISI engine offers better performance than the competition, combined with better fuel mileage. The fuel consumption is indeed lower, but this is no racing car either. The rather high weight of 1.8 tons is not very favorable to tire-eating tricks, and you really notice the high weight when pressing the pedal to the floor. The 23T also suffers from a turbo lag, and maybe Mazda should have opted for a small V6 that delivers a bit more performance as well as a nice sound. Don’t be too alarmed though, it’s just that we usually test more sporty vehicles, and this MPV, turbocharged or not, is suited for the vast majority of the target audience. When it comes to road handling, no surprises there. It’s better than average, the car is stable, even at high speeds. You can also opt for a 4WD system on this MPV, which will make the car heavier, but it will make car stick to the tarmac, no matter what season it is.
So what do we think of this car? Despite the lack of punch on the starting line or when overtaking for example, you can transport a whole family in this very sporty looking car in security. It looks great on the inside too, and you won’t feel ashamed to be seen in this car. We like the multiple gadgets like the remote opening/closing system of the doors and boot, the control cameras and the superb Bose 5.1 audio system. The feeling of comfort and security reigns in this MPV, and you will forget all the daily troubles on the road. The feeling of comfort even makes you forget that it lacks a bit of punch and you’ll immediately adopt a more relaxed driving style, which will also be translated in a lower fuel consumption (and less speeding tickets).
Posted on Sun Oct 07, 11:05 by Fastcars, accounting, California / US
Home Page: http://www.dpccars.com I like the engine they use in this MPV, turbo and 245HP sounds like a winner to me.
Mazda MPV Test Drive
