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There is something you must know about the Mazda MPV and that unless you absolutely need a handier sized van and its trimmer ride there is nothing here you can’t get elsewhere in a larger size without paying more. Essentially, this is a small van for a small niche in the family vehicle segment.

The MPV is smaller inside than comparable priced vans from Chrysler and others yet still offers the same family friendly features such as a rear seat that folds into the floor, dual sliding side doors, and seating for seven. The decision point is whether Mazda’s tidier version is what you need because the MPV pricing does not provide any advantage short or long term over the competition. We felt that this Mazda was an agreeable ride, but it hardly has the zoom-zoom ability of its stablemates such as the most excellent RX-8, underrated Mazda Six, and Miata.

A turning radius that is quite large for its length makes the MPV more difficult to park than one would think, especially when compared to the ability of the new Toyota van to cut corners with ease. Handling is as fine as any van except last year’s Honda Odyssey.

ABS is standard, which is a must for a family vehicle, and you have your choice of two models: the base LX and well equipped ES. I would not consider the LX because nearly everything you need is an extra cost option such as front side airbags, traction control, and rear air conditioning.

Seating wise, you get second row bucket seats that can slide together for easier rear seat access or separated should the sibling decide to fight. The third row is a bench seat that folds flat into the floor. I found that using the bay created when the rear seat was upright was excellent for groceries and the low lift over height made is usable even when wearing shorter dresses. As for the comfort of the front seats, I was not pleased. Despite the many manual adjustments, even lumbar is offered, I could not find a position that was comfortable for longer trips. The dual sliding doors were very easy to use, although the remote did not clearly indicate which side you were opening. Best of all, the windows in the optional sliding doors have power windows that roll down. This is an excellent feature. The Mazda is quite easy to get in and out of and provides a fairly commanding view of the road. Despite this I never was comfortable in the MPV as it felt narrow and confining.