& MPV means multi-pur-

# pose vehicle, and

a indeed, the changes to
‘the 1996 Mazda MPV
mini-van make this one-

‘of the most versatile,
‘multi-purpose vehicles
-you can buy.

The’ updated MPV offers
new left-side rear passen-
er door, a longer, restyled
nout, a redesigned interior,
4:,and an easily removable rear
bench seat (the previous one
“was bolted to the floor).

The new driver’s side |
rear-door allows passengers
to enter the centre row or
third row of seats from the

‘left side of the van. Unlike
most mini-vans, the MPV
as swing-cut rear doors
“sather than the typical sliding
nes. Though this can be a

dvantage i in tight parking ©

paces, swing-out doors are
ier to open, particulariy

for children: And the MPV's

“The new MPV has stan-.

eight-passenger. seating “

ompared to its previous
en passenger arrange-

ent. The. previous MPV had

ench seat in the middle, and
fixed three-person bench

sais rans
ae
Rie

“THE 1396 Mazda MPV rnini-van offers a new loft-side rear door, removeable reer

lad nose, and a redasigned interior. Test drive tie new MPV at Wolfe
Mazda, 1595 Boundary Rd., Burnaby.

seat at the rear. A fixed three-

“. person centre bench was
‘optional.

For 1996, the standard
seating arrangement is a

fixed three-person centre

bench and a removable three-
person rear bench seat.
Optional are two, non- :.
removable centre capiain's
chairs. Head restraints are

standard at all outboard posi-
tions...

The quick release mecha-
nisins of the rear bench seat
makes it easy to unlatch, but
it takes two people to lift it

_ out of the van. I found it

mire practical to fold and
tumble the rear seat up
against the centre bench seat-
back. This creates enough
room for cargo and leaves
four or five seats for passen-
gers without having to leave
the rear seat ‘at home. .
The. seatback of the centre

bench can by folded flat, and
the hard surface on the back

can be used as a table by the
Tear passengers. It even has
four cupholders.

My test van had the cen-
tre captain’s chairs with
built-in armrests. These seats
don't siide forwards, and I
found that getting into the |
third row seat from either
side was a tight squeeze.
However, you can enter the
vear by going between the
captain's chairs.

The MPV's restyled nose
has been lengthened by about
seven inches (18 cm) to add
more crash protection. The
longer nose also makes the
corners easier to see from the
driver’s seat when parking.

The interior, too, has been
redesigned to make it easier
to see the instruments and
reach controls. The
speedometer and tachometer
are bigger and the automatic

transmission indicator has
been moved to the instru-
ment cluster.

Important safety features
such as dual airbags and
side-door guard beams are
now standard on the MPV.

MPVs are available with
rear-wheel-drive or four-
wheel-drive. The rear-wheel-
drive MPV is one of the
best-handling mini-vans on
the market, and its rear-
wheel-drive configuration
allows it to tow trailers — up
to a maximum of 4,300 ibs.

However, the rear-wheel-
drive MPV doesn't have the
winter traction advantage of
its front-wheel-drive com-
petitors.

_ The MPV is avaiiable
with part-time four-wheel-
drive, a feature that improves
poor weather traction sub-
stantially. This is a shift-on- .

Friday, June 7, 1996 — North Shore News — 25

MPV, and this affects the
handling and stability of the
van slightly. The 4WD MPV
feels more “tipsy” when
negotiating sharp corners,
much like mast 4WD sport
utility vehicles.

In addition, the extra ride
height results in a higher
step-in height, making it
more difficult to enter and - .
exit the 4WD modél. - ..

Last year's base four-

.. cylinder engine has been dis-

1; continued, The standard :

Price as tested (LX

4 4WD): $35,405

4 Base price (L 2WD):
$27,300 _

Type: four-door, eight-
passenger mini-van

; Layout: longitudinal
front engine/rear-wheel-
dsive/PT 4WD

Engine: 3.0-litre V6,
SOHC, 18 valves
Horsepower: 155 @
5,000 rpm. ~
Torque: 169 tt.-ibs. @
4,009 p.m. .
Fuel consumption: City
-— $6.6 V100 km (17
m.p.g.); Hwy. -— 12.1
1/100 km (23 m.p.g.)
Warranty: Basic —
three years/80,000 km

the-fly system that's activat-
ed by pressing a button on

’ the column shift lever. The

MPV'‘s system is easy to use
and almost imperceptible to
the driver, but it’s only for
use on slippery surfaces and
shouldn't be used in the dry.
- The four-wheel-drive

MPV has a higher ride height,

than the rear-wheel-drive

powerplant is now the 155”
horsepower 3.0-litre V6 ~
engine which is 2 smooth,

_ quiet engine. with sufficient,

though not robust power.
A standard four-speed -

’ automatic transmission now

has an on/off overdrive but-
ton at the end of the column
shifter instead of a “Hold”
button. The column shifter is

- unusually long, and obscures

some of the dash controls.
It’s also too close to the
slide-out cupholders — you
have to be very careful not to

"spill your coffee by acciden-

tally bumping the shift lever.

_ The MPV has received &
number of irnportant awards -
since its introduction i in 1989
— the Automobile -. _
Journalists Association of, -
Canada awarded it “Best...
New Van in: 1989,” and the *
4WD version was given the:
same award in 1990. - :

In 1995, the MPV was -
ranked first in the J.D. Power
and Associates Vehicle’ ~;
Dependability Study. 025 |:

Mazda is promoting the —
4WD MPV as an alternative
to a sport-utility vehicle — it «
certainly offers most of the °
advantages of a: 4X4, plus an.
extra three seats.. But does it «

have that rugged image? -

The MPV is definitely

“- worth a test drive if you're in

the market for a well- L
equipped, well- built import ” :
mini-van.**.

CCER! | [1

“REGISTER wow!
PGR 96/87 SEASOR

‘SERVICE & USED PARTS -
(MECHANICAL & BODY PARTS)

from an old world mechanic
(you can trust). .

Saturday, June 8
10:06am 2:60pm

Lonsdale RecCentre at 23rd & Lonsdale - ~ Lobby|
There will be no Fail registration

roi ‘simple service to major rebuilds
we have the expertise & parts

All boys 6 years, (born in 1990 & entering grade 1) §
# and older, residing between Grand Boulevard and
, the Capilano River are invited to register.

‘67 Mahon Avs (off Esplanade)

weil sive you a brake!

For more inforrnation cali $85-S636

SHER DA RTL, S TONS OTR Sen setae

4.31. HO 4 cy.,, auto OID, feather, A/C, C/O, PW,
4 P. gate, lit, C/C, dat, of fac.

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FROM - SPECIAL

52 L. V8, High Country, trae tow, | 6° daay wees Suid 820200
CID, A, P. seats, tl, CIC, PW, PL,

Posi., ABSOLUTELY LOADED

*Goodwrench service *Roadside As:

*ICBC repair service *GMAC Smart Lease Power package,

4.4), 4X4, 30 LVS, auto, OVD, Sport Packa
“HOVE, auto, O/D, A/C, p/seal, keyless entry, PW, AC, PW, PL, CIC, tit, cassette, ale, mitot. osi., PERFECT.

, oeded, balance of factory warranty STK# B-2; 33-1