Used 1997 Mazda MPV Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 1997 MPV, so we've included reviews for other years of the MPV since its last redesign.
1997 Mazda MPV 4WD
SnowMPV, 02/20/2006
1997 Mazda MPV LX 4dr Minivan 4WD
15 of 15 people found this review helpful
I have had a Toyota Land Cruiser, and compared to that it is agile and very fuel efficient. I used to get 8 MPG in city and 13 Mpg in highway with the Land Cruiser. The 4X4 MPV gets 14 MPG in city and 21 Highway. I have climbed off road areas that my brother with a 4WD Suburban could not keep up. Thanks to MPV's differential lock. This SUV/MINIVAN was never tasted good to car magazines' subjective taste without objective reasons. It is an outstanding low priced 4 wheel drive van with 4 doors.
Great 4x4 van
GWiz, 02/23/2009
1995 Mazda MPV LX 3dr Minivan 4WD
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Can't say enough about this great van. It had about 50,000 miles on it when I bought it to replace my awd multi van. 150,000 miles later it's going as strong as it did the day I bought it. Poor power to weight ratio was solved with a K&N air filter, 3" exhaust system w/low restriction (throaty) muffler and NGK V-groove plugs. The options of 2wd, awd (with transfer case locked) and 4x4 with both trabsfer case and axles locked has gotten me thru anything a cold Winnipeg, Manitoba winter could throw at it. Long trips like 3x to Florida (2000+ miles) and out to BC over the Rockies (about 1800 m) twice along with oddles of shorter (200 to 500 miles) trips make it worth every dollar spent.
1997 Mazda MPV for sale near you
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- ES Passenger MinivanMSRP: N/A2,689 mi away
Reliable MPV
ElementAK, 05/08/2003
1995 Mazda MPV LX 3dr Minivan 4WD
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Purchased our 95 4x4 MPV new, upon a friend's advise. He ran two to 160k miles with no problems. Ours has been trouble free, dependable and extremely versatile. The 4 wheel drive system is one of the best made, although it has no low range - it is not an off road SUV. The 4WD system can be shifted to a true 2WD for summer use, can shift on the fly to 4WD at any speed, can be driven on wet or dry pavement, and has a center differential lock button for extreme traction requirements. Seven passenger carrying capability, excellent traction and moderate interior flexibility. Overall, 7 years of satisfaction - in Alaska!
Bessy is reliable
gallatea, 08/01/2007
1996 Mazda MPV ES 4dr Minivan
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I bought my MPV from an elderly couple when she was already 9 years old. People scoffed at me for doing so. I am laughing all the way to the bank. I had a tune up and timing belt replacement done initially and new tires - expensive, but worth every penny. She's been on a cross country trip and has transported many heavy things, many times. Everytime I think she's a geeky vehicle, I am reminded how roomy and comfy she is again and again. Almost 12 years old now and never had a mechanical problem yet (or an interior problem). Paint is in very good condition too, still glistens with a wax. Best road trip vehicle I've ever had. Great in wet weather too.
MPV fan for life
4WDMPVfan, 02/09/2003
1996 Mazda MPV DX 4dr Minivan
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Wish I could afford to buy one of these new. Our first 4WD MPV was a used '91. Had 121,000 miles on it when we traded and never gave us any serious trouble. We traded for used 96 MPV 4WD. So far the 96 has had no problems either and it has 94,000 miles on it now. I feel very secure in this vehicle. It has a quality feel to it. It's been hit twice with relatively minor damage. I was told they are hard to find used because nobody wants to let go of them. If they don't make more this one will probably die of old age.
Solid Van
MPV Driver, 01/03/2003
1997 Mazda MPV LX 4dr Minivan
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
We have had no significant problems with our MPV over the years. Heard of transmission problems in other vehicles but none in ours yet. Nuisance check engine light goes on and off occasionally, but mechanic has found no problems. Speedo error can be caused by different size tires, stock tires can be very difficult to find and if you can find them you won't want to pay for them. I am encouraged by the number of older style MPVs (3 doors) still running the road that make ours look new. Although the van has been very reliable, I would not give 5 cents for the maintenance department of the dealer where we bought.
A very reliable vehicle
grapemanca, 06/18/2009
1997 Mazda MPV LX 4dr Minivan
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
We've owned our '97 MPV since it was new. It's been a very reliable vehicle, and we've had no major tranny, engine or front-end repairs in almost 12 years (but we do follow the service manual). It can hold a lot of stuff, and makes for an excellent passenger and moving van. The only negatives are its weight, which leads to mediocre fuel economy and premature tire wear. Strange lean to the right as well, which I've noticed on other MPV's. A very solid machine that's taken a fair bit of abuse and kept on driving smoothly.
Soccer Mom Express
ButteFireGuy, 06/08/2003
1995 Mazda MPV LXE 3dr Minivan 4WD
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
This has been the best car I have owned. I used it for delivery and youth trips mainly. It has never left me out cold and always carried what I needed it to. The 4WD is great in the snow. T
Why did they stop making them?
Mr. Peabody, 09/15/2002
1996 Mazda MPV ES 4dr Minivan 4WD
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
We love this van! Great in snow, great for having four kids also. No problems as of yet, only routine main. I would sell this to my best friend and feel good about it, but that will never happen! @ 100,000 it still feels like we could hop in it and drive it cross country and not worry about a thing.
Unbelievable Vehicle
Jim, 06/08/2005
1996 Mazda MPV DX 4dr Minivan
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I bought our '96 Mazda MPV in Sept. 2003 with 145,000 miles on it. Today it has 202,000 and is still going strong. I have only had to replace the starter, spark plug wires, belt tensioner and just recently the radiator. That's it. It runs like a clock. It is quite comfortable. I drive it for 10-12 hours at a stretch and have no problems. I saw the identical vehicle in a parking lot today and sought out the owner to see if he was interested in selling. I would buy another today if I had the chance.
The original SUV crossover!!
SBlack, 10/16/2015
1997 Mazda MPV ES 4dr Minivan 4WD
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I LOVE my MPV. I wish they still made them like this (and not like the minivan they changed into in 1999 and on). I'd get a newer one if I could. I like that it's compact but can haul 8 people, it has 4WD, and it's high enough off the ground so you don't scrape. EVER. I like just about everything about this vehicle!! For hauling 8 people, it's pretty nice. With the middle row on the middle setting, you have adequate legroom. I sat in the rear seat and had enough leg room for a few hours of driving (I'm about 5'8"). The back row is exactly the same width as my Chevy Suburban's 3rd row. It handles great in the snow, but it does turn like a truck. My only cons are the gas mileage is a little low for a car this size (but not too far off the comparable vans of the day), not a lot of storage space in the trunk (also similar to vans in the lat 1990s and early 2000s), and the 3rd row is a bit tricky to access if you have car seats in the middle row and can't fold it forward. It's basically a 1990s crossover vehicle! We've got 145K on it and plan on going lots more!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
After 8 years, mostly in home garage
CalJack, 03/03/2003
1995 Mazda MPV LXE 3dr Minivan
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
Bought this vehicle new for my wife, she dosen't drive much. Has been driven across the states a few times, leather seats too stiff on the butt and you need an extra cushion. Always had popping noises when sun shines on the dashboard, kind of irritating while driving. Has about 37,000 on it now with just routine maintenance,still original tires.Only problem is noisy lifters during warm up on 3.0 engine. Seems like it's not getting enough oil but quiets down once fully warm. Poor fuel economy when compared with my son's 90 Ford SHO, we drove them both to CA from CO and he got about 50% better gas mileage on a high performance engine.
A Reliable Vehicle
HM, 11/01/2020
1995 Mazda MPV LX 3dr Minivan
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Have this vehicle (1995 Mazda MPV LX) for 25 years with 120K and going strong everyday!
Sport Utility, Wagon, and Van All in One
AllSport4WheelDriver, 08/01/2002
1997 Mazda MPV ES 4dr Minivan 4WD
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Had to look high and low to finally find this particular MPV. Bought used with 28k miles, now closing in on 40k and have had no mechanical problems whatsoever. Went on a 4th of July excursion to Lake Tahoe/Reno/Carson City/Sacramento/San Francisco logging over 1,500 miles and the Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicle ran solidly.
Great Car!
R, 02/05/2016
1997 Mazda MPV LX 4dr Minivan 4WD
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought my Mazda Mpv Sport 5 years ago and since has been a very dependable vehicle. The car is quite heavy, weighing about 3,500 lbs, however I have never been able to get the car stuck. The powertrain is pretty much bullet proof, with two solid axles connected by two drivelines. The power is dispersed at the rear of the transmission and the transfer case is gear meshed. With a 3.0 L 6 cylinder engine the van does reasonably well on fuel and plenty of power when needed. I used my van once for towing, and easily dragged a truck up an icy slope with its brakes locked. My only complaint is how packed the mechanical components are. Few repairs are a quick and easy fix, I personally work on it myself, but would recommend taking it to a shop if you don't have a lot of experience working on cars. I like how fast and easy the third row seat is to remove or fold down. This makes a big difference in space and I have used the van for hauling all kinds of things, from treadmills to couches. For 97 technology the van had it all, from the 6 disc cd changer to the electronic controls, but don't forget to grease the door locks and handles (I use white lithium grease). Overall I have been happy with the performance and comfort of my Minivan and would recommend this car to anyone looking for a good vehicle to drive through icy conditions. I live in Alaska and this is one of the best vehicles I have ever driven on the road. My wife loves it and I trust she will be getting to work safe and on time.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
First Cross-over Vehicle
ceprise, 06/24/2004
1996 Mazda MPV LX 4dr Minivan 4WD
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Mazda didn't realize it, but these were the first crossover vehicles. Mini- van, SUV, stationwagon? We bought our 96 in 02, with 49K pampered miles from a nice Russian couple. They were moving on up to a Highlander. My local Mazda dealer told me that these 96-98 MPVs were never on his lot, as owners either kept or sold private. Our '96 is now in the shop for a +92k rebuild. Timing belt and water pump replacemant, front U-joint boots, motor and tranny fluid replacement. It'll run about $800-900 bucks. Well worth the price! I just had a '99 Concorde 2.7L DIE at 98K of crankshaft failure. I'll pamper my 96 MPV, Thank You! I popped in E-Bay 6-CD,it rock
Totally Dependable
Rep On The Road, 08/24/2004
1996 Mazda MPV ES 4dr Minivan 4WD
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This was my 3rd MPV beginning with a '90 which had the floor mounted manual trans - probably the best of the lot! - followed by a '93 and now this vehicle which I have driven for almost 8 years. Overall, a really dependable vehicle with just one vice, the tension device on the timing belt. All 3 vehicles had to have this tiny, costly item replaced...usually around 60K+ when the recommended timing belt replacement was made. Too bad that Mazda no longer sees a need for 4WD in the current Soccer Mom limousine.......
1996 Mazda MPV
ldotson2, 04/09/2003
1996 Mazda MPV ES 4dr Minivan 4WD
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I recently changed from working within one mile of my home to working forty- five miles away. I had no hesitation in driving my 1996 MPV Allsport 4WD with 110,000 miles on it. As a matter of fact we had a sudden snowstorm here in Nashville with considerable snowfall and my four-wheel drive and my overdrive Off button worked absolutely perfectly. My husband has a Mazda B4000,1994 with 171,000 miles on it. We love them!
Satisfied owner
Travler, 05/29/2003
1996 Mazda MPV LX 4dr Minivan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
A very reliable vehicle. Handling could be much better. Ride could be better. Noise in interior is above average. Good fuel economy and uses regular. Paint and interior held up well. Over all a very good vehicle.
Great Vehicle for Offroad and Vacations
Ed Strelow, 07/22/2022
1996 Mazda MPV ES 4dr Minivan 4WD
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
We bought our 96 new in the spring of 97 at a considerable discount. (Few people seem to know that even vehicles which have never been sold, drop a lot in price when the new year starts.) Now with 25 years under its belt it has 165,000 miles and still looks good and runs well. About 5 years in, the AC needed a new condenser. At 20 years it needed work on the automatic levelling. I chose the expensive alternative of original equipment rather than a cheaper weld job which would have eliminated the auto leveling. That and a radiator 3 years later. We originally got this to take us off road in Anza Borrego, a large California state park set up for off road driving and camping. We have done more than 100 such camping trips. We are in no hurry to sell, anything new with this capability would probably be at least $50K new.
Best MiniSUV/VAN
jerome, 08/05/2008
1997 Mazda MPV LX 4dr Minivan 4WD
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Great vehicle. Mazda had a great thing going, and now suvs became this type of vehicle. Wish they never changed the design, or change back and put in newer components and engines. This is a great style. Rear seats don't have much leg room, but when your kids start to get cramped back there, it means soon enough they won't want to be in the same car with you anyway, LOL. So good, I have been looking for another one and getting rid of my car.
Love my MPV
kclark987, 12/19/2002
1997 Mazda MPV LX 4dr Minivan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
We like the fact that this minivan looks more like an SUV than a minivan. The rear wheel drive is great for towing (up to 3500 lbs) and the handling is excellent. We've had absolutely no problems in the 57,000 miles we've owned it. In fact, other than the driver's side sun visor, I can't think of anything that's gone wrong.
Fun Van
s.d., 11/16/2003
1997 Mazda MPV ES 4dr Minivan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Our Mazda MPV has been wonderful. One of our biggest favorites about this model is the two back doors are 'regular' doors...not sliding doors. Also captain chair seats that recline in both the front & rear areas make movement inside similar to that of an airplane! A must with 4 children! Thanks to Mazda and Jim Ellis dealership for wonderful service over the years in keeping our great investment in such good shape. Would buy another in a heartbeat. SD
ma05
GG, 02/02/2005
1996 Mazda MPV ES 4dr Minivan
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
a good solid minivan well designed. good size for around town
Sales Engineer
lee hendrix, 07/11/2002
1997 Mazda MPV ES 4dr Minivan 4WD
1 of 4 people found this review helpful
We found this vehicle's tranmission to be very expensive to repair and unreliable. The same is true with other engine components. The transmission cost almost $3,000 to repair. The catalytic converter is almost $600. Power window regulators failed and the speedometer has been off by 5 miles per hour since the purchase of the vehicle.
I can't believe it's rear wheel drive??
johnny marshall, 02/04/2004
1997 Mazda MPV LX 4dr Minivan
1 of 9 people found this review helpful
Bought it with load and people in mind. That's all I got.Constant rear passenger door locking problem, it locks when it shouldn't. In winter, all locks go screwy. I NEVER asked if it was front wheel drive when I bought it. Japanese DON'T make rear wheel drive anything anymore, right? WRONG! New winter tires on, it handles worse than my old GMC vandura! No confidence in this vehicle whatsoever. Even the Big 3 make front wheel drive minivans! What happened to these guys on this one? The fuel economy is aweful, I can't wait to change it! I think a Sante Fe will be better than this. What a shame!
mpv
Grant, 05/10/2006
1996 Mazda MPV ES 4dr Minivan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Well built and solid road feel. Smooth running engine. Interior with good quality components. Exceptionally good four wheel disk brakes.
GOOD JOB MAZDA
reliablevan, 10/22/2004
1996 Mazda MPV LX 4dr Minivan 4WD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
the van is too reliable beside routine maintanence this is the most reliable car i have ever owned