Used 2003 Mazda MPV Consumer Reviews
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Mazda van
This is the second Mazda Van we had. We had the 2000 and the 2003. the 2003 Has a better engine and 16 in tires which give it a better ride.this van is good for a small fam.
Best all-around value
My wife and I looked at the Nissan Quest, Honda Odyssey , and the MPV. We loved the extra room of the Honda, but to have it you also need to accept another $7000 on the price, no buying incentives (rebates,etc) and the fact that the Honda drives like a much larger vehicle. The new Quest was an immediate "no" because the console looks like a coffee table with a video game joystick sticking out of it. So we took the MPV, and got 0% financing plus an instant $3000 off the sticker right up front. It's a great value, and has lots of family-friendly features.
- LX Passenger MinivanMSRP: $3,600827 mi away
- LX Passenger MinivanMSRP: $2,0001,357 mi away
- LX Passenger MinivanMSRP: $3,9951,779 mi away
2003 mpv
Seems much better though smaller than my Fords Windstar... Mazda shows quality with this car
6 Month Review
I bought an ES in early June to replace my '93 MPV. Got a deal with $2k rebate, $2.1k Ford "S-Plan" and another $500 S-plan bonus with no more room left to negotiate after all that. My wife ejoys the minivan because it is quick with responsive handling and a nice stereo. I am probably biased since I currently own a '95 Protege LX and '03 Protege 5 and use to own an '86 RX-& GLX and '93 MPV. I have listed lots of good things below. A few other things of note include great leather seats and rear heating with the "4- seasons" option. Another thoughtful item is the left side sliding door does not open when you are gassing up.
MPV = Lemon, Lemon, Lemon
Transmission was replaced with less than 4000 miles on vehicle. Transmission still having problems. Dealer unwilling to resolve. Car in body shop being dismantled to attempt to resolve knocking sound. Over the last 2 months this car has been at dealer over 25 days. This car has the highest NHTSA incidence of consumer complaints. Would not have purchased this car if I had known.
happy
this is my fourth mpv.only problem not enough horses.this one great though i miss 4x4...get 21 + m pg time will tell
Mazda MPV
Handling is a breeze compared to larger minivans. For urban driving it has the ability to maneuver side streets, parked vehicles. Great for loading children and the limited cargo we carry. Very easy to park.
Best Value
We compared the Odyssey, Sienna, and MPV with the help of this site and local dealers. By far, this was the best value-8K less than comparable Odyssey and 10-12K less than Sienna. I love the sporty ride, the kids love the comfortable "slide by side" captains chairs and DVD and my husband loves that it fits in the garage! Don't let the smaller size discourage you--the well in the cargo area can hold a lot of groceries!Check out the 4 seasons options--has rear heater controls for the kids.
Great Van
As a previous owner of minivans, I found the MPV to be a very well designed Minivan and it seems that they thought of everything. There is no timing belt to change and that is important as this is an interference engine which means if your timing belt breaks or jumps you will bend valves. The flip down rear seat, radio controls on the steering wheel, large and nemerous drink holders, thick leather interior and power sliding doors are among my favorite features. Get the power sliding doors. They are worth the money. At first I wasn't going to get them but I worked the dealer lower on the price of the van that had them. Buy one, you will be glad you did.
I RENTED IT AND IT BLEW ME AWAY!!!
I rented a minivan to transport my family (wife and three children) to Syracuse, NY. I did not know the type of minivan I was going to get but expected a Windstar. We ended up with a Mazda MPV ES. I LOVED driving this minivan. My other car is a BMW. Guess what? I'm in love all over again!!!
What a great little van!
I love this van! It's quick and nimble, solidly built, and has great features! I looked a the Honda and Toyota and just couldn't justify the $8,000+ cost difference. I'm very, very happy with this vehicle and would buy another in an instant!
Love the MPV
Came out of a 2001 Maxima-wanted a minivan that handeled similar and of similar size-the MPV was that vehicle. With the dealer $5000 off MSRP came out around $3000 BELOW invoice-a great deal!! Like the handling, comfort and style plus the good pickup (made even better with a K&N air filter and a "Tornado") and am getting about 24 mpg!! wife loves it too - even occasionally drives it to the store, etc. To the other poster regarding the sliding door vs. the gas tank opening-I had the same concern until I had it open and tried the door-the vehicle puts a stop on the door about 2 inches before the gas door as opened-so no worries mate.
not a happy camper
Many problems - I'll never buy Mazda again - - oil leak started at 70000; dealer "fixed" but fix only lasted 30000 miles - manifold cracked - very noisy on startup - catalytic converter needed to be replaced at 125000 - replaced 2 coils at $200 a piece. This is not what I call reliability.
Do Not Buy This Van!
This is the worst experience I have ever had with a vehicle. Purchased used. One owner lease. Good price and had all I wanted. Well the engine started coughing. 2 coils replaced, transmission, fan cooling system, and then another enginge. That engine was coughing. Another lower mileage engine around 40,000 installed. Now that engine is coughing since it now has around 75,000 miles on it, the engine not odometer. New driver window motor, 4 o2 censons, and a new cadallidic converter. I have put more money in this van than its worth. Mazda is not coming clean on the engine problems and they should be recalled. Shame on you! Just paid off my van and can't afford another vehicle or more repairs!
Zoom zoom mpv mom
The van really is easy to drive. Love the Moonroof, the windows that go down in the back. The tumble under seat for getting your stuff back there. Perfect height to side in and out. Not to big. Not a big brick in the wind.
A minivan well worth the price
My wife and I spent 6 months researching minivans for our next purchase. Given all factors of cost, reliability, features, etc. What we like about the vehicle is the comfortable seating along with the instrument panel. Another nice plus is the ability to control the radio/CD player from the steering wheel. The minivan handles like a car and grips the road. The MPV is quiet on the highways and provides a nice ride at interstate speeds. We got a great deal which included a $2000 rebate and close to deal cost. The only serious contender was the Honda Odessey. We could not justify spending $3000-4000 more on the Honda name.
It is different
I have used some other MiniVans. This is my first drive and buy of a Mazda vehicle. I really astonished to see such a good performing vehicle and with some many features (in ES model), which compititers are selling in more than $6000. Performance and reliability is much higher than my expections. I am really happy to own this minivan.
Almost perfection
I compared this van with their equivalent in Nissan and Toyota, and it has better design, and the price is lower. More features than Dodge Grand Caravan. It's an amazing car!
Good van with a very good price
The MPV is smaller than I expected. I had a small wheelbase 95 Voyager, and this seems like it has less room. From my point of view is built more for Asian and European roads than American. I personally like the smaller size and firmer ride. If youre expecting a roomy, cushy American highway cruiser, this is not it. Handles well, acceptable acceleration, and relatively quiet. So far, no reliability problems of any kind.
Pleasant Surprise
We previously owned an '00 MPV DX. It was nice, but lacked a few creature comforts. The combination of subtle and not-so-subtle improvements is absolutely fantastic. The extra horsepower, torque and 5th gear in the automatic translate to cleaner shift points and better mileage. We got an incredible deal on an '03 leftover, and are thoroughly enjoying the luxury. If you're considering a minivan and don't need the long wheelbase of a GM or Chrysler product, give this a try. It handles like a sports sedan, and is every bit as equipped as the top-ranked Odyssey.
Soccer mom has got some go!
I'm 12 so I thought I'd give my Idea of this van. My mom found a brand new MPV; it was a 2003. So far we have found some cons on this. One positive is it has the power to pass a Ford Expedition or a Chevy Suburban and my dad's Mercedes Benz for that matter. Some problems are that for what ever reason it sucks gas! The dealer can't seem to describe what the van does but it does this thing were when you put it in gear the tranny clunks, shaking the van. It doesn't really do that though, only when its hot.
Check out all mini's
Excellent value. Kids are in college but wife still wanted room for 6. I wanted fun to drive and easy on gas. This van fits the bill for both. It really zooms and handles like a car. I could not justify the extra cost of the Honda or Toyota when this van was available (LX) for under $20K.
Well designed compact minivan
We've owned the MPV for just over two months and it's been great. Very quiet on the inside, you can just about hear the horn. Love the third row seat and the sliding door roll down windows are especially popular with my kids. The well for the third row seat holds grocery bags excellently well. Fit and finish are excellent. The ride is relatively sporty - not in the league of my Ford Contour with its wide tires and stiff suspension - but there is noticable body roll in turns. The interior is quite ergonomic except for the fact that the column shifter partly hides the volume control and sometimes I have tried to "shift" the turn signal lever.
MPV Best for the Money
Love this vehicle! Fun to drive, lots of power and has more standard features than any other van I test drove within $3000 of my purchase price. That includes the Honda, Toyota and Chrysler vans! Most will say the Honda is the best van on the market. I say test drive the MPV and you may change your tune. Plus, you will pay the dealership at least $6000 less.
Oustanding Vehicle
We purchased our MPV online through Carsdirect.com which was itself a 5- star experience. Mazda was offering 0% financing at the time which sealed the deal for us, but we really liked the overall package Mazda offers with the MPV. We researched several mini-vans before deciding on the MPV. The only real concern we had with the MPV was the interior room, but Mazda did an incredible job with their design. We estimate we saved at least $5000 by avoiding the popular Honda Oddysey and we really believe we found the best value all thing considered.
soul of a sports car
Have had the MPV ES for two months, love it - handles well, great features and well built
Fix the Transmission
Watch the transmission. Very annoying clunks, which make me worry it will fail in later years. Very cool looking. Small, but if that's what you want you won't be disappointed. I bought mine new and overall is a good value.
It is good van for this price
It is fun to drive.
I love it
i really enjoy driving the car, the seats are very comfortable. I dislike the headrests, which cannot be utilized while on trips (they need to be extended forward). Service visits have been the minimum for almost 2 years that I have owned it.
loved this van
We bought our MPV used with 50000 miles on it. We have not had any major problems other than a sensor on the gear shift went bad and the auto sliding doors quit working, cost 500 to fix. It was really nice on long trips and had plenty of power. In the winters we lost 4 mls per gallon and the check engine lite would come on, then in spring all would be fine. We had planned on keeping it for a long time till a kid ran a stop sign and hit the back fender of the van at 60 mph. We spun around a few times and hit a telephone pole. The van was a loss but my 6 yr old and i walked away with a few bumps. I hate to see it go and now my wife wants a volvo.....
Excellent Choice for Family
We bought our MPV LX brand new in late 2002. 3 1/2 years and 80,000 miles later, we are still very happy with the van. It is smaller than Honda and Toyota minivans, and is just the perfect size for a family of 4. Originally my wife insisted on buying a minivan after our first child was born. I hesitated to be seen in a minivan. But we rented an MPV during a vacation and felt in love with the size and handling. We have only had one mechanical problem with a radiator hose during the 80,000 miles we've had the van. The problem occurred around 30,000 miles, and was fixed by the dealer (there was a bulletin on the issue). Other than that, it has been very reliable.
Drive like a sportscar & the best look!!
I was considering both new Quest and MPV, the MPV handling is amazing since I am used to the firm suspension of my Mazdaspeed Protege, I like how the MPV gives me feedback of the road. It feels sporty and speed from 0-60 in no time. There is lot of driving pleasure even with family members and friends. It is a 7 seater sportscar!! Fuel economy is pretty good, about 20.9 per gallon on avg. I push the paddle a lot!
No Magic Minivan Bullet
I like its maneuverable size, with good brakes and good steering feel. Overall, it has a nice interior (with a few ergonomic miscues) and seems well thoughtout. Nevertheless, it is far from a driver's car. It lacks enough engine power when loaded. The suspension has too much impact harshness at recommended tire psi. I have had two warranty repairs (cooling system,A/C)and 2 issues that were the subject of TSBs(transmission, brake clunk)in less than one year. I expected more from a Japanese brand with an ostensible reputation for quality. Fuel economy is poor for a 3.0 liter V-6.
Grear Buy
The size is perfect for me as parking is easy, and loading of people or "stuff" is a snap. Twenty point six (20.6) MPG on 87 octane fuel around town is a big plus. It's dollar value and proven Mazda reliability were strong buying motives for me. Handling is on a par with some American sports cars I have driven.
MPV great van
This is the best car I ever owned. Fun to drive for a van, fits everyone and the fold down seat is great.
Mazda MPV a sport van
a very swporty van
Review After One + Year Of Ownership
Well we have owned this vehicle for the past 16 months - and still love it!!! After the dealership reflashed the transmissions control module firmware the accelleration has been as smooth as a babies butt- Outside of a couple of minor recall items the only other maintenance has been oil changes and tire rotation. The vehicle handles very well - especially on hilly/twisty roads. The gas mileage is still over 23 mpg in combined driving. We would definitely purchase another MPV - but it looks like this one is going to last for a very long time! I would recommend the MPV to anyone - it is probably the best "bang for the buck" of any minivan out there.
The best van for automotive enthusiasts
The Mazda MPV is grossly underrated by automotive writers because of their reverence for the Honda Odyssey. When my wife and I test drove the MPV and Odyssey back-to-back, we expected to be impressed by the Odyssey but we were stunned by its clumsy handling and braking. The MPV handles, maneuvers, and brakes about as well as our '98 Honda Accord EX. In contrast, the Odyssey is ponderous, handles sluggishly, and fishtails under hard braking. The MSRP of the MPV is overpriced relative to the Odyssey. Fortunately, Mazda continually offers incentives. We paid $1500 under invoice.
Best of Everything
Did extensive research before settling on the MPV LX - typical comparo, Honda, Toyota, etc...Honda turned me off right off the bat, dealers demanding near MSRP (for a minivan, are they high?), and were aloof on top of it all. One test drive of the MPV, and I was sold. Unbelievable vehicle, fit and finish (typical Japanese build quality), handling, driving dynamics are outstanding. The fact it is so underrated only helps buyers like us, who know better and can get these at cost.
Test drove the rest and bought the best.
I do not like minivans but my wife wanted one. After testing the Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Kia I liked the drive and creature comforts of the Mazda. Some of the features that blew my mind away were the acceleration and handling. For a minivan this thing hops! The interior is nice and there are plenty of cupholders. We haven't had any problems with the MPV and would recommend one to anyone looking for a minivan.
02 LX
This is a very nice vehicle. We love the handling, power, visibility from the inside, and especially the interior egonomics. Very glad we went with this over the Honda, or Toyota. Those two definitely had inflated pricing. Had droves of Honda and Toyota owners looking it over at Saturdays Soccer games. Not a single build defect noted in our first 1,000 miles of ownership. This is the best minivan in this class today hands down. This is our second Mazda, and surely will not be our last.
Disappointing
I used to own used 1994 MPV that I was very satisfied with. it ran over 180k miles without any major problems. and that is main reason for buying an MPV again. The van drives like a sports car, totally satisfied the way it drives. I took in for service 3 times and I still have transmission hard/erratic shift problem (slightly better now), severe vibrating at more than 80 mph, and brake noise. I've owned new Nissan, Acura, and Toyota cars and all had some problems initially but were fixed, and they were nothing major. but this MPV is different; either dealer's mechanics are not capable or it's just plain bad manufacturing.
For drivers!
We drove all the top rated minivans... and many times over. We love the luxury of the Sienna and the boldness of the Quest, but the driving experience of the MPV trumped them both. We call it our SUVan. Initially, I was stuck on "bigger is better" but the wife insisted on a tight handling, economical package that gave us great touring visibility and luxury and saved $4-6k. Our loaded ES doesn't miss a trick. It's ideal for a couple or family in an urban setting.
Should have bought the Honda...
I have owned the MPV for 40,000 miles now. Just had the rotors replaced because of all the hotspots, warping and bad quality. While the fit and finish are good, the transmission feels like it is about to fall out when the engine gets heated up, and that's WITH the tranny cooler! Of course Mazda can't figure out (or admit) anything, nor will they help. I'm sure that the dealer will be able to figure it out 1 mile after the warranty runs out. The DVD is junk. We have it replaced annually because the screen burns out. No replacement foam earpieces for the IR headphones just insures that we will be buying another make next time. Looks good, but it's in the shop far too often!
Great Minivan
We have had our MPV for just about a month now & still love needing to go somewhere just so we can drive it. We have 3-year-old twins (2 carseats) and find that this vehicle is so functional. We have plenty of room for longer trips, yet the vehicle is the most carlike of the 4 minivans we test drove (Honda, Toyota '04, Chrysler). We opted for the LX with pwr sliding doors, 4 seasons package, sidebags w/tract & roof rack. We paid about 22K! The same in the Toyota or Honda would have been about 4K or so more! In CR the MPV's reliability was 2nd only to that of the Sienna (could this have something to do with it being assembled in Japan?).
Mazda between Us and Japan
This is a good solid van, with several "need to improve" desing features. A little attention to this product and some marketing could sell alot more of them.
My Perfect Van
I bought the van for my wife, but I find myself always driving it. We got the LX with all the options. The only drawback is the interior noise, it can be loud when it's windy. Other than that, it's a great van for the price.
Hiram's Review Excellent
Excellent Mini-Van. Excellent Performance.
minivan alternative to pork-mobiles
Our MPV has been wonderful. It is just what we needed. Not too big (unlike pork-mobiles disguised as minivans), and not too small (more than adequate storage capacity). The engine is quiet and accelerates quickly. Interior comfort, versatility and quality are first-rate. Exterior finish is top quality as well. Overall, a very versatile and balanced minivan that should appeal to anyone looking for a respectable powertrain, above-average passenger & cargo capacity, top-notch safety features, interior comfort and excellent reliability.
Recommended by a Van Enemy!
We needed a bigger vehicle since our family became larger. It was either an SUV with a third row seat or a van. Couldn't go Odyssey, too expensive or GMC Suburban (bad gas mileage); MPV was the way to go. We bought it used with 32,000 miles on it. And it was great. Surprisingly i fell in love with it the first test drive. Usually i would not drive a van because it made me look like a soccer dad (hahahha) but when you feel the power as well as the comfort I couldn't resist.