Middle row reclining captians chairs- plus,access to rear w/o having to exit the car-perfect when you need that candy bar you bought at check out and forgot to get out the bag, sliding door windows,overall interior space, great looking exterior frame-does't look like a soccer mom's minivan.

gear shift too long-blocks audio functions, sliding doors need locking device for when van is in a reclined position-like driveway.

After my 1999 Ford Explorer rolled over, I considered the purchase of a minivan to be a downgrade-how mistaking was I. This van has all the features and accomodations I had in the infamous SUV. From the front to the rear I appreciate all that this minivan has to offer. The leather seats,woodgrain, and six disk CD player are great extras. In addition to this, everything is at arms reach; the garage door opener compartment-that I use for my multiple pairs of shades(for this FL sun), the 6 disk CD player(a little Luther for me;a little hip hop for the kids), the hidden sliding draw under the passenger side seat, where I hide snacks-my daughter doesn't even know about that. Multiple cup holders and adjustable arm rest are nice. The second row is great also! Compared to the bench in a SUV the two captians chairs are ideal, one for a car seat and a two year old and one for a teenager-everyone has elbow room. And, of course, the third row- I can pile the back up with groceries or use the hideaway seats for my visiting family from NYC. The cherry red, stylish exterior,cool grey leather interior and woodgrain make it the hottest looking minivan I've seen. The audio system can contend with my previous SUV system-that is a plus. Most importantly, when I flip down the drivers side sunvisor I don't see that horrible yellow warning sticker. Now the only rolling going on, is Tina Turner's cd.

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No comparison: 2000 Kia Sportage ( hated it!), 1999 Ford Explorer (loved it! But not worth the risk.)

Power-4 door configuration- great handling

rear wheel drive limits traction in the snow

Bought this demo with a couple thousand miles on it. What a great deal. We love the 4 door configuration. We have had no problems other than general maintenance up to 75k miles. Mazda got it right with this mini van.

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2 prior MPV's always a great van.

Verry fast/powerful Beautiful ride Pwr. sliding door windows Folding rear seats Made in Japan

Slideing doors should slide back another 5-6" Gear shift is too big Front seats are a little stiff

This van I believe is one of the best on the market. I still get complements on it's looks and it's power. The van is fairly good on gas unless you have a heavy foot then it becomes really thirsty. I had 2 other makes of van out and the MVP was far better. Make sure you you put it on your list when you go car shopping. No regrets except I should have got the 16" wheels.

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Caravan Venture

Excellent reliability, hasn't been in the shop (other than routine maintenance and body work) in the two years we've owned it. Second row seats are cool, can be moved together or separated as needed. Third row fold down seat is very easy to use. I would highly recommend the MPV.

Only a couple of weaknesses: lack of HP compared to Odyssey and Sienna, but we made the sacrifice to save $$$. The only other thing is that it's a bit on the small side. I'm 6'8" which doesn't help. But our family of six gets around pretty comfortably.

We purchased the MPV a little over two years ago when our twins were born. We based our decision in large part on the reviews on this site. We have been very pleased with the purchase until now and I continue to use this site to evaluate future vehicle purchases. Thanks!

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Sienna

Very well built, I am sure the minivan will last at least 10 years. It is just what I wanted from a minivan. It looks great as well.

The seats is not as comfortable as my Audi's seats. On very hot days the kids needs an air-conditioner in the back as well, currently it only has a blower. But these small things does not bother me at all.

Me and my wife tested all the minivans in detail at auto shows and dealerships, I also did a lot of research on the internet. I wanted a minivan that drives like a sports car, with the reliability of a Lexus. The Mazda was the winner. What a great minivan. I first had an Audi A4, therefore sports luxury cars is my type of car. The size of my family forced me into a minivan. The great thing about the Mazda MPV is that it feels like a luxury sports car, it is fast with great gear shifting and cornering. The 17' wheels looks great as well. I got it for a great deal as well with the Mazda rebate program at that time. The minivan is very well built (in Hiroshima, Japan), and I am very happy to service my minivan at Tustin, CA Mazda. You can't go wrong with this Minivan, it is a great car. I am a mazda fan now.

- Styling, the best looking minivan inside and out. - Dashboard is ergonomically designed - Seat configurations - Powered 2nd row windows (distinct to Mazda) - Underrated engine b/c of ho-hum transmission. - Fit & finish is top-notched - Underrated stereo system

- Slightly under-powered for those who use the minivan to haul heavy loads. - Sulfur smell is bad enough to think twice. - Sliding doors don't have locking mechanism to ensure safety when the van is parked on upward or downward slopes. - Although the engine is slightly under-powered, it is the transmission that should be blamed for it. Shifts too long on low gears and has tendency to downshift abruptly from 4th or 3rd gear downwards.

Stylish, well designed, smart-sized minivan. Interior shines with it's customizable seat configurations. Well designed dashboard, ergonomically sounded, with all functions smartly laid out. Shift lever is almost 2 in. too long, and may impede some radio functions. Occasional bad sulfur smell coming from the vents when used. Although slightly under-powered, the 2.5 L 170 hp is adequate enough on the go. The engine requires high revs to maximize it's power.

Comfort, convenience, engine, Japanese made, attention to detail; quality

Gear shift too long, interior is quiet, but the engine is very noisy (esp when air cond is running) on the outside, needs side impact airbags as standard on the LX.

Wanted a Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna, but defeated by price and high financing for both (inexcusable in this economy!). Also reluctant to buy Sienna due to it being the first year of revamped model. Checked out the Mazda due to excellent consumer reports reviews and excellent online consumer reviews (more important than Consumer Reports, I think). Bottom line is we are enjoying the van, and very happy with the purchase. Comfortable, good engine, child can sit in back seat, in the middle and not get the sunlight in her face. The doors are easy to open and close, and love that the rear windows can be lowered. We recommend this van to anyone considering a minivan.

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Chevy pickup, Saturn wagon

Handling, drivability. Price and features, especially the flip and fold third seat.

Only cargo space when compared to the competition.

Great minivan. Easy to park and manuver. Yes, there is less room than the bigger minivan out there but it still has enough room to carry what my family needs. Gas mileage is slightly better than the 18/25 mpg rating. Probably due to the addition of the K&N drop-in filter I installed. The folding and flip third row seat is great for additional storage or changing the little one's diaper. Very little body roll due to the only minivan on the market with front and rear anti-roll bars. So far, everything is working prefectly. Much better than the 1999 Ford Windstar SEL it replaced. Also, with the $2000 rebate going on, my fully loaded Mazda was at least $5-$7K less expensive than a comparable Honda or Toyota minivan. At freeway speeds, this Mazda only registers 68dB vs. my old Windstar at 74dB. I don't need to shout anymore to carry a conversation with passengers in the third row. Lastly, Mazda has on of the longest factory warranty among minivans at 4yrs/50K miles which also includes 24 hour road side assistance.

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Ford Windstar, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna

Seating arrangement, Power middle windows. Handling and manuverability.

Gear Shift Lever is a little long.

I love this van. It has great acceleration. It hugs the road, especailly the curves. The seats are comfortable. The seating is great and easily rearranged. The 6-disk CD play is great, and the controls mounted on the steering wheel are convienent. I have a DVD player and the kids love it. We all like the power windows on the sliding doors. Gas mileage is a little less than I would like (about 15) but the ride and feel of the vehicle more than makes up for this. I feel that the local dealership gave me a great deal and went out of their way to make me happy with my purchase.

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First van.

3rd row seat

I HATE the windshield wiper control. Who ever designed that should be forced to use it.

This has been a good van. It handles excellent and you have to love the 3rd seat folding down.