choice for hauling people, pets and parcels. Then came minivans that could

do everything wagons could do and more.

Now we've got sport-utility vehicles. Outfitted with four-wheel drive

and a tough, go-anywhere image, it seems everyone wants one. Recognizing

an opportunity, manufacturers are putting the sport-utility label on everything

from trucks to mid-size station wagons to compact cars.

Mazda has been missing the sport-utility bandwagon ever since it stopped

selling the Navajo. Not content to stand on the sidelines any longer, Mazda

dressed up its competent MPV minivan with a sporty package that combines

rugged looks, proven mechanicals, a huge people-carrying capacity and four-wheel

drive.

Though this latest incarnation looks fresh, the MPV is not new. More

than 230,000 of them have been sold since its introduction as a 1989 model.

This popularity can be traced to the performance, handling and reliability

that the MPV offers. Nearly 99 percent of them are still on the road.

Mazda figures the MPV All-Sport will attract buyers who need a minivan

to haul people, but want a sport-utility with four-wheel drive and a rugged,

outdoorsy appearance.

Subaru successfully used a similar approach with its Legacy Outback,

a four-wheel drive mid-size station wagon with off-road performance and

styling cues. Pontiac is also trying this approach, calling its '97 TransSport

Montana a sport-utility van. The Montana has a somewhat rugged appearance,

but it lacks four-wheel drive.

MPV sales are up, so Mazda's strategy must be working.

panel, dual airbags and more flexible seating, all of which were welcome

improvements.

Two trim levels are available this year, the LX and the more luxurious

ES. Each comes as either a two- or four-wheel drive model. All come with

a 3.0-liter, 18 valve V6 that produces 155 horsepower and 169 lb.-ft. torque

mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission.

Introduced as an option at the end of 1996, the All-Sport package is

now standard on all MPVs except the base 2WD LX, where it's optional.

Muscular styling gives the MPV a sporty appearance, made more rugged

by the All-Sport's grille guard, stone guard, fog lights, fender flares,

rear bumper guard, roof rack, five-spoke alloy wheels and two-tone paint.

The MPV is now a paradigm of practicality: Hinged doors on each side

swing open 90 degrees. Hinged doors are more convenient than the sliding

doors on many minivans. Having them on both sides eliminates having to

run around to the other side of the car to install a baby seat. In back,

a single door lifts to make loading easy.

All MPVs come with dual airbags, steel door beams, energy absorbing

crumple zones and four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes. Two-wheel drive All-Sports

ride on P215/65R-15 tires while the 4WD models get more aggressive P225/70R-15

mud-and-snow tires. An optional Four Seasons package adds a rear area heater,

a larger capacity windshield washer tank and a heavy duty battery.

With its compact disc player ($860), power moonroof ($1,200) and ES

preferred equipment group (dual air conditioning, carpeted floor mats,

keyless entry system and privacy glass for $2,250), our test vehicle totaled

$32,320.

are housed in a rounded instrument panel. Ventilation and audio controls,

cupholders and storage for small items are located front and center for

easy access. A sporty four-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel houses

the driver's airbag, while the passenger-side airbag is above the glove

box. A rear air conditioning blower with separate controls adds to the

comfort of passengers in the back rows. A storage tray under the front

passenger seat is a thoughtful touch.

Other standard MPV features include power windows, doors and outside

mirrors, cruise control, tilt steering column, power steering, AM/FM/cassette

sound system with digital clock and four speakers, rear wiper/washer/defroster,

dual vanity mirrors and remote fuel door release.

All MPV's come with reclining front bucket seats. LX models are upholstered

in nice velour cloth, while ES models come with leather seating surfaces.

A key MPV consideration is choosing between seven- and eight-passenger

seating. Eight-passenger models use a second and third row of bench seats

that hold three passengers each. Both rows can be folded flat to carry

cargo and the middle bench reclines and adjusts fore and aft. It looks

good on paper, but the width of the middle bench makes getting to the third-row

bench seat difficult.

We don't want to sway you, but seven-passenger seating is the preferred

layout in the MPV. A pair of captain's chairs replace the middle row bench.

The captain's chairs are more comfortable than the bench seat and they

make it easier to get to the back row. ES models come standard with seven-passenger

seating and it's an option on the LX models.

Either way, the third row can be folded forward to provide more cargo

space or removed completely. The MPV does not offer nearly as much cargo

space as a sport-utility, but it does a superior job of hauling seven humans.

a sport-utility vehicle. Ride quality is also superior on pavement and

on smooth dirt roads.

Rough dirt roads pose few problems for the All-Sport as long as speeds

are kept to reasonable levels. The four-wheel drive system works well on

slippery surfaces and handling is predictable. Our MPV climbed a steep,

silty hill that would have left a sedan in the dust, and it cut through

snow and ice with no worries. The 4WD system automatically splits power

between the front and rear wheels as needed. When the going gets really

sloppy, the center differential can be locked by pushing a button. This

locks the traction split equally between the front and rear wheels, which

helps when driving up a steep slope of mud, snow or ice.

All-Sport or not, a 4WD MPV is not designed for trekking along the Continental

Divide. It lacks the suspension travel, tires and the low-range set of

gears found on most sport-utilities, so knowing its limits and slowing

down for big obstacles is important.

Plenty of power is on tap and the V6 engine works well with the four-speed

automatic transmission. Steering is light and precise and the disc brakes

instill confidence. With its independent A-arm front suspension and five-link

live rear axle, the MPV is stable at high speeds. Anti-roll bars at both

ends minimize body lean in corners.

We found the MPV to be a stable vehicle for pulling light trailers.

Based on a rear-wheel drive platform, the MPV is far superior for towing

than the front-wheel drive minivans comprising the majority of the market.

An optional load leveling package allows the MPV to tow up to 4,500 pounds.

This makes it a good choice for pulling ATVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles,

personal watercrafts, canoes, small boats and other light loads. It's a

stretch, but we've even used it to pull light car trailers.

the four-wheel-drive traction and outdoorsy image of a sport-utility.

The All-Sport is capable of getting down the worst roads, but its best

feature is its carlike performance and handling. And when it comes to moving

people around the MPV is far more capable than a sport-utility vehicle.

These traits make the MPV a practical alternative for families with

a gaggle of kids who make occasional forays into the woods.