And we confess, we're in the throes of it over the 2000 Mazda MPV minivan, a vehicle that recently made our top 10 list of the year. We were thrilled with features like a third-row seat that folds flat into the floor and power windows in the rear doors. But after living family-style with the new MPV for a week, we're less sold on it. Like a lot of families, we've taken a chance on new vehicles with no reputation. I wish I had the kind of seating available in the new MPV back when I had little kids.
Families love that kind of versatility.
It makes 170 horsepower and 165 lbs-ft of torque, which puts it near the bottom of the minivan class. For comparison's sake, the Chevrolet Venture delivers 185 horsepower, the Ford Windstar 200 horsepower and the Honda Odyssey 210 horsepower. I realize those are just numbers to a lot of people. So let me say it this way. When you and I were the only occupants in the MPV, and I stepped on the gas pedal, the engine still felt like it was working extra hard to get us up to speed.