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Mazda can be summed up in a single word: bold. Not only do its cars generally look like nothing else on the market, but it’s also invested heavily in innovative engine technology.

So, while many car makers have moved to smaller turbocharged engines, Mazda instead offers larger motors that are still efficient. For example, the entry-level petrol option in the Mazda 3 is a 2.0-litre unit –&nbsp;far larger than what you’ll find in most rivals – but it remains very clean.

Highlights of Mazda’s line-up include the MX-5 sports car, which has won our Convertible of the Year Award multiple times, and the CX-5 large SUV, which was named as our inaugural best car for dog owners.

MAZDA

It's spacious, but you can get better all-rounders for the same sort of money

Used Mazda MPV MPV 1999 - 2004

The MPV sold poorly in the UK, so you might struggle to find a used example. On the up side, this limited demand means that you can pick up the few that are available at competitive prices.

Once you've bought your MPV, it shouldn't cost you much to maintain. Parts are relatively cheap, and official Mazda dealers have some of the quickest repair times around as well as excellent hourly rates. You may save a few pounds by getting the car serviced at an independent Mazda specialist, but it's unlikely to be much more than that.

All models fall into insurance group 11, which also helps to keep things affordable, but fuel economy is nothing special. The 2.0-litre petrol returns 28.0mpg on the combined cycle, the 2.3 petrol 30.0mpg and the diesel 39.8mpg.

It's spacious, but you can get better all-rounders for the same sort of money

The MPV was originally offered with just one engine - a 120bhp 2.0-litre petrol. This was replaced with a 139bhp 2.3-litre unit in May 2002, and a 134bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel joined the range at the same time.

The diesel is undoubtedly the pick of the bunch, because it's refined and strong. By contrast, the petrols need to be worked hard to encourage any useful effort out of them, and they get wheezy when they are.

Unusually, the MPV isn't offered with a choice of trims, so all models come with an electric sunroof, alloy wheels and a CD player. Air-con with separate front and rear controls is also fitted.

On the safety front, you get twin front and side airbags, but there are no rear or curtain airbags. Petrol models have traction control to reduce wheelspin in slippery conditions, but diesels miss out on this useful feature, but compensate by having larger alloys instead.

The MPV received a face-lift in November 2003, with a restyled headlights and an enlarged front grille.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all the family and their paraphernalia</li> <li>Comfortable ride for everyone inside</li> <li>Seats with plenty of adjustment and versatility of layout</li> <li>Engine that can cope with a full load of people and luggage</li> <li>Excellent efficiency to avoid big fuel bills</li></ul>

Practicality is king in the MPV market, which has taken a hit as buyers have turned towards trendier SUVs. There are still plenty of decent offerings to suit most budgets, though, with Citroën fielding a particularly strong line-up. The French manufacturer’s Berlingo offers bags of space for not much money and you can easily haggle off thousands of extra pounds in discounts, too.

Citroën also scores with the larger Grand C4 Spacetourer, which offers seven seats, lots of oddment space and appealing running costs for something so large. A similarly priced and even better option is the Volkswagen Touran. Meanwhile, if you prefer a premium badge, there's always the BMW 2 Series Active and Gran Tourers or Mercedes B-Class and V-Class.

But for something sizeable that's still decent to drive, we’d recommend you check out the Ford Galaxy, which can offer three rows of seats and decent luggage space at the same time. It’s not that much pricier than the smaller S-Max.

Information on the MPV is limited because it sold in such small numbers, but it's still encouraging that no major problems have been reported. In addition, Mazda has consistently finished at or near the top of our reliability surveys.

Any minor concerns? Well, a recall was issued in 2003 because there was a chance the front foglights could become detached from their mountings and burn a hole in the bumper. It's worth checking that this work has been carried out.

Cars produced between March and October 2003 also needed a potential problem with the water pump fixed, while concerns that a seal on the cylinder head could fail and cause heavy oil consumption saw cars built between August and November 2003 recalled.

The MPV is pretty conventional, with seven seats spread over three rows, but its twin sliding rear doors make it particularly easy to get in and out of the middle row when parked alongside another car.

Access to the third row isn't as good, because the middle seats don't slide forward far enough. The cabin design is also dreary, and although the rear seats can be removed to leave a van-like load area, they're heavy.

Still, there's plenty of space for seven and all of the major controls are logically grouped on the dash. The driver's seat could do with more support, but it's easy to adjust and gives you a commanding view of the road.

However, the steering is lifeless and there's quite a lot of body roll. Minimal wind and road noise help to make it relaxing over long distances, but the suspension isn't as comfortable as it should be, particularly at low speeds.

Used Mazda MPV MPV 1999 - 2004 reliability

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Used Mazda MPV MPV 1999 - 2004 review

Information on the MPV is limited because it sold in such small numbers, but it's still encouraging that no major problems have been reported. In addition, Mazda has consistently finished at or near the top of our reliability surveys.,Any minor concerns? Well, a recall was issued in 2003 because there was a chance the front foglights could become detached from their mountings and burn a hole in the bumper. It's worth checking that this work has been carried out.,Cars produced between March and October 2003 also needed a potential problem with the water pump fixed, while concerns that a seal on the cylinder head could fail and cause heavy oil consumption saw cars built between August and November 2003 recalled.

What to look for when buying a Mazda MPV 1999 - 2004, covering common problems to check for and overall vehicle reliability.

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Used Mazda MPV MPV 1999 - 2004 reliability

What should I look for in a used Mazda MPV MPV?

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