The van was facelifted in 1995 for the 1996 model year, adding driver's side rear door, passenger side airbag, and extending the nose for improved crash protection. A standard driver's airbag was later introduced in early 1993. In 1992 for the 1993 model year, a new Mazda emblem and a remote keyless entry system were introduced.
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Sales weren't helped when the MPV received one star out of four in the Australian Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) crash tests and a "Marginal" rating in the American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests for damage to the occupant compartment, tire intrusion into the driver footwell area, poor dummy kinematics, and possibility of injuries to both legs. In the years to come, Toyota's 1991 Previa, Nissan's 1993 Quest, and Honda's 1995 Odyssey had entered the market and began diluting Mazda's market share. Initial sales were strong as well, but rapidly fell off once other makers introduced all-wheel drive and V6 engines. The van was named to Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 19 and featured as one of their "vehicles for the coming (fuel) crisis". Because of the MPV's optional 4WD, the Mazda Navajo version of the Ford Explorer (sold from 1990 to 1994) was only offered as a two-door, so as to minimize internal competition. The middle row was available as a 3-person bench, allowing seating for eight, when most minivans only seated seven.
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This was also the only Mazda MPV generation sold in North America with a manual transmission, offered in the '89 through '91 model years. Like the later Honda Odyssey introduced in North America in early 1995, it featured traditional hinged doors instead of sliding rear doors, though the original MPV only had a single rear door. Unlike other minivans, the MPV's parking brake was directly on the floor beside the driver's seat and operated by the hand, when most other minivans had the parking brake in the driver footwell area and operated by the left foot.
Its efficient use of interior space while offering a relatively small exterior drew from Mazda's experience with space efficient one-box minivans, like the Mazda Bongo. The 4WD is not for use on dry roads, but can be engaged and disengaged while moving. A dash mounted switch controlled the center differential, creating a locked power distributions on the front and rear axles. Its selectable 4WD system is not to be confused with all road conditions "all-wheel-drive" systems the MPV can be switched into locked 4WD with a switch mounted on the column gear selector. It was available at Mazda's Japanese luxury dealership network Ɛ̃fini starting in 1991.
When it was introduced in Japan in January 1990, its engine displacement and exterior dimensions exceeded Japanese government regulations for vehicles classified as "compact", and as a result, Japanese buyers were liable for additional annual taxes. However this large platform created some liabilities in other markets. The platform allowed such options as a V6 engine, and optional four-wheel drive. It was based on the large rear-wheel-drive Mazda Luce's platform. The MPV was designed from the ground-up as a minivan specifically for the American market, and was introduced in 1988 for the 1989 model year.
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