The Mazda MPV is a minivan

Minivan

Minivan is a type of van designed for personal use. Minivans are typically either two-box or one box designs for maximum interior volume – and are taller than a sedan, hatchback, or a station wagon....

 manufactured by Mazda

Mazda

is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...

. Introduced in 1989 as a rear-wheel drive model with optional selectable four-wheel drive, it was replaced in 2000 with a front-wheel drive

Front-wheel drive

Front-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...

-only version. Over one million MPV models had been produced since its introduction.
The minivan boom of the 1980s caught the Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

ese car makers by surprise. Each maker had its own response: Toyota was first with an adaptation of their mid-engined

MR layout

In automotive design, a RMR or Rear Mid-engine, Rear-wheel drive layout is one in which the rear wheels are driven by an engine placed just in front of them, behind the passenger compartment. In contrast to the rear-engined RR layout, the center of mass of the engine is in front of the rear axle...

 Van

Toyota Van

The Toyota MasterAce is a vehicle that was produced by Toyota and distributed worldwide under several names, with "MasterAce" being the name used in Japan. North American markets received the MasterAce as the Toyota Van...

, based on the Japanese TownAce

Toyota TownAce

The Toyota TownAce was introduced by Toyota in Japan in April 1978 as a short wheelbase, mid-engined luxury 7/8 seat MPV resembling the Space Cruiser. A 4WD version was introduced in December 1985. These were produced until a facelift in September 1993 to body type CR31 which was produced until...

 in 1984.