It was inevitable that Mazda would launch a Millennium Edition of its Millenia luxury car. After all, Mazda deserved that even more than Buick deserved a special edition of the Century. Presumably Mazda can carry this theme through 2001 to celebrate when the new millennium actually begins.
While that adds some distinction within the Mazda Millenia line, anyone who buys a Millenia will enjoy exclusivity because many shoppers miss this luxury car. It shouldn't be, because this is a great luxury sedan that and offers good value: Mazda dropped prices of the Millenia over last year. The entry price has been reduced by $1,750 over last year to $24,995.
Mazda Millenia S, with its supercharged 210-horsepower Miller-cycle V6 engine, remains one of the most interesting cars in the near-luxury class. A crisp-handling sedan that encourages you to go home the long way, it's coupled with the kind of gracious creature comforts that'll make you want to invite the boss along.
Three models are available for 2000: Millenia ($25,245); Millenia S ($30,245); Millennium Edition ($30,995).
The S and Millennium Edition models come with Mazda's Miller-cycle engine, a 2.3-liter V6 that uses an innovative scroll-type supercharger to produce 210 horsepower without compromising fuel economy or smoothness. The base Millenia comes with a 2.5-liter dohc V6 rated at 170 horsepower.
Millenia comes standard with a four-speed automatic transmission, leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, automatic climate control system, 16-inch alloy wheels, AM/FM/CD/cassette stereo, remote keyless entry with two fobs, fog lamps, eight-way power driver's seat and dual de-powered air bags.
Millenia S adds leather seating surfaces, electronic traction control, 17-inch alloy wheels, power moonroof, eight-way power passenger's seat and a Bose audio system.
The limited-edition Millennium Edition is available in two exclusive colors, Highlight Silver and Millennium Red. To the S model, it adds 17-inch chrome alloy wheels, charcoal-colored suede seat and door trim, revised wood grain trim panels, a six-disc in-dash CD changer, leather-wrapped transmissions shift and handbrake levers, special Millennium Edition badging on the C pillars and logos on the door panels and scuff plates. It comes with the excellent Miller-cycle engine and trim from the Millenia S model.
The Millenia is Mazda's flagship luxury car and its styling is appealing without attracting undue attention to itself. Its appearance was freshened last year with an attractive grille and front and rear light assemblies. The result is a shape of nice muscularity with distinctive character lines at the windowsill and lower cladding.
Low-aspect ratio 215/50 tires mounted on chrome 17-inch wheels give the Millennium Edition a sporty, distinctive look.
Stem to stern, this car's fit and finish is world-class, absolutely as good as it gets. The Millenia is built in a state-of-the-art assembly plant in Japan. Mazda's warranty period goes a few extra miles to 50,000.
The interior of the S and Millennium Special Edition models is tasteful, distinguished, and deluxe. The leather upholstery is utterly first quality, buttery and rich. The center panels of the seat cushions and backs are elegantly gathered to give the interior living-room sumptuousness. The whole is finished in gentle earth tones that are understated without being mud-hut maudlin.
Its ergonomically excellent dashboard and controls are formed of handsomely tapered shapes and trimmed with handsome wood. Your eye is automatically directed to each function. A large analog tachometer and larger speedometer, complemented by fuel and water temperature gauges, keep you informed. An electric steering-wheel adjuster allows infinite adjustment up and down, tailoring the driving position to you. Less satisfactory is the fact that only the driver-side window has an automatic-down provision and no automatic-up circuitry. Some of the competition has one-upped Mazda here.
