2001 Mazda Millenia S

In the intensely competitive entry-luxury sport-sedan game, Mazda's Millenia has chronically suffered from an odd-man-out stigma. Intended to be the lead entry for the firm's stillborn upline division, Amati, it arrived on the scene in late 1994 with plenty of designed-in goodness. But that fact notwithstanding, the Millenia has been hampered by the lack of perceived prestige and a dearth of underhood firepower compared to many of its key rivals. And, in a league that also awards points for visual distinctiveness, some have also criticized this midsize four-door for bearing too strong a resemblance to its kid brother, the 626. Seeking to address a number of those issues, Mazda made several significant changes to the 2001 package that add to its visual, structural, and mechanical appeal.


Although virtually all of its sheetmetal is carryover, subtle tweaks to the car's front and rear fascias endow the new Millenia with at least a bit more aggressive flair. Slightly bigger, bolder headlamps and driving lights are complemented by a larger, pentagonal grille, mildly re-creased fenders and deeper sculptural furrows in the hood. This cost-effective revamp adds 1.8 inches to the Millenia's overall length and gives it a more dart-like profile. While the car's rear soft cap also has been modified slightly, it's the lamp configuration (the lenses now have clear elements positioned below rather than above the red) that provides the most obvious clue you're looking at a 2001 model.

Changes to the rear fascia are more subtle than those up front. Restyled taillamps are the most obvious clue that you're looking at a 2001 Millenia.

Arguably the most meaningful changes to the Millenia are the least visible. For starters, Mazda reinforced its unibody structure and bumped up torsional rigidity by 30 percent. This additional twist resistance was achieved by filing the center roof pillar with structural foam and adding reinforcements to the front and rear crossmembers as well as to the side sills. Modifications to the existing multilink/multilink chassis setup include a recalibration of the shock absorbers and anti-roll bars that help bolster both ride and handling. The collective result is that the Millenia exhibits less body roll in corners as well as a seriously diminished tendency to set its front tires sliding and howling when pressed into max-aggressor mode. A final touch involves upsizing the front brake rotor diameter from 10.8 to 11.7 inches. That change not only improves stopping performance of the ABS-abetted 4-wheel disc system, it also provides a confidence boost in the form of a more substantial pedal feel.

Already well appointed and comfortable, the Millenia's passenger compartment is even quieter for 2001 and benefits from a number of detail upgrades.

Complaints about having to spend time in the Millenia's leather-swathed and extremely well-appointed passenger compartment tend to be few and far between. Nonetheless, Mazda took the opportunity at hand to make this secure inner sanctum even more people-friendly. Upgrading the quality and quantity of soundproofing materials used throughout the cabin results in even lower ambient noise levels. Complementing a host of minor new cosmetic touches, the Millenia also gets a revised center console with improved storage space and an additional 12V powerpoint, better interior lighting, and a power lumbar adjustment on the driver's seat.


The one place things haven't changed for 2001 is underhood. Powertrain modifications are notoriously expensive, and Mazda's financial situation over the past few years simply precluded any such variations on a relatively low-volume vehicle like the Millenia. While the 2.3-liter supercharged V-6 in the upline S model is considerably more energetic than its smallish displacement would suggest (Mazda claims it equals that of a conventional 3.3 liter), output remains pat at 210 horsepower and 210 lb.-ft. of torque. Those totals leave the Millenia at a distinct disadvantage in the serious punch department when compared to its prime competitors. Praiseworthy for having thoroughly banished the untoward howling normally associated with this type of force-fed induction, the engine also exhibits some minor surging and unevenness while cranking its way up to a lofty 7,000 rpm redline.