Instructions for completing FormMV-1 What is That Car?

Every product we feature is chosen by our car experts.We can make money from the links on this page.

Some of the best vehicles on the market are designed with a specific purpose in mind.A car can outrun some cars on a road-racing course.Most other vehicles can't overcome the off-road obstacles that a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon can.A W900 can haul 40 tons of cargo across interstates for months on end.Everything from a dozen people to thousands of Matchbox models can be hauled in a Ford Transit van.

The Mobility VenturesMV-1 is dedicated to one purpose.The only purpose-built wheelchair-accessible vehicle on the market today is extremely valuable to its users.Other wheelchair-accessible light-duty vehicles are typically minivans or vans heavily modified by aftermarket companies, but theMV-1 was designed from the ground up with its primary purpose in clear focus.It comes with a three-year, 36,000-mile warranty and is subjected to the same crash tests required of all conventional production cars.

A five-year, 60,000-mile warranty covers the most important feature, a 30-inch-wide ramp that extends from the vehicle's passenger side.The power-operated ramp was activated via buttons inside the vehicle and on the key fob.The well-illuminated ramp can deploy to either 69.5 or 92.3 inches deep, depending on user preference, and can be pulled into a fully enclosed pocket in the floor of the vehicle.If there is a vehicle parked in the adjacent spot, there might not be enough room for the wheelchair to turn the corner.

We enlisted this author's mother, who is a wheelchair user, to help us test theMV-1.The side-ramp setup used by converted minivans tends to compromise the donor vehicle's structure and diminish ground clearance.The suspension and floorpan of theMV-1 don't have to be changed for wheelchair access since it's not a minivan.It has a low step-in height and six inches of ground clearance.The wheelchair can be secured in the shotgun position with the help of theMV-1.Mom appreciated the view when she last rode in the front of a vehicle.

She couldn't fit theMV-1's B-pillar-mounted integral shoulder belt because the footrest on her wheelchair interfered with the front Q'Straint floor anchors.If you want to make her crabby, you could Belt her in with the distant C-pillar belt or raise her footrest, but the best solution is to install a single-point docking station.It is possible to convert the wheelchair user to the driver's seat.Mobility aids such as wheelchairs and scooters come in many different sizes.

A company called Vehicle Production Group received $50 million from the U.S. Department of Energy around the same time that companies such as Fisker got similar government loans.AM General took over the operation after VPG became insolvent.The company builds 2000MV-1s annually in the same factory that makes Mercedes-Benz R-class SUVs for China.Most of the sales of MV-1 go to taxi companies, which are wise to operate a diverse fleet.You are most likely to have seen an MV-1 in a big city.

The wide-open interior of theMV-1 makes it possible for a wheelchair to make a 90-degree right turn in the space where most vans have a standard passenger seat.There is room for a second wheelchair in the large midsection of theMV-1, but two power-operated chairs like Mom's wouldn't fit at the same time.Some of our adult passengers couldn't touch their feet on the bench because it was so high.It can be difficult to hear what those distant rear passengers have to say over the din of a large vehicle that lacks interior carpeting, because no rear-seat occupant will ever kick the back of the driver's seat.There is an optional jump seat that can be tacked onto the back of the driver's seat.A few folding wheelchairs can be stashed in the 36-cubic-foot cargo area, and theMV-1 has a 3000-pound towing capacity.

Not including a radio or cruise control, theMV-1 starts at $40,890.For a base price of $51,065, the mid-level DX adds those basics and the slick power ramp supplied by the company that worked with McLaren to produce the 1980s Buick GNX.A 30-year-old Buick might seem nicer than the top-of-the-line $58,085MV-1 LX, which gets cosmetic alterations such as a different grille, aluminum wheels, and faux-wood interior appliqués.Brand-new minivans that are converted for wheelchair compatibility start in the low-$30,000 range and can go up to $60,000.Cargo vans with attractive cabins and instrument panels are more attractive than those with awkward-looking styling.

If the company didn't source many parts from other automakers, the Mobility VenturesMV-1 would cost even more.The 3.7-liter V6 engine and the six-speed automatic transmission come from Ford, although the engine's output ratings match those of the current Ford Transit van.Most of the suspension architecture as well as the interior switchgear is provided by Ford.Ford had a 4.6-liter V-8.Chevrolet contributes a differential and brakes to the minivan.The center stack is incomplete and poorly designed.During our two weeks with theMV-1, the aftermarket radio head unit displayed upside-down images from the backup camera on multiple occasions.

There are other complaints.There is a lot of driveline noise in the cabin.Some people thought the exhaust note sounded throaty, but it sounded like the engine was about to ingest the driver's feet.We intended to produce a full report including performance-testing data on theMV-1, but a coolant hose came off at the test track and suspended our testing regimen.Mobility Venture's product is slow and loud.We averaged 15 miles per gallon over 1000 miles.

It feels like driving an old-school full-size van, albeit one with a longer hood.The driving position is upright and chairlike, and the seat is widely adjusted for height, but there is no grab handle to assist the driver with ingress or egress, which seems particularly inexcusable in a vehicle designed to serve people with mobility issues.The steering feels heavy and imprecise, and the body leans precariously during even moderate cornering and braking exercises.There is a stiff suspension that shakes rear-seat occupants.The view in all directions is good thanks to an expansive greenhouse, but rearward visibility is hampered by the auxiliary air conditioner mounted on the ceiling near the hatch hinges.If the steering wheel self-centered, the 43-foot turning circle would enable easy parking-lot maneuvering.

The converted vans and minivans have atypical driving dynamics.Their supplementary ramps add mass that impedes acceleration and affects ride and handling; in addition to ground-clearance issues, aftermarket ramps often provide conduits to transmit noises that the original maker had tuned out.The body-on-frameMV-1 tends to be more durable than its converted-minivan rivals.

Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are important tools for many millions of Americans, and theMV-1 occupies a unique place in the market.We applaud its suitability to that specific mission but wish it did a better job of giving its occupants the comfort, and at least a somewhat appealing driving experience, that those of us who don't need wheelchairs enjoy in other vehicles at this price.