  2012 MV-1. Click image to enlarge |
Once inside the MV-1 the first thing you will notice is that this vehicle offers plenty of headroom. This is a major plus compared to some conversion vans, where headroom is at a minimum. The interior design itself could be described as simple yet functional and looked to be designed in a way to make every part of the interior easily accessible. Inside the MV-1, the seat material is designed to make life easier for the passengers and driver. Gord mentioned that, thanks to the materials used on the seat, it was actually quite easy for him to transfer into the driver’s seat from his power wheel chair. He also liked the cut in the floor on the driver’s side which provided him with a place to put his foot to help position himself onto the driver’s seat. However, he was glad to hear there was an option of ordering the MV-1 with a six-position power transfer driver’s seat. Gord recommends this for anyone using a power wheel chair who wants to continue driving themselves.
In the rear of the MV-1 you find a fixed bench seat that provides seating for three. The rear seats were comfortable but definitely not designed for long distance drives. Behind the rear seats is a massive amount of cargo room that is accessible only with the rear lift gate opened. I would recommend to anyone considering purchasing the MV-1 to equip it with a power lift-gate.
When it comes to driving the MV-1, we found it quite pleasant, and unlike most conversion vans, the MV-1 isn’t powered by a V6 but by Ford’s 4.6-litre V8 engine which produces around 240 hp and is fitted to a Ford 4-speed automatic transmission. The MV-1 is not short on power even though it weighs over 5,000 pounds.
  2012 MV-1. Click image to enlarge |
The MV-1’s body-on-frame design gives it the durability to handle the torque of the V8 engine. The MV-1 handles surprisingly well for such a large vehicle, and I felt very confident behind the wheel. For its size, the MV-1 has a smaller-than-expected turning radius.
As far as safety, the MV-1 was designed to comply with current safety standards and includes a driver’s side airbag, collapsible steering column, side impact beams, electronic stability control, traction control, ABS and a tire pressure monitoringsystem. Another very useful safety feature found in the MV-1 is a backup camera, which is very useful for reversing this vehicle into tight spaces.
Gord and I agree that a vehicle like the MV-1 does have its place on our roads. If you can afford the $40,000 US pricetag and are in market for a fully accessible vehicle, we’d recommend you check it out.
