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virtual mechanical
twin of the Ford Ranger, the Mazda B-Series truck is just a touch more expensive,
but in many trim levels comes with more features thrown in for the sake of comfort.
Available in far fewer trim levels than the Ranger, the B-Series is aimed at people
who are going to use their trucks for personal use more than professional use.
Starting
just under $13K, the B-Series starts out with relatively few amenities, and like
the Ranger, it's only when you get up near 20 large do you start getting features
like cruise control, premium cloth seats, CD players and power accessories. The
base 135-hp 4-cylinder B2300 is best avoided, although the 147-hp six in the B3000
moves it along only a bit better. The engine to get, if you can part with more
than $20K, is the 207-horsepower V-6 that gives the B4000 a little bit of the
zoom-zoom Mazda so highly touts. Both V-6s are available with a 5-speed automatic
transmission. Like
the Ranger, the B-Series does not offer a variant with four front-hinged doors.
At least the Cab Plus models do come with rear-hinged mini-doors on both sides,
just aft of the front doors to make accessing the rear area that much easier.
Two center-facing jump seats fold down from the side if you want to bring some
kids in the back (it's not pretty when you put grown ups back there. Nicely
equipped, the B-Series is a good, everyday truck that's not hard to live with.
And it's good lookin' too.
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