It’s over. By the time you read this, production of Mazda’s B-Series will have ended, so if you want one, you’ll have to get moving and choose one among what’s left on Mazda lots.
But wait. Do you really want a pickup truck, or any vehicle for that matter, that is virtually unchanged since 1994? We assume anyone would instinctively say no. But what if the price is right?
With a base price of $15,795, only its Ford Ranger twin is cheaper, but not by much. For that sum, you get a B-Series that’s pretty bare-bones, but equipped with a 143-hp, 2.3-litre inline-4, a 5-speed manual, a CD/MP3 player, front and side-impact airbags, antilock brakes as well as traction, stability and roll stability control systems.
Ok, the base 2.3L SX trim is fine for small towns that need pickup trucks for public works duty. As a citizen, you’ll be glad to see that your tax dollars aren’t purchasing full-size, V8-powered trucks just to haul a shovel and a rake around to pick up roadkill.
But as consumers we need more than that. This Cab Plus 4x4 SE model starts at $24,395, which seems like quite a step up from the SX stripper. However, you upgrade the engine to a 4.0-litre V6 that develops 207 horsepower and 238 pound-feet of torque, bolted to a 5-speed manual. A 5-speed automatic can be added for a rather expensive $1,400.
You also get four-wheel drive with a good old transfer case that includes a low range, skid plates and tow hooks for off-road adventures, fog lamps, 16-inch alloy wheels and air conditioning.
The extended cab can seat four passengers, but in back, you get tiny, old-school jump seats that face each other; the kids will find it amusing for a while, that is, until they get carsick. The rear-seat area is best used for cargo.
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| The B-Series has virtually unchanged since 1994. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
But wait. Do you really want a pickup truck, or any vehicle for that matter, that is virtually unchanged since 1994? We assume anyone would instinctively say no. But what if the price is right?
With a base price of $15,795, only its Ford Ranger twin is cheaper, but not by much. For that sum, you get a B-Series that’s pretty bare-bones, but equipped with a 143-hp, 2.3-litre inline-4, a 5-speed manual, a CD/MP3 player, front and side-impact airbags, antilock brakes as well as traction, stability and roll stability control systems.
Ok, the base 2.3L SX trim is fine for small towns that need pickup trucks for public works duty. As a citizen, you’ll be glad to see that your tax dollars aren’t purchasing full-size, V8-powered trucks just to haul a shovel and a rake around to pick up roadkill.
But as consumers we need more than that. This Cab Plus 4x4 SE model starts at $24,395, which seems like quite a step up from the SX stripper. However, you upgrade the engine to a 4.0-litre V6 that develops 207 horsepower and 238 pound-feet of torque, bolted to a 5-speed manual. A 5-speed automatic can be added for a rather expensive $1,400.
You also get four-wheel drive with a good old transfer case that includes a low range, skid plates and tow hooks for off-road adventures, fog lamps, 16-inch alloy wheels and air conditioning.
The extended cab can seat four passengers, but in back, you get tiny, old-school jump seats that face each other; the kids will find it amusing for a while, that is, until they get carsick. The rear-seat area is best used for cargo.
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| In back, you get tiny jump seats that face each other; the kids will find it amusing for a while, that is, until they get carsick. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |