But when you park between two other vehicles, the rear-hinged doors effectively trap passengers trying to get in or out. Which can be a little unhinging.
And because of their small windows, the rear doors also limit the three-quarters field of vision. Luckily, the B4000 SE is equipped with large exterior mirrors that partially make up for this.
On the road
On the highway, the B4000 SE is nice to drive. Steering is precise and the 5-speed automatic transmission is flexible and discrete. It's makes for a better ride than the manual transmission, which brings the Jeep Wrangler's to mind. But on bumpy roads, expect the comfort level of a 4x4 being tossed around.
The Ford V6 takes over 11 seconds to get from 0 to 100 km/h. It's quiet until you really push it, but it pales in comparison to the Nissan Frontier's engine, which, a good 50 hp stronger, only needs 10 seconds to get the same acceleration with an automatic transmission! And according to its manufacturer, it consumes on average 8% less fuel than the B4000 SE, with which we averaged 15 litres per 100 km.
Switching from two- to four-wheel drive (4H) is as simple as flipping a switch to the right of the steering wheel on the dashboard. The days of recalcitrant levers are over. It's possible to switch to four-wheel drive on the go if you're driving slower than 72 km/h and the rear wheels aren't skidding. Protective plates shield the front suspension, as the B4000 SE does enjoy the occasional bout of mountaineering.
It's true that the Japanese Frontier and Tacoma trucks are more pleasant to drive and have better calibrated suspensions that control rear antics on tricky terrain more efficiently, better soundproofed interiors and nicer exterior finishes. But at what price? For the Tacoma, we're looking at $4,000 to $5,000 extra, and even more for options.
The affordable prices of the B-Series models is the reason why they're still around. They justify the limited comfort and sophistication, especially in the eyes of a buyer with commercial purposes in mind. In the end, it's a question of needs and means.
photo:Luc Gagné
And because of their small windows, the rear doors also limit the three-quarters field of vision. Luckily, the B4000 SE is equipped with large exterior mirrors that partially make up for this.
On the road
On the highway, the B4000 SE is nice to drive. Steering is precise and the 5-speed automatic transmission is flexible and discrete. It's makes for a better ride than the manual transmission, which brings the Jeep Wrangler's to mind. But on bumpy roads, expect the comfort level of a 4x4 being tossed around.
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| The affordable prices of the B-Series models is the reason why they're still around. |
The Ford V6 takes over 11 seconds to get from 0 to 100 km/h. It's quiet until you really push it, but it pales in comparison to the Nissan Frontier's engine, which, a good 50 hp stronger, only needs 10 seconds to get the same acceleration with an automatic transmission! And according to its manufacturer, it consumes on average 8% less fuel than the B4000 SE, with which we averaged 15 litres per 100 km.
Switching from two- to four-wheel drive (4H) is as simple as flipping a switch to the right of the steering wheel on the dashboard. The days of recalcitrant levers are over. It's possible to switch to four-wheel drive on the go if you're driving slower than 72 km/h and the rear wheels aren't skidding. Protective plates shield the front suspension, as the B4000 SE does enjoy the occasional bout of mountaineering.
It's true that the Japanese Frontier and Tacoma trucks are more pleasant to drive and have better calibrated suspensions that control rear antics on tricky terrain more efficiently, better soundproofed interiors and nicer exterior finishes. But at what price? For the Tacoma, we're looking at $4,000 to $5,000 extra, and even more for options.
The affordable prices of the B-Series models is the reason why they're still around. They justify the limited comfort and sophistication, especially in the eyes of a buyer with commercial purposes in mind. In the end, it's a question of needs and means.
photo:Luc Gagné