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) |