30 Days Of 2013 Ram 1500: Photo Gallery
Our month with the 2013 Ram 1500 is about half over, so it's time to switch gears. The Ram's been... Read More
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Choose One of the Styles Below
| STYLE | ENGINE | DRIVE-TYPE | INVOICE | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2WD Reg Cab Auto | Gas I4, 2.3L | Rear Wheel Drive | $ 14,720 | $ 15,535 |
| 2WD Reg Cab Man | Gas I4, 2.3L | Rear Wheel Drive | $ 14,720 | $ 15,535 |
| 4WD Plus4 Cab Auto | Gas V6, 4.0L | Four Wheel Drive | $ 20,184 | $ 22,045 |
| 4WD Plus4 Cab Man | Gas V6, 4.0L | Four Wheel Drive | $ 20,184 | $ 22,045 |
The Basics:
The 2008 Mazda B-Series is a clone of the Ford Ranger, and shares its dated styling and chassis design--as well as its good construction quality, its frugal four-cylinder option, its good crash-test performance, and its high towing capacity.
The 2008 Mazda B-Series comes in two- and four-door models, with rear- or four-wheel drive. The Cab Plus version has two small access doors that make it easier to reach into the cargo area behind the seats, but there's no real four-door option. The B-Series hasn't seen a complete makeover in a long time, and it shows, though the materials used in its cabin are put together well.
The Mazda B-Series is available as the B2300, with a base 143-horsepower 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, or as the B4000 with a 4.0-liter V-6 that generates 207 horses. Each can be fitted to either a five-speed manual gearbox or a five-speed automatic transmission. It can get 21/26 mpg, great figures for a basic pickup. The four-cylinder is grouchy, but frugal enough to indulge its slow acceleration. The 207-hp V-6 is reasonably smooth and powerful, though fuel economy drops to 14/17 mpg with the automatic.
Handling is trucklike, and steering is vague even on rear-drive vehicles. Braking performance is acceptable. Its six-foot bed is useful for some weekend and professional tasks, but the ubiquitous 4x8 sheet of plywood won't fit in the Mazda B-Series. Towing is rated at 5,600 pounds.
The Mazda B-Series' front bench seats are comfortable for a few hours but sit low. The Cab Plus versions have two fold-down seats that should be used in emergencies only. There's no cargo-storage system inside, but a fold-down armrest and a decent-sized glove box are found inside.
The 2008 Mazda B-Series has a standard tire pressure monitoring system and an iPod jack; options include the off-road package, a 510-watt audio system, and Sirius Satellite Radio.
Anti-lock brakes and dual airbags are standard on all versions. No curtain or side airbags are offered, nor are stability and traction control. The 2008 Mazda B-Series is rated at "acceptable" by the IIHS for front impacts; it scores five and four stars for front and side impacts from the NHTSA, but its rollover rating of three stars points out the limits of its taller, older design.
Likes:
- Towing capacity
- Crash-test performance
- Available four-cylinder engine
Dislikes:
- Dated styling
- Unresponsive handling
- Lack of features
- Lack of usable back-seat
