Mazda B-Truck...Continued

With many young people looking for the tough image and low prices of small trucks, this is a good place for Mazda to rebuild their popularity. The Ford Ranger has been the best-selling compact pickup in the United States for 10 years running, and has a truckload of major improvements for 1998. It supplies the mechanicals for the B-Truck, and the design staff that brought us the Miata has supplied unique appearances from every angle.

The aggressive grille proudly displays the new Mazda flying-M logo, and lights on all corners are Mazda specific. The most obvious and appealing difference is the sculpted body sides, with shapely flares over the large wheels. This gives the truck the foreign cues. The chrome trim around the windows has been kept as a Mazda trademark.

B-Truck's Regular Cab has been extended 3 inches, providing more interior space, increased seat travel, additional seat recline comfort and extra storage capacity behind the seat. A storage tray concealed behind the seat is standard on Regular Cabs. SuperCabs receive dual rear cup holders and a small storage bin. A welcome grab handle on both A- pillars is added to 4x4s for entry aid and passenger comfort.

The B-Truck is equipped with standard dual air bags, and features a passenger-side air bag deactivation switch to protect infants in rear facing child seats. New seating offers more comfort and lumbar support. Seat travel and reclining adjustment is increased on all models. The radio also features the Radio Broadcast Data System (RBDS) on the FM band, which can seek radio stations by program type, display a radio station by call letters and program type, display radio station announcements in text form, and interrupt tape or CD with a traffic alert. The system works only with radio stations that are RBDS-capable.

I appreciated the more powerful and larger 2.5 liter base I-4 engine in the B2500, rated at 119 horsepower and 149 foot-pounds of torque. With the four- cylinder , automatic transmission and a returnless fuel system, B-Truck qualifies as a California Low Emission Vehicle.

The optional 3.0-liter B3000 V-6 engine (standard on 4x4s) delivers 147 horsepower. Power freaks can request the B4000 160-horsepower 4.0-liter V-6, linked either to a five-speed manual or the segment's only five-speed automatic transmission. Full boxing of the side frame rails provides a 350 percent increase in B-Truck's torsional rigidity for improved ride quality and improved noise, vibration and harshness. Fordês newly-developed pulse vacuum hublock 4x4 front-axle system. Itês patented technology allows virtually silent synchronous shift-on-the-fly hub engagement at highway speeds. Since all front driveline components are disconnected at the wheels in the 4x2 mode, performance, fuel economy and noise are optimized.

A welcome change is the elimination of the old twin I-beam front suspension, replaced by a short- and long-arm front suspension and power rack-and-pinion steering which greatly improves ride, handling and steering response. Coil springs are used in 4x2 suspension; torsion bars on 4x4s.