Mazda's B-Series compact trucks appear in two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive models spread across two wheelbase lengths, three trim designations (SX, SE and Dual Sport), and either regular or extended cab design with options for two or three or four doors.
B2300 Regular Cab SX is the price-leading base model and comes with a new 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, a manual five-speed transmission, and rear-wheel drive. B2300 replaced the previous B2500 model in January 2001.
B3000 gets an overhead-valve 3.0-liter V6 engine and three cabin styles: two-door Regular Cab, three-door Cab Plus and four-door Cab Plus 4. In SE trim the B3000 MSRP tab ranges from $14,720 to $19,920.
Dual Sport trim is available for B3000 and B4000 models. The 4x2 Dual Sport looks like a rugged off-road truck, but eases the bottom line by avoiding a four-wheel-drive mechanism. B3000 Dual Sport models list for $14,755 with the Regular Cab and $17,175 for Cab Plus.
B4000 is the top model and has the four-door Cab Plus 4 cabin. It comes with a new 4.0-liter V6, with choices of two-wheel-drive Dual Sport ($19,375) and four-wheel-drive SE ($22,220). B4000's husky overhead-cam V6 engine ripples with 207 horsepower. No other compact truck comes close to matching that muscle (except for the Ford Ranger), and it bumps up the B4000's trailer-towing ability to 5900 pounds. It also puts strength in the driver's hands for hauling a load or powering up steep grades.
All Mazda B-Series models come with four-wheel anti-lock brakes, tachometer, anti-theft immobilizer, spare tire lock and dual de-powered air bags (with a key-operated passenger-side airbag deactivation switch).
Equipment options include a new five-speed automatic transmission ($1,000), Cab Plus packaged equipment for convenience ($560) and power controls ($405), and truck trimmings like a bed liner ($235), soft-top cargo box cover ($330), box rail covers ($140), flip-out cargo bed extender ($210), and door side step tubes ($370).