2002 Mazda B2300 Review (continued)
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Walkaround

Restyled last year, the Mazda Truck has a look all its own: windswept, but still brawny, more like a miniature Ford F-150 than, say, a Toyota Tacoma; and certainly more restrained than the posturing macho of the Nissan Frontier. The new Mazda is smooth all over, while retaining the square, glassy greenhouse that has become a Mazda pickup hallmark.

The little-Ford look is more than coincidence: The Mazda Truck is engineered by Ford, and shares mechanical components with the Ford Ranger. The Mazda does offer its own interior and exterior styling and equipment packages.

The Mazda's strong prow sparkles with multi-beam reflector lamps flanking the prominent grille and its bold Mazda emblem. Gentle shoulders roll down into relatively flat side panels, interrupted by a powerful horizontal character line at about knee level. Muscular bulges around the rear wheelwells suggest sporty step-side styling. With the Cab Plus extension, a tall and narrow side window mounts in the panel behind each door window.

The cargo bed stretches six feet and provides convenient hooks on the floor. Indentations in the box support partitions to segment cargo. The tailgate detaches quickly without special tools. The optional U-shaped bed extender, made from stainless steel tubing, flips out to rest on the tailgate. It can be useful for hauling large, bulky cargo although it won't hold back dirt and other loose items.

Dual Sport models rely on a monochromatic treatment with body-colored bumpers, flared fenders and lower front fascia. (The name is derived from a motorcycle suited for pavement or dirt.) Mazda's Dual Sport has the elevated stance of a four-wheel-drive truck because it rides on the same the hiked-up suspension as the 4x4. But Dual Sport is a two-wheel-drive machine, just like the pre-runner trucks that off-road race teams use to survey a desert race course.

Four-wheel-drive Mazdas drop the Dual Sport name but keep the same monochromatic look.

Interior Features

Previous versions of the Mazda Truck consistently set the standard among Japanese-brand pickups for spacious, comfortable accommodations and convenient features. Last year, Mazda re-engineered the cab for even quieter cruising. Also new were seat designs clad in new fabrics, a revised instrument panel with a tachometer, and a revamped center pod for climate and audio systems, with large, easy-to-use rotary dials.

For 2002, the Regular Cab still supplies a bench-style seat that can just fit three across.

The Cab Plus adds an interior storage bay behind the front seat. Two small side-facing jump seats fold down from the back wall. Rear-hinged doors on the four-door Cab Plus permit easy access to rear quarters.

The seats in our B4000 Cab Plus 4x4 were high-back buckets covered in premium cloth fabric. Firmly padded in the bolsters and bottom, they felt luxurious.