1998 Mazda B-Series 3.5L Automatic GLS

In the past, only slight differences separated Mazda's B-series pickups, , from the Ford Ranger on which it was based., , This year, when the Ranger was restyled, Mazda took the opportunity to give its version a more distinctive look. Research showed that import truck buyers like a lower, wider looking truck, so the designers in Mazda's California studio gave the front of their truck a horizontal theme, with wide headlights and large chrome grille. That look is further emphasized by a fender line that runs from the grille up to the doors., , Around back, the rear fenders have subtle bulges stamped into them to create, , what Mazda calls "a muscular stance," and all of these changes do, in fact,, , separate the Mazda from the Ford more than last year., , Underneath, the heart of the Ranger still exists. Thanks to a 3.6-inch longer wheelbase, the standard cab is three inches longer. There are three engines, two trim levels and regular as well as extended-cab models in two-wheel or four-wheel drive. The base four-cylinder has been enlarged from 2.3-to 2.5-liters, and it has 119 horsepower. The other engines are a pair of V6s, 3.0- and 4.0-liters., , To check out the changes, we drove a B3000 regular cab 4X4, whose 3.0-liter V6 has been retuned to give it 185 foot-pounds of torque, or pulling power, an, , increase of 14 percent. Horsepower is 150, just 10 less than the larger 4.0-liter; however, the larger engine's 225 foot-pounds of torque makes it the, , choice for pulling large, heavy loads., , Mated to the five-speed manual transmission, the 3.0-liter engine had reasonable acceleration, and was powerful enough to carry light loads. For city driving I would prefer the automatic transmission, but the manual gives better gas mileage and allows the driver to have more control for times when she might venture out into the country., , Mazda says compact pickup trucks are the sports cars of the 1990s, vehicles that "enhance the carefree, active lifestyle of its owner." Our test truck fits that description well., , The longer cab allows greater seat travel, and now the driver can recline the seat back without hitting the back wall., , The interior is a mirror image of the Ford's, and that means a thoughtfully, , designed instrument panel with large, readable instruments and simple, logical, , controls. The radio has large, fat buttons and the heater has rotary dials that work intuitively., , The 60/40 split bench front seat enables three persons to ride in the cab if the need arises, but most of the time only two will fit comfortably., , Selecting four-wheel-drive at speeds up to 70 mph is accomplished by simply, , twisting a knob on the dash, which I appreciated during the occasional snow, , flurries that accompanied our truck on its visit here. The front axle is, , equipped with a pulse vacuum hub-lock (PVH) system that engages the front wheels quickly and quietly with no need to stop or back up. PVH a lso improves fuel economy in two-wheel-drive models., , The frame is 350 percent stiffer because the rails are now fully boxed, and that makes the ride tighter. Up front, a short-arm/long-arm front suspension has been adopted for a smoother ride and better handling. Two-wheel-drive models get coil springs, while the 4X4 gets torsion bars. Using two systems costs more, but Mazda says they provide better road feel and improved off-road use., , Price, , The base price of our test truck, a B3000 SE, was $16,945. A $3,070 package included alloy wheels, sliding rear window, bed liner, air conditioning, power windows, power locks, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, and an AM/FM stereo with compact disc player., , Including the package discount and destination charges, the sticker price was $19,475., , Warranty, , The standard warranty is for three years or 36,000 miles., , Vehicles for The Star's week-long test drives are supplied by the auto, , manufacturers., , Point: Compact pickups are the sports cars of the 1990s, and this one is a go