LOOKS . Boy Toy
PERFORMANCE . Good/Better
HANDLING . Whoa
AMBIANCE . Contemporary
COMFORT . Tight
QUALITY . Satisfying
STEREO . New Country
FUN TO DRIVE . Rangy
GADGET FACTOR . Limited
HEADS TURNED . Farmhands
EMOTION . Blue Collar
CACHET . Rorty
MAZDA B2300/FORD RANGER SPECIFICATIONS
Sticker . $13,740./$16,139
Power . 112/147 horsepower
0 to 60 . 11 to 12/9 to 10 sec..
Test Mileage . 22.1/18.3 mpg
Seating . 2
Parking . No Sweat
LITTLE LUGGERS One thing that Ford does better than anyone else, according to both the market and the reviewers is design & build pick-up trucks. The Ranger/B2300 is proof positive. Mazda, who once built a fine truck of their own, saw the writing on the balance sheet and decided to compete in this segment by slightly restyling the Ranger and marketing their own version of this winning model. Under the skin these two trucks are one and the same, and you can't go wrong with either version. The Mazda sports a blacked-out grille and slightly less industrial styling, but that's about it for differentiation. Pick your dealer, haggle your deal and take your pick.
The Ranger/B2300 is a small truck and the interior space is tight. Go for the club cab if you are a big dude or need some extra hauling space. The cabin, though compact, is very nicely finished and presents more tasteful styling and better materials than the competition, particularly the Chevy/GMC alternatives. It really looks great.
Ridewise these twins feel like small trucks and bias the suspension toward doing true truckin'. Posers may prefer a softer ride, but workin' men & ladies will be happier than a well saddled packhorse when it comes time to really haul something serious.
As usual for this class of vehicle there are umteen powertrain & suspension options to cater to different duty cycles. The Mazda we sampled featured the 112 horsepower 4 and a tight 5 speed gearbox which was a very effective & economical combo. The Ford had the mid-size V6 & automatic/OD transmission for a bit more oomph and most of the price difference. Either way the package offers good value.
Simple, tough, reliable,affordable and done up right; these pick-ups represent the smart picks for a small, workin' truck.
REXX TAYLOR
