Strengths

A great basic truck; solid and agile; a no-frills workhorse when it comes to getting the job done

 

Changes

The crew cab style, with its full-sized front-hinged rear doors, is no longer offered and, most notably, the mid-level B3000 series has been discontinued, leaving just the B2300 and the B4000. Other than that, the 2009 Mazda B-Series trucks are little changed from the 2008 model year. The SE is now an options package and not a separate trim as it was last year.

 

Value

A true pickup based on the Ford Ranger, the 2009 Mazda is a solid performer that is easy to maneuver, thanks to the truck's small size. Mazda's proven B-Series pickups hold their own against trucks from Chevrolet, Toyota, Nissan and Ford. The B2300 and B4000 are reliable, rugged trucks that don't pretend to be anything else, all of which means that they can haul cargo and tow loads whenever needed. Pricing for the basic B2300 starts, very affordably, around $16,000. Mileage varies greatly, from an average combined rating of 22 mpg for the B2300 and 17 mpg for the larger B4000. The 4.0L B4000 impresses with a 5,600 pound towing capacity.

 

Overview

Only two B-Series styles are available for 2009. The Regular Cab B2300 has a 2.3L 4-cylinder engine that produces 143 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque. The Extended Cab B4000 features a 4.0L V6 engine that produces 207 horsepower and 238 pound-feet of torque. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard on both models, with a 5-speed automatic being optional. The B2300 is available in rear-wheel drive form only and the B4000, an extended cab with rear-hinged smaller rear doors, is available only in 4-wheel drive format.

Standard equipment on the B2300 and the B4000 includes a sliding rear window, AM/FM stereo, 15-inch steel wheels, halogen headlights, and 3-passenger 60/40 bench seat. Option choices include alloy wheels, CD player with an auxiliary input jack, cruise control, chrome bumpers and grille, fog lights, bed liner, tilt steering wheel, a larger gas tank and improved suspension.

The top trim for the B4000 is the Cab Plus 4 SE, which comes standard with automatic transmission, trailer hitch, power equipment, keyless entry, limited slip differential, active "shift-on-the-fly" 4WD, a heavy-duty suspension, black wheel well moldings, air conditioning, and passive anti-theft system.

All 2008 Mazda B-Series trucks include standard anti-lock brakes, dual front air bags, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the 2009 Mazda B-Series five out of five stars for driver-side and side-impact crashes