2000 Mazda B-2500 Pickup Reviews & Ratings

This is a well-designed, comfortable truck. The instruments are positioned so that they are nicely framed by the steering wheel. The seats are plush and comfortable (at least they were on our B3000 Troy Lee Edition test vehicle). All the controls are thoughtfully and intuitively placed.

One of the best inside features is the cruise controls. Mazda's controls are mounted on the steering wheel and are illuminated, so you won't find yourself hitting the wrong button in the dark because you can't remember where Set leaves off and Resume resumes. Interestingly, the Ford Ranger we tested a few weeks later didn't have lighted cruise control controls.

The extended-cab versions come with rear jump seats. Unless your passenger is a child or a circus performer, don't take these inward-facing perches too seriously. That space is better suited for carrying groceries (or helmets or chaps in the Troy Lee Editions) than people.

We drove our Mazda Troy Lee B3000 on Southern California freeways and on some dirt tracks at the base of the Eastern Sierra Nevadas in Northern California. It handled well on freeways - surprisingly well, considering it boasts a serious off-road suspension between the tires and the body. While there was a bit of a bounce at freeway speeds, it wasn't bad. The truck might look like a 4X4 (which is wasn't), but it certainly didn't ride like one.

There was also a surprising amount of wind noise for such a solidly built truck. We tracked much of it down to the sliding rear window. A camper shell would certainly take care of the problem.

While the B3000 Troy Lee might look like a 4X4, it pays to remember that it isn't. We found ourselves fishtailing on dirt roads. And we came close to getting stuck in some mud on the shore of Lake Crowley. The big 16-inch tires and some careful rocking got us out of trouble.

If you have to stomp on the brakes the rear ABS keeps the truck in a nice, straight line, even on dirt. Going over bumps (say your average speed bump), it had the rear end bounce of an unloaded pickup. The off-road suspension helps on this point, but the bounce is still pronounced. Aside from the occasional fishtail, the truck was as much fun to drive off highway as it was on. Okay, it was more fun to drive off road.

Besides being solid, well-built, and fun to drive, one of the best things about driving a Troy Lee-branded Mazda is the stares it gets. People don't seem to be able to take their eyes off the truck, particularly the flames on the side. While it might just be our imagination, it seemed that we got quicker service than normal when we pulled into the yard at our local lumber store from the young, might-be-a-dirt-biker yard worker who hustled out to help us. In other words, people do notice the distinctive look of this truck. That's no mean feat when you consider the Ford Ranger is ubiquitous.

Mazda makes it easy to understand the B-series line-up: B2500 trucks feature a 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine. The B3000 uses a 3.0-liter V6, and the B4000 is powered by a 4.0-liter V6. The two V6s are available in 4x4 and 4X2.

Three cab configurations are available: regular cab, two-door extended Cab Plus, and 4-door extended Cab Plus 4.

In addition, there are three trim levels: the basic SX, the upscale SE, and the extreme Troy Lee Edition. (The Troy Lee Edition is only available as a B3000 4X2 or B4000 4X4.) All told, with various combinations of drivetrain, layout cab configuration, and trim level, there are 13 different B-series models to choose from in the 2000 model line-up.