Compact Pickup

Mazda · 1994-2009

B-Series (5th Gen)

The North American Mazda B-Series (1994-2009) was Mazda's compact pickup, built by Ford in Minnesota and New Jersey on the Ranger platform. It came as the B2300, B2500, B3000 and B4000, offered the first import-brand four-door pickup (Cab Plus 4, 1998) and became the Mazda Truck in 2002. The last was built on December 11, 2009.

Years
1994-2009
Drivetrain
RWD (4x2) · 4WD (4x4; shift-on-the-fly up to 45 mph, dual-range transfer case)
Engines
2.3 L Lima (B2300) · 2.5 L (B2500) · 2.3 L DOHC Duratec (B2300)
Sold in
US (1994-2009) · Canada (to 2010)

Spec sheet

Spec sheet
Generation
5th Gen (North America)
Nameplate
Mazda B-Series (1994-2001) / Mazda Truck (2002-2009)
Production
1994–2009
Assembly
St. Paul, MN (Twin Cities)
Edison, NJ
Sold in
US (1994-2009)
Canada (to 2010)
Body styles
Regular cab
Cab Plus (extended cab)
Cab Plus 4 (4-door extended cab, from 1998)
Bed lengths
6 ft (71.8 in; Regular Cab and Cab Plus)
7 ft (long-wheelbase Regular Cab, 114.0 in; listed for 1995)
Drivetrains
RWD (4x2)
4WD (4x4; shift-on-the-fly up to 45 mph, dual-range transfer case)
Transmissions
5-speed manual
4-speed automatic (1994-2001)
5-speed automatic (1997-2009; 4.0 first, all engines by 2002)
Trims
SE (1994-1996)
LE (1994-1996)
SE-5 / SE-5+ (1997)
SX (1998-2009; base)
SE (1998-2009)
Dual Sport (2001-2009; 2WD with 4x4 ride height and torsion-bar front suspension)
Wheelbase
111.6 / 125.7 / 125.9 in
Length
187.5 / 187.7 / 201.7 / 202.9 in
Width
69.4 / 70.3 in
Height
64.8 / 64.9 / 67.5 / 67.6 in
Curb weight
2,999-3,676 lb (2002-2009 brochures and 2004 spec sheet; base 2WD Regular Cab to 4x4 Cab Plus 4)
Payload
Up to 1,660 lb (2004 B3000 Cab Plus 4x2)
Towing
Up to 5,760 lb (2004 B4000 Cab Plus 4x2 automatic)

Engines

2.3 L Lima (B2300)2.3 L · I4 · 98 hp · 133 lb-ft · 1994-1997
Displacement
2.3 L
Config
I4
HP
98 hp
Torque
133 lb-ft
Years
1994-1997
Notes
112 hp / 135 lb-ft from 1995; same engine as the Ranger
2.5 L (B2500)2.5 L · I4 · 119 hp · 1998-2001
Displacement
2.5 L
Config
I4
HP
119 hp
Years
1998-2001
Notes
EPA lists the B2500 for MY1998, 1999 and 2001
2.3 L DOHC Duratec (B2300)2.3 L · I4 DOHC 16-valve · 143 hp · 154 lb-ft · 2001-2009
Displacement
2.3 L
Config
I4 DOHC 16-valve
HP
143 hp
Torque
154 lb-ft
Years
2001-2009
Notes
140 hp at its 2001 launch; 143 hp / 154 lb-ft in the 2004 spec
3.0 L Vulcan (B3000)3.0 L · V6 OHV · 154 hp · 180 lb-ft · 1994-2008
Displacement
3.0 L
Config
V6 OHV
HP
154 hp
Torque
180 lb-ft
Years
1994-2008
Notes
140-150 hp in earlier years, 154 hp in the 2004 spec; EPA lists a 3.0 L B-Series in every model year 1994-2008, including MY1997
4.0 L Cologne OHV (B4000)4.0 L · V6 OHV · 160 hp · 1994-2000
Displacement
4.0 L
Config
V6 OHV
HP
160 hp
Years
1994-2000
4.0 L Cologne SOHC (B4000)4.0 L · V6 SOHC · 207 hp · 238 lb-ft · 2001-2009
Displacement
4.0 L
Config
V6 SOHC
HP
207 hp
Torque
238 lb-ft
Years
2001-2009
Notes
Leftover trucks sold in Canada for 2010

Highlights

Highlights
01
Built by Ford in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Edison, New Jersey, on the Ranger platform, with a Mazda-specific front fascia, bed and wheels
02
Badges follow engine size: B2300, B2500 (1998-2000), B3000 and B4000
03
Cab Plus 4 (1998): the first four-door pickup from an import brand
04
Dual Sport (from 2001): 2WD with the 4x4 ride height and torsion-bar front suspension
05
Renamed Mazda Truck for 2002, with a Mazda-only final facelift
06
Final truck built December 11, 2009 at Twin Cities Assembly

Photos

  • Mazda B-Series (5th Gen) 1994-2009, image 1 of 2

  • Mazda B-Series (5th Gen) 1994-2009, image 2 of 2

Related

Predecessor

B-Series (4th Gen)

Related

Ranger (2nd Gen)Shared platform and assembly plants (1994-1997)Ranger (3rd Gen)Shared platform and assembly plants (1998-2009)

Overview

The Mazda B-Series was Mazda's compact pickup for the US and Canada from partway through the 1994 model year to 2009. Ford built it for Mazda at Twin Cities Assembly in St. Paul, Minnesota, and at Edison Assembly in New Jersey. It shared the Ford Ranger's platform, engines and transmissions, but Mazda gave it its own front fascia, pickup bed and wheels, and Cab Plus extended cabs got chrome window trim and blacked-out B-pillars. Building the truck in the US let Mazda avoid the 25% "chicken tax" on imported pickups.

Model names followed engine size: B2300 (2.3-liter four), B3000 (3.0-liter V6) and B4000 (4.0-liter V6). Launch trims were SE and LE, renamed SE-5 and SE-5+ for 1997, the year Mazda briefly dropped the B3000. The 1998 redesign brought a new fascia and bed, a 119-hp 2.5-liter four (B2500) and the Cab Plus 4 with two rear-hinged doors, which made Mazda the first import brand to sell a four-door pickup. SX and SE trims ran from then on.

For 2001 a 140-hp 2.3-liter DOHC four brought back the B2300 name, the B4000 got a 207-hp SOHC V6, and the raised-ride-height 2WD Dual Sport arrived. Mazda renamed the line the Mazda Truck for 2002, with a final facelift that centered the Mazda badge in the grille. The EPA lists the B3000 through the 2008 model year and US sales after the 2009 model year, with leftover trucks sold in Canada for 2010. The last one was built at Twin Cities on December 11, 2009, ending 37 years of Mazda pickup sales in North America.

Sources