1999 MAZDA B Series / Bravo Freestyle Cab 4.0L V6 5MT AWD (207 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Following its connection with Ford, Mazda produced and sold on specific markets the B-Series pickup and made it available in a few cab choices such as the Freestyle.

While other Japanese carmakers such as Nissan, Toyota, or Mitsubishi developed their 4×4 pickups and successfully sold them around the world, Mazda was connected to other development areas. After Ford purchased it, it had to go with the blue-oval brand ideas, and thus it introduced the B-Series on the market, and it wasn’t a bad idea after all.

The Freestyle cab was the Mazda’s name for an extended cab. Its rear suicide doors (rear-hinged) allowed the owner to fill the car with two more people in the back. The shorter cabin allowed a longer bed to carry items. Like the Ford Ranger, its sibling, the B2500/Bravo, could handle a one-ton payload.

Inside, Mazda used a car-like design for the dashboard. Its rounded shapes and clean, uncluttered design made the vehicle more suitable as a leisure pickup than a hard-worker. Thanks to its sturdy chassis it was both. In the back, the carmaker installed two jump-suits and a storage area underneath them, better suited for fishing poles than for a sledgehammer.

Under the hood, depending on the market, Mazda offered the B-Series with its own 2.3-liter gasoline engine, Ford’s V-6 units, or a 2.5-liter turbo-diesel. All engines were paired as standard to a five-speed manual, while an automatic was available for selected versions.