Test drive Ford Ranger 1992 - 2010 compartment

"Gemini" on diesel fuel

Nothing is so evidently proves the entry of Mazda into the Ford Corporation, like a cursory look at the Mazda B-Series and Ford Ranger.
 

Two pickups produced for the Russian market at the same factory in Thailand are so similar that change the wools in the hoods in the hoods you really will not understand what. However, at the junction of 2006-2007, when their direct competitor and leader of the Mitsubishi L200 market is experiencing a change in generations, it was Mazda and Ford that became the only players in the market of budget and, at the same time, non-Chinese pickups.

 

Test 1: while the engine is silent
Imagine: before us are cars of respected manufacturers in the whole world, who have long proved their viability in a variety of automobile segments. Both have good off -road characteristics, are able to bear more than tons of cargo, and are many times cheaper than any luminet of 4x4. Without even sitting in the salon, you can guess, due to what.
 

A pickup is a modest interior, asceticism in the cabin, a small space for the rear passengers. There are, of course, exceptions (for example, Nissan Navara), but you can’t call our heroes with exceptions. In the decoration of salons, designer thought worked at a minimum. All materials are inexpensive, but there are no complaints about the assembly: nothing makes noise or creaks (at least for now) each of the subjects passed no more than 1,000 km.

 

Test 2: Done do not regret it!
At the wheel of a pickupa, you can accurately determine the quality of the road surface. We are going through an unloaded room, and we feel the fifth point: here it is close to ideal, and here the asphalt is laid, to put it mildly, it doesn’t matter. It is worth gaining speed and each irregularity is twice up to be more reflected on the body. It is shaking pretty much, and only on an almost perfect road do we achieve comfort for the back and ears.
 

Is it appropriate in this case to talk about the choice? After all, probably, there are no more similar cars than two pickups, the utilitarianism and the purpose of which are determined by everything: controllability, cross -country ability, elegance (more precisely, its absence), comfort and there is another design, one engine and one appearance with minor exceptions ; Finally, one very respectable age: neither B-Series nor Ranger have changed over the past decade.
 
Well, what can I do? The rear spring suspension makes the stern jump on any irregularity. She forces it to especially carefully behave in steep turns on the suburban highway. I did not calculate a little and the pickup instantly brings, forcing you to attach all your skill in order to align the trajectory.

 

Both cars are accelerated very nervously. The first and second programs are so short that, if possible to gain speed, in the first seconds you do this, constantly pulling the trembling lever of the checkpoint. The third is relatively long, on which the turbodiesel manifests itself from the best side.
 

On the asphalt the only reasonable drive mode is the rear. So it turns out more dynamic and economical; Yes, besides, the technical features of the Part-Time 4WD transmission do not allow you to abuse all-wheel drive.
 

Test 3: In limited space
And here we are far outside the city; We moved out of the main highway, but the road did not become worse. To the cottage village of Green Village, the final point of our trip, leads an amazing flat road. And on the territory of the complex, you can’t evaluate off -road opportunities. But you can check the review and maneuverability. We check according to the Brazilian system: we are strictly warned that a bad fine is supposed to be an imprint on a beautiful lawn. But I want to drive up to the house-ragged house

 

The side burdocks-mirror, coupled with a high landing, seem to completely exclude the possibility of failure. The only problem is that it is inconvenient to regulate the mirrors (and you have to do this regularly so as not to hurt the ridges of stones and trees), since the regulatory levers are under the steering column: and you are not visible, and you have to stretch. Perhaps, in a more difficult situation, the driver of Mazda was: an equally difficult review of the Japanese, the mesh on the rear glass was very difficult for both pickups. For this reason, the salon mirror was extremely rare. And, nevertheless, the budget of the wheels remained untouched!
 

Test 4: When the road ends
Perhaps the main test. Here you will need power, clearance, and even visibility for cars, the main function of which cannot be driven, but to carry, both pickups have amazing cross -country ability. Still: the clearance is more than many SUVs, the chassis architecture guarantees large entry angles; Plus, there is a full drive with a lowering gear. Powerful thrust allowed to climb onto quite steep slides, both in front and backwards.
 

Prices
The most affordable of the Mazda B2500 pickups. It can be purchased starting with $ 22,400. For this money, a 4-door pickup with a 2.5-liter 109-horsepower turbodiesel, a 5-speed manual transmission, two frontal airbags, electric windows and side mirrors, and adjusting the steering wheel in height are relied. The top version, where there is already air conditioning, ABS, heating seats and metal steps costs $ 28 100 Ford Ranger from $ 23,600.
 

The basic version of the XL includes the same 2.5-liter 109-horsepower turbodiesel, 5-speed manual transmission, two frontal airbags, electric glass and electricrope, immobilizer, metallic coloring, radio. The top version with ABS, front fog lights and a leather salon costs $ 29,840.
 

With visibility worse: when the score goes millimeters to stones or snags at the rear wheel, visibility was not enough to ask for help from colleagues. And the headlights of both pickups are weak. When it got dark, they illuminated the road, to put it mildly, it doesn’t matter, and it’s good that the vast majority of road obstacles for Mazda and Ford are not such. Thanks excellent patency!
 

What to prefer Ford or Mazda? It may seem that there is no particular difference, but this is far from the case. Ordinary criteria for comparison are not suitable here: after all, they have too much in common. When evaluating, you need to take into account the difference in the trim levels: both pickups divorced Ranger in some way to us in the richer, but, accordingly, more expensive versions.


We also recommend that you ask the dealerships regarding the installation of additional equipment, since there really is something to think about in my opinion, the kung and kangaroo will be useful. In addition, do not forget that Mazda will soon present in Russia a new generation of B-Series.
 

P.S. The wheel magazine expresses sincere gratitude to the Green Village (Karelian Isthmus, 79th km of the Priozersky highway) for help in organizing photography.
 

Cars were provided for test companies in Euro-Motors, an official Ford dealer, and Eurosib-Auto by the official Mazda dealer


Text: Ilya Orekhov
Photo: Roman Ostanin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Source: Wheel magazine [No. 111/2007]