Test Drive Mazda B Series (Bravo) Freestyle Cab since 1999 Pickup

What is this truck?

It is quite good if the one who tests cars does not feed on special love for this category of machines. Unbiased tried to be Sergey Kanunnikov. Photo: George Sadkov.

Ssang Yong Action Sports
The Aktion model appeared on the Russian market at the end of 2006, the Pickup at its base in 2007.
Engine: diesel, 2.0 l, 141 hp
Transmission: 5-speed mechanical, 4-speed automatic. Connected front-wheel drive.
Required: p20m01, p20m21, p20a21, p20l21.
Price: 745 000865 000 rub. ($ 29,20033,900).

Mitsubishi L200.
Pickup was presented in 2006, debuted in the Russian market in 2007.
Engine: diesel, 2.5 l, 136 hp
Gears: 5-speed mechanical, 4-speed automatic. Connected front-wheel drive.
Hardware: Invite, Invite +, Intense, Instyle.
Price: $ 24 99033 290.

Mazda BT-50
Pickup debuted at the end of 2006.
Engine: Diesel, 2.5 l, 143 hp
Gearbox: 5-speed manual. Connected front-wheel drive.
Required: Direct, Touring, Touring Plus, Active.
Price: 611 000788 000 rub. ($ 23,96030 900).

Farm? Unlikely. For a serious farm, a little bit. In addition, in Russia, only a very rare farmer will buy such a car. For outdoor activities with bulky inventory? Perhaps the bike can be fixed on the passenger roof, and skiing in such a body is difficult. Maybe all the same cheap alternative to the southest? Probably, this attracts most of the fans of pickups. To understand why and whom these cars, you first need to estimate what they are. Let's try?

Passenger truck
About design, as you know, to argue useless. Perhaps those who consider the Sanyon-Action Sports strange will be a little more than fans. But the latter will probably be more active.

It seems the chipped car seems more passenger. It is somehow uncomfortable on such a waste tires. Salon, like the body, tried to make original, but originality came out some kind of simple. Buttons are scattered chaotic, the panel is unnecessarily plastic, climate control is not very clear. What? In a car for 30 thousand dollars there is no magnetic? Reference of supervision! Especially funny that there are buttons on the steering wheel.

At first it seemed to sit comfortably, but soon felt: I rub the right knee about a powerful console with the most non-sorrow buttons. No matter how much the feeling did not disappear. By the way, the leg felt an acton day after parting. Rear in the car closely on a short shoulder can be transported by patient, on long journey only children.

In the asset, the minimum noise and vibrations are quite a passenger car with the savages of the athlete-amateur. Energetic, but not at all a mad start only to blame in the near Moscow without interference. I am glad with excellent dynamics and suddenly I feel: the engine has already reached limit revolutions. I turn on the second, and almost immediately happens the same! Up to 2000 rpm Motor is dead, then the short transmission is not allowed to live. On the overtaking to get into the necessary manner does not always. Quickly switch? Not easy! First, the grip of Sanyan is nehrescent, the line between the free and working stroke is badly tangible. Secondly, the gearbox forced to remember the forgotten was already the term was not developed. The lever constantly rests on some, albeit a small, barrier.

On the highway Aktion, thanks to spring suspensions, comfortable and obedient. Only characteristic rolls are given not quite a passenger car. The suspension smoothes even serious (but smooth!) Irregularities. He would have a steering wheel not so light and amorphous, and it would be quite good.

But the off-road is better not to see. I almost calculated the speed, and the suspension on it seems to be harmless irregularity skips. Road clearance is frankly small. Uncomfortable gear ratios of transmission affect the reduced row. For the sandy lift of the first few, the second is a lot. Action is the only one of the tests with electronic control of transmission and with problems, this caused. By turning the twilight with 2WD on 4WD, both symbols flashes, and the car clearly remained rear-wheel drive. After a dozen-other meters, the front-wheel drive worked. But to turn it off, I had to reboot in a computer. When starting a hot motor, an interesting feature turned out: the sagneu will start only with a partially pressed gas pedal. Stop torturing the car off-road. It is clearly light, besides, for those who can and like to work intensively with a lever box. But what is this amateur will be lucky in the bodies?

Freight Snozhnik
Mitsubishi-L200 has no extravagance of the action, but you won't call it boring or modest. Salon, like an expensive passenger car: Practically croched, tastefully decorated. The second row of seats in Mitsubishi is the most spacious. Another little barcode: L200 is the easiest rear side. But at the same time, by the way, the high body.

I did not expect to sit behind the wheel will not be very convenient. The distance between the pillow of the chair and the floor is not a little reminder of the old Japanese and some modern Chinese models.

By design, finishing level, equipping Mitsubishi Good Joint-Road. Such seems to be well to keep yourself on the highway. But at first drills the machine. The first impression of others: I am a kettle, I can not fit into the stream. On the deep press of the pedal, the car reacts with a huge delay. An attempt to first-see the pedal leads to chaotic transfiction. To ride confidently, it is necessary to adapt to press the pedal to certain, in no case are not large (categorically not in the floor!), And the corners found by experienced. Now it is clear: the dynamics of Mitsubishi is very decent.

Look forwarding ABS at the first moment made doubt her statement (!). But the main disadvantage of the car: the behavior of the ship. Right power! Baranca is turned almost at 90 degrees slowly, reluctantly car starts drifting at the specified side. Levo Steering! The machine, tilt, returns to the original. The stiffness of the suspension with an empty pickup, of course, excreted. But it hurts very much stripping from side to the side of smooth irregularities, and sometimes it seems: I'm in a tractor, and there is a trailer behind.

No, crime, of course not. At speeds not more than 100110 km / h (and where is the truck faster?) Everything happens smoothly and non-hazardous. It will be fattening it in a long trip and on a mountain road, where huge corners of the steering wheel and thoughtful reactions are particularly acute. In addition, what good, right knee will accidentally turn off Overdrive by pressing the button on the box selector.

But on the off-road Mitsubishi in his element. Gradually go through all the positions of the transmission lever (still a scheme on it was sick!), By connecting the front axle, blocking the differential by clicking on the reduced row. Further I work only a gas pedal, which in such conditions does not create problems. In sand slide? Please! Through a shallow river? No problem! In the thicket? Sorry for a beautiful metallic in the countryside, however, very wealthy, Mitsubishi-L200 will undoubtedly be the first guy! In the city and long journeys, we would probably be tired of each other.

Ovnoditanny Pickap
Mazda WT-50 is largely similar to Mitsubishi. The same rigidity (but also impenetra!) Suspension, especially tangible on empty car. The clear transmission control scheme on off-road and confident behavior there. Not stunning, but decent overclocking and clear braking.

Mazda salon is simpler, but landing is more convenient than in the L200. Feeling: Singing in this chair always. Rear is slightly closer than in Japanese, but spacious than in the action. The body is increasing, but the longer and loading height is less.

Overclocking Mazda with a manual box is much easier and clearer than Mitsubishi with a machine gun. True, he is accompanied by too fierce and annoying roar. Vibrations in WT-50 are also vibrated, like the moves of the lever box, resembling a truck.

The smoothness of Mazda's move is much worse than Sanyne, and in general is close to Mitsubishi. Of course, it is not the perfect shock from overcoming the grooves and the bumps speak somewhere in the lower back. But it is still better than the longitudinal transverseock L200. The VT-50 serpentine requires the rotation of the steering wheel on noticeably smaller angles, although slowness when performing the commands to the left is also characteristic of Mazda. Of course, to demand a sports coupe from the pickup reactions and even the sedan is unfair, but still I would like to bring Mazda Mazda to them and especially Mitsubishi.

On the off-road Mazda no worse countryman. Manual, and not an automatic transmission will deliver the inconvenience of only a very inexperienced driver. Tip: For unhurried, but confident movement in pampas, use mainly the second reduced one. Enough for all occasions.

Perhaps BT-50 is the best compromise between cargo and passenger qualities, between reliability on off-road and comfort on asphalt. Namely, they are waiting for the fans of pickups.

I and after the dough hardly imagine a similar car in everyday urban life. Of course, I have a lot of opponents. But before the final choice, I think it is good to figure out what kind of truck?

Sergey Kanunnikov: Evaluating pickups from the point of view of a particular task, we, of course, would get other results. Our balleal system implies a comprehensive assessment on average conditions, during daily operation. By the way, most pickups in Russia live.

Ssang Yong Action Sports A passenger car with a cargo body, uncomfortable in the city, weathered to off-road.

Total rating of 7.4

+ Comfortable suspension, passenger reactions to taxiing, minimum noise and vibrations.
- Uncomfortable controls, close rear seat, engine inconsistency and gearbox, thoughtful transmission control.

Mitsubishi L200 is no longer a truck, but also not a universal sacrifice, well adapted to smooth roads.

Total rating of 7.7

+ Elegant design, good smoothness, spacious back seat, good permeability.
- cargo handling, inconvenient management of the driver, low driver's seat, high body.

Mazda BT-50 The most compromise pickup among the subjects most suitable for a variety of tasks.

Total estimate of 8.0

+ Convenient landing on the front seats, good dynamics, understandable controls.
- noisy engine, mediocre course smoothness, slow reactions to the taxi.

Sergey Kanunnikov