2004 Mazda Truck Dual Sport Cab Plus 4

Following a complete upgrading in 2001 including significant improvements in the powertrain and packaging departments, Mazda continues to refine for 2004 what it now calls the "Mazda Truck." We decided to check out one of the more trick variants: a Dual Sport Cab Plus 4 model. Base-priced at $22,080 (including destination fees), our tester was fitted with the optional automatic transmission and the Convenience Package (keyless remote, bedliner, power mirrors and a sliding rear window) for even more comfort and versatility.

The Dual Sport is Mazda's higher-riding version of its two-wheel-drive Cab Plus 4.

In Mazda parlance, the basic Cab Plus 4 formula opens with a pair of conventional doors and a pair of rear-hinged doorlets that grant easier access to the aft portion of the cab. It also brings a pair of flip-down jump seats. The Dual Sport variation nets you a high-utility hauler that combines the visual aspects of a serious off-roader with the smoother ride and affordability of a 4x2 chassis. Rounder contours that help differentiate the B-Series from its Ranger cousin are set off by a more "corporate"-looking grille.


The Dual Sport adds a tweaked lower valance panel, fender flares and bumpers, all done in a monochrome theme. Complementing that color-keyed look, it rides on P235/75SR15 all-season tires wrapped around 15-inch cast-aluminum wheels. In a nutshell, the Dual Sport package provides the look of a 4x4—ride height and ground clearance—but without the added cost of a transfer case. It's obviously inspired by the "pre-runner" trucks of the desert Southwest.

The Dual Sport Cab Plus 4 adds a host of comfort and convenience touches including power windows/locks and an AM/FM/CD sound system.

To bolster that greater visual impact, the Dual Sport boasts a 4.0-liter SOHC V-6 netting 207 horsepower and 238 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine and its state-of-the-art autoshifter make an impressive team for sure. There's nothing quite like meaningful displacement, a generously broad torque band and well-sorted gear ratios to add a bit of welcome performance, no matter what type of driving you do. In this case, it nets smart acceleration with full-throttle upshifts that cause the tach needle to dip only a few hundred rpm, keeping the engine well on song and pulling strongly.


Our best 0-60 mph run took only 8.6 seconds with the quarter mile rolling by in 16.3 ticks at 84.5 mph. In real-world running, that translates into hassle-free city motoring, plenty of reserve for freeway passes and a surprising amount of capability should you elect to abandon the tarmac for a bit of light-duty off-roading. The 4.0-liter V-6 makes this Mazda Truck a more appealing work truck as well, bringing a 1,260-pound base payload and raising standard tow capacity to 3,781 pounds with the automatic transmission.