Since 1995, the quirkily named Mazda Bongo Friendee, AKA Ford Freda, has been enabling road trips of UK camping enthusiasts and campervan fans alike. Named after a type of antelope (great pub quiz material), they can be found in the lowlands or mountains. Although it has global heritage dating as far back as the 1960s, a Bongo Friendee exported from Japan makes a prime candidate for a campervan conversion since its price point can be as little as £7,000.
With a range of engine choices—some good, some not so good—and a serious amount of versatility, the Mazda Bongo has kerb appeal. It was facelifted in 1995, then given a new shape in 1999. The newer ones have twin airbags, a slightly different dash design, different steering wheels (to house the safety features) and air-con and electric blinds for the habitation area became standardised.
Are Bongo campervans any good?
Usually imported from Japan, unless you’re scoping the used market, the compact nature of the Bongo makes it an understandable choice for campervan conversion projects. They’re also relatively inexpensive, when considering some factory-supported campervans have a starting price over £35,000.
Bongos are especially suited to DIY conversions because the pop-top is a factory fit called ‘Auto Free Top’. It’s electric and came as a feature on most of them. With the pop-top up, there’s a three-quarter bed downstairs and a double bed upstairs, though realistically, accommodating three occupants is super snug, even one or two are kid-sized.
The front seats don’t swivel in the traditional sense. Instead, the backrests shift forward, tilt and create a seat facing into the living space. Though it may be possible to retrofit different seats, it’ll be awkward and then there’s the matter of engine access…which we’ll come onto.
Do they still make Mazda Bongos?
Production stopped in 2006 and so anything on the market now is at least a decade and a half old and such age needs to be taken into consideration. If such features and the name of the vehicle weren’t quirky enough, ‘Bongo Buddies’ and ‘Bongonauts’ are some of the names for enthusiasts that drive a Bongo. They have their own ‘Bongo Salute’, but nerdiness aside, they’re an interesting, self-effacing bunch with plenty of knowledge they’re willing to share.
What should I look out for mechanically?
Engine choices include a 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine with automatic transmission and a choice of two- or four-wheel drive (2WD, 4WD), the 4WD SGL5 is the most popular of the Mazda Bongo variants. The post-facelift 2.0-litre petrol engines are generally worth avoiding, yet unsurprisingly, there’s a more readily available supply of these than the much rarer V6 and pre-facelift 2.0-litre petrol, both with manual transmission.
The engine of the Bongo sits under the front seats, meaning there’s a faff to carry out basic checks like oil and water. (Not to mention, there’s no interior access between the cab and the rest of the cabin). While this does help with maintaining heat inside the cabin on cold days, it can become a bit of a bug bear if work is required—especially in the rain.
There are some initial steps to take if you venture forward to become a Bongo Buddy.
Since Bongos for export have been known to sit on the docks in Japan for extended periods—over six months in some cases—without being fired, it’s prudent to anticipate some minor issues with basic components, such as water hoses.
Also rust is the watchword on most Bongo forums. Japanese don’t salt their winter roads the way we do in the UK, so it’s imperative to ensure the vehicle is professionally undersealed to prevent major corrosion. Life expectancy of an untreated Bongo is little more than six years. Since they’re no longer in production (that ended in 2006), replacing sills, wheel arches and other key components is part-and-parcel of Bongo ownership.
Top Tips:
1. Ideally, you’ll want the vehicle professionally undersealed. If this hasn’t already been done, front the few hundred quid to protect the vehicle and avoid wheel arches holey enough to compete with Jesus.
2. A weak point of the engine is the EGR valve, which becomes blocked by engine deposits and seizes solid. An inexpensive DIY fix is possible though.
3. If you find a dual battery set-up (two 12V batteries wired in parallel), that Bongo most likely originated in Northern Japan. Don’t be alarmed, it’s helpful.
What should I be aware of inside the van?
Unlike the £65k+ Auto Sleeper Kingham , the Bongo Friendee comes with air-conditioning as standard. There’s also front window wind covers, which enable you to ventilate the cabin even when the weather’s a bit poor—unlike converted panel vans.
A sink cover helps create more work space. Though occupancy can range from 4-5 belted seats for driving, there’s only a choice of 2 or 4 berths—the latter of which, as mentioned above, could prove a tight squeeze with fully grown humans.
Top Tips:
1. Goodbye 2022, 1980 came and asked for its cassette player and FM radio back! Unless you have an exceptionally old soul (and a fantastic cassette collection), the standard radio is probably one of the first things you’ll want to change.
2. When you view to purchase, ensure all the electric blinds and windows work. A faulty one is no dealbreaker but it might affect the price, if the advert didn’t highlight it.
What’s the story on maintenance?
The great thing about Bongos is that despite them starting out as a bit of an underdog in the campervan world, there’s now a strong nationwide network for spare parts and insurance options.
How many miles to the gallon does a Mazda Bongo do?
Bongos can be pretty thirsty, with an mpg of 25-29. What’s more, the overheating issues are notorious on the forums. A coolant leak or head gasket failure can lead to temperatures skyrocketing. Running above ‘normal’ is a big no-no, since doing so can warped the engine head—a major job to fix.
Top tips:
1. Be prepared to switch brittle water hoses out every five years or so.
2. Bongos tend to have overheating issues. Consider fitting your own coolant alarm to avoid any nasty surprises.
3. If any hose springs a leak, budget to replace the whole set with more robust silicon ones.
4. The fuel gauges in Bongos tend to be off a bit…or a lot. Earthing the fuel sender unit should correct this without serious expense.
4. Bongofury.co.uk is the place to go for advice and parts, as is the Mazda Bongo Owners Club on Facebook.
What else should I know?
A back rack can be fitted to a tow bar, helping to expand the amount of cargo you might want on your travels. The rear tail-gate lifts and provides a little bit of shelter when packing up.
It’s also worth considering that the pop-top can also feel less secure in stronger winds, due to its height.
Pricing
Since the pandemic has catalysed fresh appetite for campers and staycations, Bongos aren’t as cheap as they once were. However, at the time of going to press, you could still pick one up for as little as £4,990. Prices peaking around £15k, which is still very piggy-bank friendly.
Since the CO2 emissions classifications were implemented after the Bongo stopped being produced, the Bongo is around £250 to tax.
Verdict
The compact nature of the Bongo means investing in additional kit to be erected once you’re at your destination is necessary if you’re a bigger family on tour. That said, the size is and positioning of the engine means the Bongo makes an easy everyday runaround. If you’re asking if a Bongo makes a good car, the answer is yes. The size really helps here, parking hassle-free wherever you go.
