2025 Mazda BT-50 assessment | CarExpert

The Mazda BT-50 continues to fly underneath the radar of most ute patrons in Australia, as evidenced by its place beneath the Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux, Isuzu D-Max, and Mitsubishi Triton within the gross sales race.

That’s a disgrace, as a result of the BT-50 makes a powerful case for itself. In my humble opinion, few dual-cab 4×4 ute rivals come near matching the BT-50 so far as appearances go, with its SUV-like design and premium cabin presentation.

The Mazda badge holds loads of credibility, and the BT-50 is effectively outfitted throughout the vary, too.

That leads me to imagine that this good-looking ute deserves higher, however I’m unsure if now’s one of the best time to purchase one. A facelifted mannequin has been revealed, round 12 months after the up to date model of its Isuzu D-Max twin, and it’s slated to reach Down Beneath within the first quarter of 2025.

WATCH: Paul’s video assessment of the 2023 Mazda BT-50 LE

The refresh will deliver a rounded set of upgrades, from exterior tweaks, infotainment enhancements, in addition to new security package. With that in thoughts, the argument to hurry out and spec up a present mannequin appears weak.

However maybe every week behind the wheel of a loaded SP Professional will change my thoughts…

How does the Mazda BT-50 examine?

View an in depth breakdown of the Mazda BT-50 in opposition to equally sized autos.

Mazda

BT-50

How a lot does the Mazda BT-50 value?

The SP sits on the pointy finish of the BT-50 vary, beneath solely the rough-and-ready SP Thunder off-road flagship.

That doesn’t inform the complete story although, as our tester is provided with each the Professional Enhancement Pack ($7668) and the Premium Infotainment Improve ($4948).

These additions, plus non-obligatory premium paint ($695), deliver the overall worth of this instance to $79,975 drive-away in Victoria. And $80k is a number of dosh for a mid-size ute.

4×2

4×4

To see how the Mazda BT-50 stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software.

What’s the Mazda BT-50 like on the within?

The BT-50 is a product of Mazda’s latest premium push, particularly in SP trim.

Most utes are workmanlike inside, with cabins comprised of hard-wearing supplies that provide little in the best way of luxurious. Not this one.

The inside of the BT-50 SP Professional is genuinely nice. It’s trimmed in a mix of black and light-weight brown leather-based, and customary contact factors together with the seats, door playing cards, steering wheel and centre console are premium in each feel and look.

Even areas uncovered to comparatively little visitors current effectively. For instance, the sprint prime is completed in smooth leather-based with distinction stitching.

So far as first impressions go, this ute nails it, significantly from the angle of households and way of life patrons. Tradies may need supplies which might be slightly extra resilient to every day put on and tear, however Mazda already presents loads of worksite-friendly variants additional down the BT-50 vary.

And the BT-50 SP backs up preliminary visible wow issue with real substance within the type of supremely snug entrance seats.

Trimmed in twin leather-based hues like the remainder of the inside, the leather-based pews really feel like your favorite armchair, with seemingly infinite base cushioning.

The chairs might do with slightly extra facet bolstering to carry you in place, particularly when the tarmac runs out, however I can’t complain comfort-wise. Each entrance seats are heated for these chilly winter mornings.

It’s straightforward to seek out the proper driving place, as the driving force’s seat presents electrical adjustment and the steering wheel each tilts and telescopes.

One other promoting level of our SP Professional check automotive is the non-obligatory ‘Premium Infotainment Improve’. The $5000 gear pack consists of an 11-inch Alpine touchscreen infotainment system, wi-fi smartphone mirroring, and an upgraded sound system with inbuilt amplifier.

I’ll lower to the chase although: the enhancements don’t justify the extra value.

Don’t get me flawed, the upsized infotainment display is spectacular to take a look at – the system is seamlessly built-in into the sprint, and boasts crisp graphics.

Nevertheless, the unit itself is comparatively fundamental, so don’t count on a swathe of options or customisation choices. The software program was laggy in our press car too, leading to delayed responses to the touch inputs.

Wi-fi smartphone mirroring is a worthwhile addition, and Apple CarPlay labored flawlessly all through my time with the BT-50. With that in thoughts, it’s greatest to keep away from the native capabilities the place attainable and stick to mirroring.

I used to be additionally left slightly underwhelmed by the Alpine sound system, which will get a B grading on the BT-50 faculty report.

All issues thought of, $4948 is lots to pay for the infotainment improve and the bottom system is completely serviceable.

The package deal doesn’t handle the instrument association within the BT-50, both. As an alternative of a contemporary digital instrument cluster, you’re greeted by a pair of old-school gauges and a puny centre display.

It’s not like Mazda can’t produce some first rate tech, both. Take the dual-zone local weather controls, which mix bodily toggles with digital readouts. The setup is sweet on the attention and simple to make use of… A+ on this entrance. Charging of cellular units is taken care of by two USB-C shops and a 12V socket, all located beneath the local weather controls.

Contemplating the dimensions of the BT-50, I’d love slightly extra inside storage. Up entrance you get a shallow centre console, small glovebox and thin door bins, in addition to an additional cubby above the glovebox.

Central cupholders additionally function, however any critical ute wants tradie-style drink holders within the sprint, proper?

Additional proof that the BT-50 SP is focused at adventurous households moderately than work crews might be discovered within the second row.

For starters, I discovered my knees pressed in opposition to the seat backing when seated behind my normal driving place, and any passenger topping 6’3″ will battle for headroom. That guidelines out cramming in a trio of well-built labourers, then.

However Mum and Dad shouldn’t fear, as a result of children will match with out concern. And no matter your body, ingress and egress is made straightforward by chunky facet steps and ergonomic seize handles.

The seats themselves have the identical plush really feel as these within the entrance row, though the rear seating place is slightly too upright to be snug for a couple of or two hours.

Second row facilities embrace map pockets, adjustable air vents, bottle holders within the doorways, and an armrest with built-in cupholders. Passengers are compelled to struggle over a single USB-A outlet, which can undoubtedly be the supply of many charger arguments.

There’ll be no combating over cargo house although, because the BT-50 has a spacious tub that can swallow loads of stuff.

The bathtub comes with a spray-in plastic liner, and is provided with a guide tonneau cowl. It’s not essentially the most safe ute, because the tailgate lock is operated unbiased of central locking. All it takes is so that you can neglect this quirk as soon as and any valuables saved within the tray might fairly simply be stolen.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

This Mazda BT-50 is fitted with the extra highly effective 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine. Some variants are provided with the smaller and extra environment friendly 1.9-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine.

To see how the Mazda BT-50 stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software.

How does the Mazda BT-50 drive?

This ain’t no rickety horse and cart with an engine up entrance. Relatively, the BT-50 SP Professional is a refined way of life ute designed with consolation entrance of thoughts.

From the entrance, it appears to be like like an SUV and it rides lots like one too, absorbing bumps round city with ease. The SP Professional comes normal with upgraded Nitrocharger suspension, which incorporates springs and dampers that may be configured to your wants by the supplier pre-delivery.

By default, the Nitrocharger suspension package brings a 40mm suspension raise, in addition to a 12mm monitor enhance.

My expertise with the uprated suspension setup was a constructive one, because the BT-50 SP was smooth and supple with out ever feeling floaty.

Round city it’s a straightforward beast to drive, with loads of lowdown torque to get you rolling from a standstill. That’s supported by the specs – the BT-50 produces 450Nm from 1600rpm.

It’s not fairly the 600Nm you get from a V6 Ford Ranger or Volkswagen Amarok, nor even the 500Nm provided by equal four-cylinder turbo-diesel variations of Australia’s two hottest utes, however I discovered the BT-50 to have greater than ample shove at city speeds.

Along with a tractable engine, the BT-50 has mild and direct steering that makes it straightforward to choose gaps in visitors and navigate tight suburban streets and carpark. Regardless of its substantial dimensions, this Mazda is snug sharing the highway with a lot smaller autos and also you by no means really feel such as you’re driving a bus.

I discovered parking simpler than anticipated, too. All variants include a reversing digital camera (albeit one which’s a bit grainy in decision) as normal, and the SP provides entrance parking sensors.

Each are helpful units, however Mazda is shaded by Ford on this regard because the equally priced Ranger Wildtrak is provided with a surround-view digital camera that provides loads of worth for autos of this size.

When you get out onto the freeway, the BT-50 SP transforms into a snug cruiser with all of the instruments wanted for prolonged stints at excessive speeds.

Even within the absence of a loaded tray it takes some time to rise up to hurry, however when you again off the throttle and let momentum and that beneficiant low-end torque do the work, the diesel racket settles down.

Computerized variants together with our tester provide adaptive cruise management, which is intuitive and reactive to modifications in visitors situations.

As with different Mazdas I’ve skilled, it’s secure to set and neglect adaptive cruise within the BT-50 – you’ll very not often encroach previous secure braking distances, and modifications in velocity are silky easy.

The ADAS suite additionally features a lane-centring function that does its greatest work on clearly marked motorways, because the system can lose its bearings. The beauty of the system within the BT-50 is that it may be turned off with the press of a button conveniently situated on the steering wheel.

A driver monitoring system can be included as normal and one of the best signal that it really works correctly is that I by no means observed it. Take notes, Mitsubishi Triton.

I’ve combined emotions in regards to the ahead collision warning system. On one hand, the warnings are unnecessarily frequent.

On the opposite, they arrive within the type of an efficient flashing mild on the windscreen, as a substitute of a disconcerting shuddering by way of the automotive which is harmful in itself.

Lastly, as we’ve famous in earlier opinions of this mannequin, the BT-50 has glorious LED headlights which might be assisted by a Lightforce LED mild bar positioned behind the grille on the SP.

What do you get?

Mazda BT-50 XS and XT highlights:

• 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
  • Wired Android Auto
  • Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
  • DAB+ digital radio
• 4.2-inch instrument cluster display
• Fabric upholstery
• Carpeted flooring
• Air-conditioning
• Energy home windows
• Cruise management (Guide)
• Adaptive cruise management with Cease & Go (Auto)
• Reversing digital camera
• LED headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Computerized headlights
• Computerized high-beam
• 17-inch wheels (alloy on XT)

XTR provides:

• 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Rear air vents
• Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
• Auto-dimming inside mirror
• Rear seat centre armrest
• Energy-folding exterior mirrors
• Keyless entry and begin
• Tyre strain monitoring
• LED headlights with auto levelling
• LED entrance fog lights and daytime operating lights
• Facet steps
• 18-inch alloy wheels

GT provides:

• Brown leather-based upholstery
• Eight-way energy driver’s seat
• Heated entrance seats
• Distant engine begin (computerized solely)
• Entrance parking sensors
• Heated chrome exterior mirrors

SP provides:

• Darkish gray roof rails
• Black grille
• Shiny black exterior mirrors
• Gloss black door handles
• Black 18-inch alloy wheels
• Darkish gray facet steps
• ‘Driftwood’ leather-based and black artificial suede trim
• Manually-operated black curler tonneau cowl
• Tub liner
• Gloss black sail-plane sport bar
• Entrance bumper decrease ornament trim
• Gloss black wheel flares

Choices

Our SP tester is fitted with two possibility packages.

SP Professional enhancement pack ($7668) provides:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Nitrocharger suspension improve package (40mm raise)
• Lightforce LED mild bar
• SP Professional decals

Premium Infotainment Improve ($4948) provides:

• 11.0-inch Alpine touchscreen infotainment system
• Wi-fi Android Auto
• Tidal music streaming
• 2x USB-C ports
• HDMI enter
• Auxiliary enter
• 300W 6×9-inch Alpine front-door audio system
• 2x Alpine entrance tweeters

Is the Mazda BT-50 secure?

The Mazda BT-50 has a five-star ANCAP security ranking with a 2022 date stamp, based mostly on assessments performed on the associated Isuzu D-Max. This ranking applies to all variants bar the BT-50 Thunder.

The utes have been reassessed regardless of having already obtained five-star rankings in 2020, because the D-Max and BT-50 obtained a design change to the driving force’s knee airbag and instrument panel.

All Mazda BT-50 fashions come normal with the next security options:

• Autonomous emergency braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane-departure warning
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Flip help
• Driver consideration monitoring
• Entrance, front-side and curtain airbags
• Driver’s knee airbag
• Entrance-centre airbag
• Site visitors signal recognition

Computerized fashions acquire lane-keep help and adaptive cruise management.

How a lot does the Mazda BT-50 value to run?

The Mazda BT-50 is roofed by the Japanese model’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee with roadside help for a similar interval.

Servicing is required each 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. Service costs range relying on the mannequin. 

To see how the Mazda BT-50 stacks up in opposition to its rivals, use our comparability software.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Mazda BT-50

The Mazda BT-50 SP Professional is a cultured ute that you just’ll by no means dread driving, however it’s a tough promote for $80,000 as examined.

Sure, it’s pretty to take a look at, each inside and outside, due to a good-looking front-end design that’s in keeping with Mazda’s large SUV vary, and cabin supplies that put Ford and Toyota to disgrace.

The BT-50 SP additionally does its greatest to maintain up with the pack as a driving machine – we now have no complaints in regards to the upgraded Nitrocharger suspension, and Mazda’s array of driver assists are all refreshingly user-friendly.

Nevertheless, at $80k, the SP Professional (with premium infotainment) is enjoying with the massive boys. You may take your choose of the HiLux vary for that cash, or pivot to a Ranger Wildtrak. If consolation and refinement prime your record of priorities, the Volkswagen Amarok Model meets the temporary with the additional benefit of a beefier turbo-diesel V6.

Talking of engines, all of the aforementioned autos provide extra grunt than the BT-50, which may really feel laboured when overtaking on the freeway.

What’s extra, up to date variations of the BT-50 will land in Australia early subsequent 12 months.

That settles it then. We will put a line by way of this good-looking ute and transfer on… proper? Not fairly.

Now in runout, the BT-50 SP is a much more tantalising proposition in the event you resist temptation and go away possibility bins unticked. With out the Professional and Premium Infotainment packages the BT-50 SP is available in at a much more aggressive $65,990 drive-away, pricing it in keeping with the Ranger XLT and HiLux SR5.

Now we’re speaking. In any case, neither possibility pack provides must-have gear, and also you’ll get higher worth out of some selection aftermarket upgrades.

As a life-style ute, a bare-bones SP is the higher worth play, though I’d nonetheless lean in the direction of a Ranger for journeys to and from the worksite.

Eager about shopping for a Mazda BT-50? Get in contact with one among CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

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MORE: Every part Mazda BT-50