By Karl Peskett.
Teaser pictures are almost a waste of time. Either it’s such a zoomed in photo that you can hardly make out any detail, or it’s so far off the mark that you can’t believe that the production car would look like that.
The latter is true of the Mazda BT-50. Before it was launched we knew that it would share a lot of componentry with the Ford Ranger, and when we saw the teaser pics we were all very excited. It looked nothing like the Ranger and had a very sexy profile. But when the production version lobbed, the reaction from both motoring writers and the public was underwhelming to say the least.
The ute’s sales suffered as a result. And with more tough trucks or updated models being released by Isuzu, Toyota and Nissan, the BT-50 really needed a shot in the arm to put it back in the running.
Thankfully, earlier this year, that’s exactly what happened.
Mazda turned to Australian exterior accessories designer and manufacturer EGR to create a new look for the BT-50. The company did the development, engineering and manufacturing for the update, and was chosen thanks to already being a supplier of accessories such as headlight protectors, bull-bars and tray canopies.
EGR clearly couldn’t do much with the headlights or the bonnet. So, instead it created a new grille, front bumper and foglight design, which together give the new BT-50 a much more masculine appearance.
Mazda says the squaring off of the bumper’s outer edges gives “the ute a lower visual centre of gravity and a more solid bearing on the road.” There’s also a more pronounced lower skid plate, with a mesh texture above and 3D inserts to break it all up. The grille gets horizontal lines which helps to widen its look.
Overall, it’s a much better looking front end, and more likely to appeal to tradies who wear their utes as a badge of pride.
But inside, there are upgrades, too, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across all trim levels – a first for Mazda. The presentation is basic, but functional, and there are some areas where cost-cutting clearly shows.
The gear lever’s silver top is already scratching off after our test car’s 2800km lifespan, while the roof lining looks like it came out of a 1990s Corolla. Thankfully, the seats are very comfortable (yes, even the back bench) and there’s plenty of room for five people. Even tall adults can sit in the back, with the backrest leaning enough to enable some sleep on a long trip if need be.
The steering is a highlight, with plenty of weight and feel, and the ratio is direct enough to make parking easy without making off-roading laborious.
Like most dual-cab utes, the front suspension is noticeably different from the rear suspension. That’s because the rear uses leaf springs so that it can handle a decent load. You’ll notice it most when you go over a speed bump; the front soaks up the bump nicely, while the back tends to jump a bit, with a bit of a jolt when it lands.
It’s transformed when you load it up, as suddenly both front and rear are imparting a lovely ride, and there’s little loss of handling prowess. Unlike some manufacturers who are now using coil springs for the rear, Mazda’s use of the traditional leaf spring arrangement allows it to carry just over a tonne in the tray (1095kg), so loading up with 50 bags of concrete is no problems at all.
One figure that everyone seeks out is the towing capacity, and at 3500kg, the BT-50 ranks alongside the majority of the leaders in this category. But there’s one figure that’s even more important – the towball down-weight. At 350kg, this means that it can take a lot of weight from the trailer and pull it with no issues at all.
That’s also thanks to its turbocharged five-cylinder motor. Shared with the Ford Ranger, this turbodiesel certainly isn’t the last word in refinement, with a loud idle and an odd sound when revving. But its outputs of 147kW and 470Nm of torque certainly can’t be argued with. To get more grunt, you’ll need to step up to something like the Volkswagen Amarok V6, but then you’ll be paying several thousand more.
You also get a quieter and smoother engine and one that has a bit more low-down torque, as well as a smoother transmission, a better ride (both laden and unladen) and a wider tray. However, its towball down-weight is 50kg less, and the payload is between 100-200kg less, depending on the trim level.
Which is why if it’s work you’ll be doing, the BT-50 is a far better choice. It has all the creature comforts you need, and it’s able to carry just about any load you throw in the back. And with its smarter looking front-end and recently introduced five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, this is a ute that should keep you trucking for many years to come.
