Overview
FROM the center of this 12 months (2023) Mazda Australia made two accent packs obtainable for its BT-50 utility vary – the SP Professional and Thunder enhancement packs priced at $7668 and $9046 respectively and obtainable to order from dealerships nationally.
Examined right here, the SP Professional enhancement pack provides Nitrocharger suspension (upgraded springs and twin-tube dampers) with two inches of elevate, unique 18-inch alloy wheels, a Lightforce LED mild bar set behind the grille, and SP Professional decals on the doorways.
The enhancement pack could also be fitted retrospectively to BT-50s – with a two-year guarantee – or from new with the factory-backed five-year/unlimited-kilometre deal.
At $68,510 plus on-road prices – and $7668 for the pack – the SP Professional arrives at $76,178 +ORC. The determine locations the BT-50 SP Professional in competition with the likes of the Ford Ranger Wildtrax X (from $75,990 +ORC), Nissan Navara Professional-4X Warrior (from $70,765 +ORC) and Toyota HiLux GR Sport (from $73,990 +ORC) providing comparable off-road functionality and gear ranges.
The BT-50 SP is obtainable as a dual-cab 4×4 fitted with Mazda’s (Isuzu-sourced) 140kW/450Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine and provided with an eight-speed computerized transmission. Braked towing is listed at 3500kg.
The SP sits above the GT dual-cab within the BT-50 vary and is distinguished by a set of black and gray exterior options, together with 18-inch alloy wheels, door handles, grille, decrease bumper garnish, roof rails, facet steps, signature wing and sail-plane sport bar, roller-style tonneau cowl, tub liner, wheel arch flares, and wing mirrors.
Inside, it options black and Driftwood leather-based upholstery mixed with artificial suede inside trim. A 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with wi-fi Apple CarPlay, USB Android Auto, Bluetooth, DAB+ digital radio, rear-seat USB charging level and native satellite tv for pc navigation is included on SP variants.
Different gear gadgets embody dual-zone local weather management, LED headlights, fog lights and DRLs, leather-wrapped steering wheel and kit knob, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, centre armrest for rear occupants and superior keyless entry eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated entrance seats, distant engine-start on automatics and entrance and rear parking sensors.
Security gear mirrors that of the Isuzu D-Max (on which the Mazda BT-50 is predicated) and consists of eight airbags, anti-lock brakes, consideration help, computerized excessive beam, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, traction management, dynamic stability management, emergency lane protecting, emergency cease sign, hill descent management, hill launch help, lane departure warning, lane departure prevention, lane-keep help, rear cross-traffic alert, rollover safety, secondary collision discount, velocity help system and switch help.
Mazda backs the BT-50 vary with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre guarantee with included roadside help. Service intervals are set at 12 months or 15,000km, whichever comes first. The primary 5 (annual) service prices whole $2404 ($443, $409, $699, $524 and $329).
Driving Impressions
There’s a grown-up-ness to the cabin of the BT-50 that doesn’t actually appear to be provided anyplace else within the dual-cab phase. It’s not attempting to be sporty, and it’s definitely not Spartan. It’s extra SUV-like… subtle if you happen to like. And for the listing worth, that’s a superb factor.
And on paper, at the very least, it definitely ticks a number of bins. The gear listing alone exhibits Mazda has thrown rather a lot into the BT-50 – even earlier than including the additional touches that include the SP Professional package deal. Add to those fairly beneficiant five-seat lodging – sure, even within the second row – and extra storage cubbies which you can poke a stick at, and it’s apparent the BT-50 is as a lot about work as it’s play.
Whereas the console cup-holders are too deep for the morning espresso, they’ll swallow a big drink bottle with out a problem, including to these already discovered within the door pockets entrance and rear. Additional again, the fitment of top-tether and ISOFIX anchorages for the children’ seats is a bonus, so too the USB charging outlet, vents and centre armrest.
Nonetheless, not all is because it appears… the infotainment system within the BT-50 is clunky to function and feels very outdated compared with the mannequin’s instant rivals.
The Isuzu-based system is troublesome to wrap your head round and close to not possible to make use of on the go. We additionally discovered the wi-fi Apple CarPlay connection would ‘drop out’ at instances, and the AM reception weak – not nice while you’re within the again nation ready for climate experiences.
We additionally discovered the instrumentation display dated and the menu system a painstaking course of, with a click-and-confirm sequence of steps most time consuming to navigate. Once more, lots of the options can’t be used on the go (for good motive), which implies you’ll actually have to be on prime of your recreation when altering settings on the ‘lights.
And imagine us while you say, you will want to change settings. The BT-50’s ADAS applied sciences have a behavior of leaping at shadows, chiming in while you’re a kilometre per hour over the velocity restrict, or an inch too removed from the center of your lane.
BING somebody is alongside you. BING somebody is in entrance of you. BING you’re going too quick. BING don’t swerve for that pothole. BING thoughts the cows. Actually, it gives you the Jimmy Britz.
The velocity signal recognition can also be effectively off the mark. We had it recognise a 100km/h signal as 10km/h and an 80km/h signal as 30km/h. Each have been very clear, going through the street, and undamaged. You wouldn’t need to depend on the automobile to set its personal velocity…
Turning the settings off or adjusting the sensitivity is feasible, however most will default to ‘on’ every time the ignition is switched off. It’s totally annoying, and distracts from what’s in any other case a terrific ute to drive and trip in.
As utes go, it’s moderately quiet with little intrusion from the (4JJ3-series) 3.0-litre engine till you actually open the faucets. There’s a little bit wind and tyre noise, however not more than we’ve skilled anyplace else within the class, and nothing the eight-speaker audio system can’t compete with.
The 140kW (at 3600rpm) and 450Nm (from 1600-2600rpm) is extra accessible than the numbers would possibly recommend, the torquey unit and effectively calibrated Aisin-sourced six-speed computerized offering regular progress on even the steepest grades.
The transmission, which additionally options within the D-Max and Toyota’s HiLux, is ready to eke out spectacular financial system from the BT-50, even when trudging round city. Every week in blended situations noticed a determine of 8.1 litres per 100km on the sprint – not too shabby in any respect, particularly for a dual-cab ute.
Cruising the open freeway, and the BT-50 is sort of relaxed. Even with the extra elevate and off-road targeted suspension tune the trip is affordable, although clearly tuned for a load within the again. With coil-sprung double wishbones up entrance and a leaf-sprung dwell axle on the rear, the BT-50 follows a well-recognized recipe to many within the class, and gives as much as 892kg of payload, putting it near the HiLux and Ranger.
The bathtub, which is fitted with a sail and (manual-only) curler cowl can also be comparable with others within the phase, and measures 1570mm from entrance to again and 1120mm between the arches. It’s 490mm deep and sits 830mm from the bottom – a stretch for the vertically-challenged amongst us, however once more no totally different to any competitor within the phase.
We love the electrically assisted steering within the BT-50 and would virtually go as far as to say it is without doubt one of the greatest in its class. Easy and low velocity, and sweetly weighted on the open street, it’s an trustworthy system that gives a way of connection wanted when piloting the automobile off the crushed monitor – and/or when towing. The turning circle of the BT-50 is listed at 12.5m.
The BT-50 runs (320mm) disc brakes up entrance and (295mm) drums on the rear, all assisted by a good pedal stroke and applicable ranges of help. Like many different facets of the BT-50 driving expertise, the braking is remarkably SUV like – even when the rear axle’s drums appear to be they’re from one other time.
Whereas we didn’t get to pattern the BT-50 SP Professional with a load within the again, a trailer on the hitch, or off the crushed path, we dare say we’re not alone. Twin-cab utes are more and more bought as metropolis vans, all for some motive required to have the requisite quantity of ‘gear’, even when the intention to move off-road is way from entrance of thoughts.
Given all of that, we expect the BT-50 SP Professional is a reasonably good match for potential consumers, offered after all they will dwell with the dreaded BING.
