Mazda BT-50 2021 Review

Mazda BT-50 2021 - Post-Breakup Makeover

Coming to Australian showrooms in the fourth quarter this year, the all-new BT-50 finally looks fresh after nine years. It is the ute’s first major makeover after Mazda ended its 48-year partnership with Ford and moved on to team up with another Japanese carmaker, Isuzu.

Like a divorced woman who dropped her ex-husband’s last name to adopt a new one, the latest BT-50 has ditched the engine and other attributes it shared with Ford Ranger and now wears the same platform and drivetrain of the Isuzu D-Max.

It also has D-Max 2021’s advanced safety feature: a centre airbag between the two front seats, which make them the first utes to go on sale in Australia with the world-class feature.

Despite the similarity, the BT-50 remains easily distinguishable from the rugged, more industrial-looking D-Max⁠—especially from the outside⁠—with its lifted chrome-trimmed front grille akin to Mazda’s CX-5 and CX-9 SUVs

Revealing only the dual-cab 4x4 design of BT-50 MY2021 during its global debut last month, Mazda will reportedly sell the dual-cab in Australia before expanding the range down the track.

Meanwhile, pricing for the latest model is yet to be released.

Mazda BT-50 2021 Aggregated Reviews

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We Love

• Upgraded exterior and interior designs
• Advanced safety features
• Wireless smartphone integrations
• Adequate legroom and headroom
• Increased wading depth
• Addition of rear diff lock

Pain Points

• Outdated engine
• Less torque capacity
• Outdated 4WD system
• Rough transmission
• Low status appeal

Exterior

Fresh from its partnership with Isuzu, the all-new BT-50 looks tougher than its previous models. For one, the ute’s platform has been upgraded to gigapascal steel, which is roughly four times the strength of conventional mild steel. The proportion of 390MPa steel in the body has also been increased.

Nonetheless, it remains “softer” to look at compared to the classically industrial-looking D-Max. Mazda’s KODO design philosophy flows through every body panel and line of the all-new sheet metal ute. Sensuous curves and lines give its exterior a sense of flow. The vehicle also has the same striking broad and wing-shaped grille and circular LED daytime running lights found in Mazda’s latest passenger cars and SUVs. As a matter of fact, the new BT-50 looks like a muscular version of the CX-9 with its sharp cuts and corners.

• At the rear, the vehicle has a standard tub with four tie-down points (just like in last year’s BT-50 model) and the dimension of around 1.5 metres long, 1.5 metres wide between the arches, and around half a metre deep.
• The ute’s wading depth has been increased to 800mm from 600, which comes in handy when crossing bodies of water.
• Apart from the large and attractive LED taillights, reverse camera and parking sensors are installed at the rear for safety. A rear differential lock is also added. Underneath the chrome tailgate handle is the Mazda badge sitting proudly in place.

According to Mazda’s press release, the all-new BT-50 will be launched with three-wheel designs ranging from 16- to 18-inches in size along with seven exterior colours.

Interior

The new BT-50 will initially come with a right-hand-drive cabin layout, owing to the fact that it will be first sold in Australia, one of the company’s key global markets, and Mazda Australia was heavily involved with its redesign.

• The 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is very D-Max but the minimalistic appearance of the cabin, complete with soft-touch materials and polished metal trim covering, is patterned after the interior of Mazda’s latest SUVs. The dashboard, instrument cluster and air-vents are also very Mazda.
• Standard features include automatic headlights, wipers, and a proximity entry and start system. Anticipated top-spec variants will feature score heating, power adjustment including lumbar support, and plenty of stitched leather on the seats, transmission tunnel, dashboard, and centre console.
• There’s enough legroom and headroom in the front and rear seats, as well as several storage spaces inside the vehicle. There are also grab handles in the A-pillar for extra support.

The ute is also the first of its kind to feature a centre airbag embedded in the passenger side of the driver’s seat, which provides protection for the front occupants during a severe side impact. There is also a middle airbag to protect the driver from an intrusion from the passenger side. These advanced safety features are believed to help the car get a five-star rating in ANCAP’s more stringent 2020 criteria.

Infotainment and Connectivity

BT-50’s 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the centre of the dash and the dual-zone climate controls are reminiscent of what’s inside the Isuzu D-Max’s cabin.

The 4.2-inch LCD driver display features a digital speedometer and other critical vehicle information, as well as the remote control for heating or cooling.

Several active safety technology features are also standard to the BT-50, such as:

• autonomous emergency braking
• rear cross-traffic alert
• blind-spot monitoring
• lane-departure assistant
• Adaptive cruise control
• semi-autonomous parking
• parking sensors in the front and rear, backed by a reversing camera

What's it like to drive a Mazda BT-50 2021?

In a way, driving the ute feels like driving a D-Max because of the D-Max-patterned underpinnings and engine. Aside from the infotainment system and climate control, the new BT-50’s ladder frame, suspension, powertrain, and electrical architecture are also patterned after D-Max.

The car ditched the 3.2-litre five-cylinder engine that it had shared with the Ford Ranger for a smaller and lower-output 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine like that of the Isuzu D-Max.

This means that the new engine is a downgrade in terms of power and torque. Nevertheless, the new model is lighter, which means that it is easier to maneuver and requires lesser engine power. It also means better fuel economy.

Who’s the Mazda BT-50 2021 for?

BT-50 2021 may have lost the power of a Ford Ranger but it has gotten a new cooler look that combines the ruggedness of Isuzu D-Max and the elegance of Mazda passenger cars.

The ute’s range of advanced safety technologies also enables it to safely accelerate, brake and steer just like the class-leaders, Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.

Those who value maneuverability, safety, and fuel economy more than engine power and perceived status in a light commercial vehicle may find their ideal ute in the BT-50.

Add to that the ute’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre factory warranty and capped price servicing program and you’ll get a dependable workhorse that’s worth the money.

Features Summary

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