Updated bakkie is a polished lifestyle ride
LAUNCH NEWS/ Mazda has given its BT-50 bakkie a once over for 2017 and Lerato Matebese drove it
Since Mazda ended its more than threedecade marriage to Ford Motor Company a few years ago, the Japanese brand has been going through something of a metamorphosis. This has seen the company needing to regroup, find a new distributor and realign its dealer network.
It has been working, too. The company has been doing considerably well bringing good, well-priced vehicles to the market while raising the brand’s profile from simply being a volume player to one that is moving towards a more premium offering.
The BT-50, which has been a lifestyle proposition among a slew of bakkies in the industry, continues this proposition with the introduction of the updated model. So what are the main changes? Well, not many. The most prominent is the new chrome grille, but there is also a new set of alloy wheels, while the rear tail lights have been given a darkened look.
Cabin appointments are solid with better tactile quality, the latter said to be attributed to the fact that the vehicle is now built and sourced from the Ford and Mazda co-shared plant in Thailand. Good build quality aside, though, the ambiance does feel a bit dour, no thanks to a sea of black and little in the way of the latest infotainment systems as seen on the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux, for instance.
Being a leisure proposition, priced from R441,600 to R555,700, means only doublecab models will be introduced at this time, while the Freestyle (cab and a half) models will be considered if demand dictates.
As before, two turbodiesel engine derivatives are on offer in the form of the 2.2l making 110kW and 375Nm and the flagship 3.2l with 147kW and 470Nm. The former is offered in 4x2 only guise and either a sixspeed manual or automatic (the self-shifter is only offered in the flagship SLE specification though). The 3.2l comes only in 4x4 and SLE specification and both manual or automatic.
At the model’s launch in Tshwane, we sampled the 2.2l auto, which proved capable and easily the pick of the range. It is a relatively smooth engine, which first impressed us in the Ranger and continues this impression in the BT-50. Allied to the sixspeed automatic, the two work in unison to lug the big bakkie around with enough conviction to almost make its bigger engined sibling seem obsolete.
That said, the flagship model will appeal to those who prefer to tow items such as horseboxes or recreational boats, as it has a maximum towing capacity of 3,500kg (braked).
How does it fare in ride quality, though? The new Mitsubishi Triton steals the crown for the most polished ride in the segment, but the Mazda is not far off. I did find it slightly on the firmer side of the spectrum — not jarring or bouncy, but definitely firmer than most of its rivals. Even so, it rides steadily and the cabin is well insulated from the elements.
Convenience items include a reverse camera located in the rear view mirror, voice commands, Bluetooth connectivity and a USB port (bizarrely located in the glove box instead of the storage box between the seats).
Safety items include dual airbags, EBD, EBA, hill-start assist and Roll Over Mitigation, the latter working in tandem with the yaw angle sensor to prevent the vehicle from tipping over while driving off-road. Speaking of which, the 4x4 model proved capable driving over a few mild obstacles, leaving the impression it can conquer far more.
CAPABLE
The divorce might have been long forgotten, but Ford and Mazda are still friends and the BT-50 is, essentially, a Ford Ranger in different garb. It is mechanically sound and capable but it will continue to sell in small numbers. The majority of buyers in the segment are looking for a bakkie that is perceived to be tough and the Mazda is sadly not viewed in this way.
As mentioned, view the model as a lifestyle bakkie and little else and you will have the gist of where it slots into the market. By the company’s own admission, bakkies are not its main focus and the existence of the BT-50 was to have a presence in the market for those who were looking for an alternative to the crop of the mainstay bakkies. With the updated BT-50 that status quo remains.
CONVENIENCE ITEMS INCLUDE A REVERSE CAMERA, BLUETOOTH CONNECTIVITY AND A USB PORT