Mazda BT-50

Taking a big tribe on a big trip to see a big tree in a BT-50.

OK, so it’s well past New Zealand’s holiday season, but last Christmas, six spirits headed up to Ahipara, visiting Tane Mahuta among other things – and proved a point about the new Mazda BT-50 on the way.

This is the Limited grade, 4WD, double cab, wellside (whew!) version of the BT-50 – the top-of-the-kauri ( see what I did there?) model.

Mazda was looking to deliver a successor to its long standing commercial, and with a little help from a friend, it has done the job.

The 2021 BT-50 now runs a 3-litre turbodiesel, with 140kw available at 3600rpm and 450Nm of torque from 1600, returning an eight litres per 100km fuel figure.

This engine is the result of a partnership between Mazda and Isuzu and it’s more Isuzu than Mazda, which means its strong, but I felt it lacks that Mazda magic – there’s no hint of Skyactiv tech in the power or torque delivery.

Inside the BT-50 though, it’s all Mazda with all that entails. The in-cabin appointment is superb taking cues from the Mazda3 or CX-30, two vehicles which showcase the latest incarnation of Mazda design language.

The cabin interior in fact, exemplifies Mazda’s take on the role of the ute – especially at the top end of the price spectrum.

Going on holiday with the Limited was exactly the right thing to do, because that is one of its roles – since this model is the one to have as a replacement for the family car.

There is a raft of practical and aesthetic accessories from Mazda, including the sport lid on our test vehicle, which was useful as far as keeping the cargo in the tray and secure away from prying eyes.

While the sport-lid accentuates the new and robust lines of the new BT-50, my preference and recommendation would be for a full canopy for practicality, security and style.

In-cabin, the BT-50 seats five – as does the outgoing model – but something has happened here, as there seems a smidge more shoulder room across the three seats in the back with more space found up front.

The centrepiece for the cabin is the new 9-inch display screen with its push button system to access the infotainment and connectivity features including Apple Carplay, Android Auto, Bluetooth and satellite navigation.

The touchscreen replaces the universal rotary command dial used previously, gives more space in the centre console region, and accentuates the in-cabin sophistication.

You still get a rotary dial to get at the BT50’s off-road ability however, it’s neatly tucked under the new silver switchgear for the HVAC (heating, ventilation and control) system.

We found the 4WD capabilities, ease of operation and abilities of the new BT-50 are as good as – if not a little better – than that of the outgoing model, which we had previously put through its paces at the 4WD park in Auckland’s Woodhill Forest, and that’s NOT a tame environment.

Another significant in-cabin feature is the comprehensive ADAS ( Advanced

Driver Assistance Systems) suite, which complements the BT-50’S regular safety features.

ADAS includes hill descent control, trailer sway control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, traffic sign recognition and adaptive cruise control with the ‘brains’ contained in a plastic shielded box above the internal mirror.

This is how the BT-50 gained its five-star ANCAP rating through the organisation’s toughest testing regimes, making the Mazda one of two of the safest utes on the road.

The biggest tick however, is the price. This is the point Mazda was trying to prove and it’s been done spectacularly well.

With a BT-50 Limited, you can have a safe, capable commercial which performs as a family car and you don’t have to spend over $65k to get it. Job done, Mazda, and well done at that.