NEW WHEELS
The current Mazda BT-50 – based on the Ford Ranger – was launched back in 2006. At an average of 300 units a month, it sold relatively well, and some months even exceeded the 500 mark. In September 2010, the Ford… sorry, the Mazda BT-50 got a facelift that would come to haunt to the manufacturer. Sales initially remained steady, but after a few months it first dropped to 100 sold a month, and eventually to only 20 a month in 2019. Mechanically there was no difference between the 2006 and 2010 models, so the fault must have lain somewhere else...
We don’t like calling a car beautiful or ugly because it’s subjective, after all. But when enough people call something ugly, others will start believing it and soon nobody will want it. Just ask Mitsubishi what happened when it replaced the Colt with the Triton.
On 17 June this year, Mazda announced that it will be releasing a brand-new, redesigned BT-50. This time around, the BT-50 will be based on the Isuzu D-Max and is even going to be built (and rebadged) by an Isuzu plant in Thailand.
In Australia, the first country to receive the new BT-50, the decision to have it built by Isuzu has caused some controversy. Isuzu doesn’t enjoy quite the same reputation for reliability Down Under the way it does in South Africa. Perhaps it’s because our Isuzu models (which are built locally) are better than those sold in Australia (built in Thailand). But let’s leave it at that.
Let’s rather discuss what we currently know about the Isuzu… sorry, Mazda BT-50.
MAZDA’S DECISION TO BASE the BT-50 on the D-Max is a logical step after Isuzu and Mazda forged an alliance in 2016. Mazda says it will follow its Kodo design philosophy with the new BT-50. This word can apparently be translated as ‘soul of motion’.
All Mazdas follow the Kodo philosophy nowadays, which is why you may find that the new BT-50 looks somewhat familiar. It has the same grille with the three-dimensional ‘wing’ that extends to either side that you find on Mazda’s CX crossovers, the MX-5 and the Mazda 3 and 5. The sharp-angled wide headlights are also similar. The new BT-50, however, couldn’t get the same long bonnet as its stable mates because the D-Max platform doesn’t allow it.
The loading bay is nice and spacious and