Driven: 1.9-litre BT-50 Manual
The all-new BT-50 was recently offloaded at Ritchie Mazda, and the first derivative Autodealer tested was the base model with its 1.9-litre turbocharged diesel engine.
This engine is not the sole power unit option in the BT-50 range; a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel is scheduled to join the line-up in the next few weeks, but more about that big boy at a later stage.
Called the 1.9 Active Manual, the name says it all; the first and lowest priced new Mazda double cab is powered by a turbo-charged 1.9-litre diesel, with gear shifts taken care of by a six-speed manual transmission.
That new 1.9-litre turbo-diesel engine is, of course, the most talked about part of the new BT-50 because it's a first for our market - the smallest capacity turbo diesels previously having all been 2.0-litre units.
It's worth pointing out that most bakkie makers have downsized, VW having done the groundwork with the 2.0-litre Amarok for Ford with its 2.0-litre Rangers in different states of compression, and Mitsubishi with a 2.3-litre turbo-diesel as the sole power source for its Triton.
Isuzu, the expert bakkie builder which Mazda approached to help build the new BT-50, will soon launch a new generation D-Max which will also offer a 1.9 turbo-diesel.
So downsizing seems to be the road forward.
Progressive
Before we drive that 1.9-litre turbodiesel, just a brief look at the bakkie's exterior and cabin.
The new BT-50 looks modern and is very much in line with what Mazda is doing with its passenger cars as far as styling goes.
Buyers like what they see because the brand has grown immensely the last six years.
Walking around the bakkie, it's all very attractive, unlike the previous version which had rather curious 'dummy' rear lights going into the tailgate and actually serving no purpose.
Inside, and keep in mind that the vehicle on review here is the base model, the BT-50 1.9 Active Manual is a very pleasant, comfortable and luxurious place to be.
With the front seats moved all the way back, there's still enough leg- and headroom for just about the tallest passengers, and standard equipment includes nice-to-haves like a seveninch infotainment screen, six-speaker sound system, reverse camera, park sensors, cruise control, six-way electrically adjustable driver's seat, hill descent control, trailer sway mitigation, locking rear differential, seven airbags, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
That's quite a lot of features and kit
Efficient
The first thing Autodealer noted upon startup is the 1.9-litre turbo-diesel's quietness.
In the new BT-50, Mazda really did a great job of insulating the cabin as with all its passenger cars, which boils down to refinement and is one of the reasons the brand has become so popular.
With its 110kW peaking at 3 600rpm and the 350Nm available from
1 800rpm to 2 600rpm, the 1.9-litre turbo-diesel is not slow, but is also neither hasty nor a brute.
Autodealer took the 1.9 Active Manual through town and into the hills outside Empangeni, and found it can be best described as an 'efficient' engine.
This means it gets the job done without much effort, but it definitely doesn't dish out torque as readily as a turbo-diesel in the 2.5- to 2.8-litre range.
If not pushed hard, this engine should be very frugal.
Perhaps even the most frugal bakkie engine on the SA market.
For the record, Mazda claims the turbo-charged 1.9 turbo-diesel needs only 6.6 litres of the green stuff to do 100km which, if even remotely accurate, is extremely frugal.
The six-speed manual transmission is so smooth that it feels like it belongs in a family sedan, and the gear ratios suit the small capacity turbo-diesel well.
And the suspension, well, the BT-50 is aimed at the leisure market and for that application it's perfect, with a compliant ride on all surfaces.
Verdict
The base model BT-50 1.9 Active Manual sells for R611 900 which is not cheap, but there is a lot on offer for that price.
It looks quite good, and comes standard with a host of safety and convenience features which counts in its favour.
The 1.9-litre turbo-diesel, meanwhile, is not as powerful as its rivals, but is refined and efficient, and even when coupled to a manual transmission is a pleasure to drive.
Autodealer's verdict is that those buyers not in a great rush to get to their destinations with a fully-loaded, double axle trailer in tow, will enjoy this new Mazda bakkie in base form.