New-generation Mazda BT-50 touches down

MAZDA Australia believes the all-new version of its BT-50 pick-up will see an uptick in sales for the Japanese brand, as its new-generation workhorse enters showrooms this month priced from $44,090 plus on-road costs.

Despite the sales downturn spurred by the Covid-19 pandemic, Mazda has said the new-generation version should spur new registrations for the brand, which have been slowly but steadily declining since 2015 as the ageing Ford Ranger-based previous model got longer in the tooth.

Mazda Australia said it hopes the new Isuzu D-Max-based pick-up can wrangle between 1200 and 1300 combined sales per month, which results in a yearly figure of between 14,400 and 15,600 units.

1300 monthly sales would result in the brand’s best yearly BT-50 sales record of the last five years, trumping the 14,504 units it sold in 2015 and well ahead of the projected 10,322 it is currently on track to sell in 2020.

Across the 4x2 and 4x4 line-up, Mazda holds roughly a seven per cent share in the pick-up segment, a share Mazda hopes the BT-50 can increase as overall sales numbers decline this year.

The new BT-50 range consists entirely of four-door dual-cab variants, with the brand saying it chose not to bring in more affordable single- and extra-cab grades after analysing sales trends and seeing dual-cabs were the most popular body style for utes.

As such the range opens at $44,090 plus on-roads for the 4x2 XT dual-cab chassis automatic, a far cry from the previous opening point to its range, where the rear-drive XT 2.2-litre diesel manual single-cab could be had for under $30,000.

Having held an 11-12 per cent share of the 4x2 segment in recent years, Mazda has opted to offer just three variants this time around (down from 10 when the BT-50 was updated in 2018), with the auto-only XT offered in cab-chassis and pick-up guise, while the XTR auto pick-up is the most expensive 4x2 at $49,470.

The 4x4 range – offered with both a six-speed manual and six-speed auto – opens at $49,360 plus on-roads for the XT dual-cab chassis manual, with three trim levels offered spanning XT, XTR and GT.

Topping the range is the GT dual-cab pick-up auto, which asks $59,990.

Developed in conjunction with the new-generation Isuzu D-Max, the BT-50 shares much of its componentry with its rival, including its engine – a heavily reworked version of the same 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder mill that powered the previous-gen D-Max.

Replacing the Ford-sourced 3.2-litre five-cylinder engine, the Isuzu derivative develops 140kW/450Nm, with drive sent to either a six-speed manual or automatic, as mentioned.

Maximum braked towing capacity carries over at 3500kg on all variants, while payload varies between 1065kg-1106kg depending on the variant.

Standard equipment on the entry-grade XT extends to 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps, power-adjustable exterior mirrors, black cloth seat trim, air-conditioning, power windows, carpeted floors, cruise control (automatics score adaptive cruise control with stop and go function), 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, USB Android Auto, Bluetooth, DAB+ digital radio, rear-seat USB charging point and a reversing camera.

Stepping up to the XTR nets buyers 18-inch alloy wheels, power-folding exterior mirrors, self-levelling LED headlights, LED fog lamps, side steps, LED daytime running lights, dual-zone climate control, 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, satellite navigation, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, auto-dimming rearview mirror, centre armrest for rear occupants and advanced keyless entry in addition to all of the kit included on the base model.

The top-spec GT builds on the kit of the XTR and adds heated chrome exterior mirrors, brown leather upholstery, eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, remote engine-start on automatics and front parking sensors.

Safety equipment mirrors that of the D-Max which recently became the first vehicle to score a five-star rating under ANCAP’s new and more stringent 2020 testing standards.

Standard features on all grades include eight airbags, anti-lock brakes, attention assist, automatic high beam, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, traction control, dynamic stability control, emergency lane keeping, emergency stop signal, hill descent control, hill launch assist, lane departure warning, lane departure prevention, lane-keep assist (automatic only), rear cross-traffic alert, rollover protection, secondary collision reduction, speed assist system and turn assist.

To the end of August, Mazda Australia has sold 1967 4x2 and 4914 4x4 BT-50s, down 27.1 and 12.5 per cent respectively, enough to hold an 11.9 and 5.1 per cent segment share.

2020 Mazda BT-50 pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs