Mazda BT-50 GT Review 2017

2017 4WD Dual-Cab Ute comparison

A mid-life facelift brought a fresh new look for the front, but essentially Mazda’s take on the Ford Ranger is largely unchanged since its arrival about six years ago. That’s not a bad thing, as BT-50 continues to make handy work of the tasks asked of a rugged 4WD dual-cab ute: items like off-roading, towing and carting big loads.

Sharing the same chassis and driveline as the Ranger, Mazda BT-50 is likewise an impressive load-lugging proposition – the five-cylinder turbo-diesel barely notices the weight of a 500kg slab of concrete in the tray and, while generally tidy through corners, can get a little busy when traversing smaller road imperfections. The BT-50 can bottom out slightly if running hard over a railway crossing or high-speed dips.

BT-50 matches the Ranger when it comes to towing a 2500kg caravan. The Mazda impressively holds gears when climbing a steep incline and cruises easily in fifth or sixth gear (2000rpm or less at 100km/h), with plenty in reserve for overtaking. It’s as steady as the Amarok when towing, hardly influenced by a big trailer behind and the large side mirrors negate use of towing mirrors for anything but the widest trailer.

Not surprisingly, the BT-50 is similarly proficient off-road as the Ranger, although the hydraulic steering in the Mazda isn’t quite as good at low speeds. The suspension and features like hill decent control, the rear locking diff and low-reduction gearing ensure it can conquer tricky terrain but the mud flaps and sidesteps hang too low for off-road use – we ripped a mud flap off during testing.

Where the BT-50 is starting to show its age is on the technology front – it misses some of the electronic driver aids now fitted to the Ranger. So, for example, the inability to lock in four-wheel drive on the bitumen can result in traction issues on wet or gravelly surfaces, especially when towing. However, the ESC is reasonably quick to react when called upon.

But its details in the cabin where the BT-50 feels most left behind – like the aftermarket-style reverse camera which displays its image in the rear-view mirror, rather than on the centre screen. The infotainment touchscreen is also a bit clunky, and can be difficult to read in daylight.

But clad in the top-spec GT’s leather upholstery, inside the Mazda BT-50 remains a comfortable and roomy place to be.

Our test car was fitted with a number of factory accessories, including a steel bull bar, removable hard tonneau cover and an auxiliary battery, which would have added around 250kg to the kerb weight of around 2100kg, possibly dulling on-road performance a tad.

The BT-50 has one of the smaller trays in the dual-cab one-tonne segment but it does offer a low load floor height, and it and the Ranger are the only utes to come with six tie-down points in the tray.

If you can do without the Ranger’s latest gadgets, the BT-50 does just about everything the big Ford can do, at a cheaper price.

2017 Mazda BT-50 GT pricing and specifications:
Price: $53,790 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 147kW/470Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.2L/100km (ADR Combined) / 17.1L/100km (as tested, see text)
CO2: 256g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

2017 Mazda BT-50 GT payload, towing and tray dimensions:
Payload: 1082kg
Tie-down points: Six
GVM/GCW: 3200kg / 6000kg
Vehicle weight: 2118kg (tare) / 2181kg (kerb)
Towing capacity: 750kg (unbraked) / 3500kg (braked)
Tray dimensions: 1360mm (L) x 1560mm (W) x 510mm (H); 1080mm (b/w arches)

2017 Mazda BT-50 GT off-road geometry, wading and clearance:
Ground clearance: 237mm
Wading Depth: 800mm
Approach Angle: 28 degrees
Break-over Angle: 25 degrees
Departure Angle: 26 degrees

2017 4WD Dual-Cab Ute comparison:

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