Mazda BT-50 Thunder 2021 Review

The 2021 Mazda BT-50 Thunder goes on sale from April priced at $65,990 plus on-road costs for the manual and $68,990 plus ORCs for the auto – both six-speed gearboxes with a 4x4 driveline, and both dual-cab utes.

Mazda is also offering ‘introductory’ drive-away pricing at the same amounts, which will deliver a saving between $4000 and $5000 depending on which state you buy it in.

Compared to the Mazda BT-50 GT upon which this new flagship model is based, the Thunder truck is about $9000 more expensive. However, Mazda Australia claims $13,000 worth of extras are included.

Although it’s priced similarly to the likes of the Ford Ranger FX4 MAX (from $65,940), Toyota HiLux Rugged X (from $69,990) and pre-facelift Nissan Navara N-TREK Warrior (from $63,490), I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a genuine tough truck, as it doesn’t have any chassis mods or new tyres.

But it does deliver plenty of extra eye-candy via the fitment of several significant accessories, chief among them a robust steel front bar with a dual-row LED light bar from Light Force.

The new steel front bar was developed in-house by Mazda’s Aussie engineering crew in Melbourne and transforms the look of the ute and also makes it 190mm longer, taking overall vehicle length to 5470mm.

It adds significant armour to the front-end and while it reduces the ute's approach angle from 30.4° to 25.8°, the removal of bodywork around the wheels improves the ‘practical’ approach angle, according to Mazda's engineers. After testing it on rough terrain I have to agree.

The steel bar also features integrated fog lights and indicators and because it’s not a hoop bar the details of the BT-50’s front-end are not obscured, similar in effect to the snout on the Toyota HiLux Rugged X. Like that vehicle, the Thunder also features an underslung bash plate with BT-50 lettering, but it misses out on the snorkel and recovery hooks of the similarly-priced X-rated Toyota.

Other accessories fitted to the 2021 Mazda BT-50 Thunder include pumped-up wheels-arches, rock sliders (aka side steps), new-look six-spoke black 18-inch alloys, a ‘premium’ rear sports bar with integrated LED brake light, Thunder stickers on its rear flanks and a push-button electric roller tonneau cover from ERG.

The latter offers extra security but limits what you load into the tray and the electric motors and roller cover also take up a bit of space at the back of the tray. The metal roller cover is custom fitted to the Mazda BT-50, as is the tub liner. There’s also a switchable LED light fitted to the (right) inside of the tray.

Unlike some of its rivals, the BT-50 Thunder doesn’t get any interior trim upgrades.

How about some embroidered thunder bolts on the seats? An opportunity missed perhaps, but it’s still one of the most upmarket cabins you’ll find in this segment, with high-quality leather upholstery on the power-operated and heated front seats.

Check out our BT-50 GT review for all the details on the unchanged cabin.

Like all Mazda vehicles, the BT-50 Thunder is backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years’ roadside assist. Service intervals are 15,000km or 12 months, whichever comes first, and a capped-price service program (Mazda Service Select) costs $2288 over five years.

While safety is technically not altered by the fitment of the new front bar on the 2021 Mazda BT-50 Thunder, with airbag functionality unaltered, it should provide improved protection against wildlife and delivers more confidence when off-roading.

It also integrates the BT-50’s front parking sensors, front camera (for speed sign recognition) and cruise control radar. As Mazda Australia’s head engineer Wayne Watson explained, the front bar was completely designed in-house to meet stringent quality and reliability targets.

“We start the projects from concept, control the design, sourcing – we have trusted suppliers we like using, but normally we tend the work out to keep it competitive – and we also use suppliers with ISO and TS quality certification,” he told carsales.

“We also design and oversee test and validation processes, using industry standards such as failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) and design verification plan and report (DVP&R). We then do ongoing audits to ensure quality is maintained.”

While many trail heads and off-road enthusiasts will wait and see what the aftermarket produces in terms of steel front bars and so forth before dropping the extra $9000 on something like the Thunder, Watson insists the design processes – and full factory warranty – provide extra peace of mind.

“As far as Mazda Corporation (MC) goes, wherever possible MC will give us Mazda engineering standards (MES). This is a set of validation tests that MC has formulated over many years to ensure that a particular part will perform as expected in our cars,” he said.

“Wherever possible we use this specification with our local suppliers to ensure the highest possible standard of accessory.

“By testing to the MES, this allows our accessories to be used all over the world. We have sold bull bars to New Zealand and South Africa, and items such as our phone holder have been sold all around the world.”

Watson explained that the local team had design input into every accessory for the BT-50 Thunder, and that the wheel arch extensions are made in Australia.

Even the side steps were designed to avoid interfering with the side airbag deployment sensors and the tub liner was made with custom tooling to imprint to BT-50 spec.

The new power-operated tonneau cover and dual-row LED front light bar are the only real tech additions to the Thunder, and both are push-button operated.

The light bar is activated via a button on the dash and illuminates when the high beams are toggled, while the powered tonneau roller cover features a pair of buttons near the rear tailgate and works when the ute is unlocked.

Inside the cabin, the BT-50 Thunder features wireless Apple CarPlay and cabled Android Auto, which make use of the vehicle’s large 9.0-inch central touch-screen.

There’s dual-zone climate control and a variety of other useful features, including adaptive cruise control, which are detailed in other reviews.

The standard 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine developed by Isuzu for the D-MAX continues under the power-domed bonnet of the 2021 Mazda BT-50 Thunder, as it applies across the rest of the BT range.

It’s an easy-going powerplant with plenty of low-end thrust, the 4JJ3-TCX four-cylinder oiler pumping out 140kW of power at 3600rpm and 450Nm of torque between 1400rpm and 3000rpm.

On-road it’s relatively unobtrusive and ticks over at low revs, allowing for decent fuel economy over longer distances, while there’s enough shunt there – especially in low-range 4x4 – to clamber up some pretty steep and challenging off-road trails.

When hooked up to the six-speed auto on test here, the official fuel consumption figure for the Euro 5 emissions-compliant engine is 8.0L/100km, although we saw figures just above 10L/100km after four days in the saddle.

This included a mix of off-road, urban and highway driving. The Aisin-sourced six-speed auto proved to be a good cog-swapper in a wide variety of situations, too.

Towing capacity is unchanged at 3500kg with a braked trailer, and the BT-50 is claimed to have an 800mm wading depth.

Thundering off-road ability missing in action
Just like its GT donor model, the 2021 Mazda BT-50 Thunder is a more refined and salubrious vehicle to drive than the equivalent Isuzu D-MAX.

And while its on-road manners are good, one area where the Thunder could have zigged rather than zagged would’ve been to improve its off-road capability.

Sure, it’s got excellent ground clearance (240mm), a locking rear diff along with high- and low-range four-wheel drive settings, in addition to hill start assist and hill descent control. And it can rumble off-road with confidence.

But a mild lift kit or chunky mud-plugging all-terrain tyres that would more aptly fill out the extended wheel-arches would be welcome additions.

The carryover Bridgestone Dueler H/T tyres have a road bias and are easily clogged with clay and mud when exploring off-road.

It’s likely Mazda didn’t go down this path because new suspension and tyres would have incurred significant costs via renewed Australian Design Rule (ADR) compliance, increasing the sticker price.

And many owners who want to increase the off-road ability of their BT want to fit their preferred brand of tyres and suspension.

The new-generation Mazda BT-50 is a convincing piece of kit, but was missing a key ingredient – a hero model.

The 2021 Mazda BT-50 Thunder is designed to take pride of place in dealerships and attract the eye of ute buyers who want something that not only stands out, but does more.

And while it makes some significant improvements in terms of equipment levels and certainly looks tougher, those seeking genuine bush-bashing improvements would be wise to test drive the Ford Ranger FX4 MAX first and perhaps the Toyota HiLux Rugged X as well.

The Mazda BT-50 Thunder represents strong value if you can snap one of these up at the promotional drive-away price, but with competition in the dual-cab ute segment hotter than ever – and still heating up – I feel this ute needs a bit more aggro.

Watch this space.

How much does the 2021 Mazda BT-50 Thunder automatic cost?
Price: $68,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: April 2021
Engine: 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 140kW/450Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 207g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2020)

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