Mazda Australia has released pricing for its mildly facelifted BT-50 ute, which first revealed in July and goes on sale late this month.
There is no price change at the entry level, which remains at $25,570 plus on-road costs for the base Single Cab Chassis XT 4x2 2.2-litre manual, while other models are up between $75 and $375.
The latter applies to some dual-cab models, which Mazda says will come with "considerably more equipment", but no specifications have yet been announced and the interior is yet to be revealed.
Motoring.com.au understands that – like the exterior facelift – changes to the BT-50's interior and equipment levels will extend to a larger central display screen (but not Mazda MZD-Connect infotainment system) and a reversing camera – but only for selected dual-cab models.
Indeed, the BT-50's midlife makeover brings none of the many mechanical or technical changes introduced in last month's upgraded Ford Ranger, with which it shares its platform.
Instead, apart from the as-yet-unconfirmed equipment upgrades, the freshened BT-50 brings revised a front-end design that attempts to square up its 'smiley' back-swept headlights by adding a new chromed grille surround and deleting the yellow repeater lenses in the top corner. There's also a fresh grille sans honeycomb mesh insert, but only minor changes at the rear.
The BT-50's 2.2-litre four-cylinder and 3.2-liter five-cylinder turbo-diesel engines and six-speed manual and automatic transmissions remain unchanged.
As has been the case since the latest BT-50 arrived here in October 2011, the updated model will be available in three body styles (Single Cab, Freestyle Cab and Dual Cab – each in cab-chassis or ute configuration) and with three model grades: XT, XTR and GT.
The 2016 BT-50 will be available in a total of 23 variants, including 10 4x2s and 13 4x4s.
Mazda says its BT-50 nameplate – first seen here in 2006 – will notch up 100,000 sales this month, with the existing generation set to pass the 50,000 mark at the same time.
“The Mazda BT-50 has been embraced by customers that are looking for a utility with passenger-type comforts,” said Mazda Australia managing director Martin Benders.
“The change in exterior styling makes the BT-50 look tougher, more masculine, so we expect renewed interest by trade professionals, an important buying group.
“With a range of great driving, safety and off-road features, the pricing has not moving significantly so the BT-50 continues to be a very competitive value proposition.”
The latest BT-50 faces stiff competition from other new utes this year, including the redesigned Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi Triton, next month's new Toyota HiLux and the facelifted Ranger.
BT-50 4x4 sales are 8.6 per cent up to August this year, but account for just 6.8 per cent of the large, lucrative 4x4 ute market – much less than the HiLux, Triton, Ranger, Holden Colorado, Navara and Isuzu D-MAX.
The BT-50 4x2 has fared better – up 10 per cent year-to-date and behind only the HiLux and Range with a 13 per cent share of the smaller 4x2 ute market.
2015 Mazda BT-50 pricing (old v new, plus ORCs):
Single Cab Chassis XT 4x2 2.2 manual -- $25,570, $25,570
Single Cab Chassis XT 4x2 2.2 auto -- $28,740, $28,815
Single Cab Chassis XT 4x2 3.2 manual -- $28,740, $28,815
Freestyle Cab Chassis XT 4x2 3.2 manual – $32,670, $32,745
Freestyle Cab Chassis XT 4x2 3.2 auto -- $34,670, $34,745
Dual Cab Chassis XT 4x2 3.2 manual -- $34,670, $34,745
Dual Cab Ute XT 4x2 3.2 manual -- $36,170, $36,545
Dual Cab Ute XT 4x2 3.2 auto -- $38,170, $38,545
Dual Cab Ute XTR 4x2 3.2 manual -- $40,820, $41,630
Dual Cab Ute XTR 4x2 3.2 auto -- $42,820, $43,630
Single Cab Chassis XT 4x4 3.2 manual -- $36,810, $36,850
Single Cab Chassis XT 4x4 3.2 auto -- $38,810, $38,910
Freestyle Cab Chassis XT 4x4 3.2 manual -- $40,740, $40,815
Freestyle Cab Chassis XT 4x4 3.2 auto -- $42,740, $42,815
Freestyle Cab Ute XTR 4x4 3.2 manual -- $46,890, $47,675
Freestyle Cab Ute XTR 4x4 3.2 auto -- $48,890, $49,675
Dual Cab Chassis XT 4x4 3.2 manual -- $42,740, $42,815
Dual Cab Ute XT 4x4 3.2 manual -- $44,240, $44,615
Dual Cab Ute XT 4x4 3.2 auto -- $46,240, $46,615
Dual Cab Ute XTR 4x4 3.2 manual -- $48,890, $49,700
Dual Cab Ute XTR 4x4 3.2 auto -- $50,890, $51,700
Dual Cab Ute GT 4x4 3.2 manual -- $51,140, $51,790
Dual Cab Ute GT 4x4 3.2 auto -- $53,140, $53,790