The Mazda BT-50 review

Mazda Philippines finally brings in the fighter...The BT-50

WORDS John Luther Garcia  | 23 October 2009

BT-50. Mention that to someone who has no clue about this new truck and they might think you’re referring to a new Star Wars character. But add the words “pickup” and “Mazda” with it and you might be rewarded with a knowing nod in reference to the old Mazda B-Series that was sold here a decade ago. The old B-Series has been an invisible workhorse for a lot of people, mostly seen around construction sites and farms. The words ‘stylish’ and ‘sporty’ were virtually non-existent for pickups back then, instead preferring to describe themselves as ‘tough’ and ‘rough. Pickup buyers before were from the same mold, they want a tough and rugged pickup that can haul goods, equipment and even personnel over any terrain. Nowadays, some buyers want their trucks to be stylish, sporty, tough and rough at the same time, how times have changed! Enter the Mazda BT-50, a vehicle that promises the best compromise between being stylish and being tough. Outside it looks more youthful and sportier than its Ford Ranger brethren thanks to the Tribute inspired fascia and clear tail lamps. However when viewing from the side, the tough image takes over afterwards with the classic pickup silhouette, large front doors and a generous bed space. Accentuating all of this are the sizeable gallant fenders and meaty tires on 16” alloy wheels. Even the choice of paint color has been carefully chosen to maximize the visual impact especially the one clad in Lagoon Blue. Inside, the interior wouldn’t be lost on an entry-level compact sedan as the seat upholstery is done tastefully in black and has a good feel to it; while the plastics used feel that they can stand the abuse of everyday use but could use a bit more refinement. The integrated audio and air-conditioning system looks nice and modern but the painted plastic might not survive rough handlers or long fingernails. As usual, the seats to be in is upfront where it is bolstered just right and gives you a commanding view up ahead. However, the back seat is a bit cramped when seating three adults and lacks lumbar support as a compromise to the generous bed space. Being driven in one and seated in the back seat without any cargo at the back is not the optimal way to getting a good rest when traveling at a quick pace. You could feel the suspension thumping loudly but nevertheless solidly when going over potholes or minor road dips. Slow down a bit and the wheels will finally able to catch up road imperfections. Move to the front seats and the ride comfort dramatically improves, not surprising, since the front has an independent, double wishbone suspension compared to the leaf springs at the back. Now that we’re in the front seats, we can savor the best of what the BT-50 has to offer, the driving experience! Start the engine and a slight diesel clatter is the only reminder that this is a pickup truck. But move the gear into 1st and you’ll be greeted by a heavy duty and rubbery truck transmission. Getting past that and burying the throttle will remind you that the 143 horsepower and 330 Nm of torque from a 2.5L turbo diesel engine is not just a random figure on the spec sheet. 100kph can be reached within reasonable time and soon we were doing more than that. Even at high speeds and with light rain to contend with, the ride was very stable and dare I say, almost car like. When not out off-roading or cruising the open road, it’ll be more than happy to oblige to weekend mall runs. Its overall dimension is quite compact compared to other trucks and that makes it easy to park in even in tight parking spaces. That’s a good compromise when you take into account the big bed space although the rear seat passenger space could use a few more inches of leg room. The BT-50 2.5L 4x2 may not have the most horsepower, or be the ultimate lifestyle-truck, or even have the pedigree of other current pickups. Still, it offers good value for money with its kit, the proven mechanical bits of the Ranger, excellent bed space and a unique face among the sea of more popular trucks here. THE GOOD Powerful engine Stylish Exterior Sedan-like interior Big bed Good handling THE BAD Thumpy ride when travelling at a quick pace Ranger-like back-seat Some hard plastics Rubbery transmission THE LOWDOWN Drives well. The only difference from the Ford Ranger is the badge and price

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