Item: 2025 Mazda BT-50
Rating: 7.5
Author: Stephen Ottley

Every family has a ‘black sheep’ and for Mazda, it’s the BT-50.

Think Mazda and you’ll probably have the image of a stylish SUV or maybe a small hatch pop into your mind. That’s because the Japanese maker has carved itself a reputation as a ‘semi-premium’ car brand, offering a luxury alternative on a budget for buyers of SUVs.

Which has made life tough for the BT-50, as it has often tried to fit into a family of stylish and sophisticated models, when it really needed to be something else - a big, tough ute.

Mazda BT-50 2025: XS (4X2)

Engine Type	Diesel Turbo 4, 1.9L
Fuel Type	Diesel
Fuel Efficiency	7.0L/100km (combined)
Seating	2
Price From	$35,520
Safety Rating

Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 8/10

8 / 10

There’s a fairly expansive range for the BT-50 with three body variants - single cab, freestyle cab and dual cab - as well as five model grades - XS, XT, XTR, GT and SP - and, of course, the choice of 4x4 or 4x2 drivetrains.

The single cab range is available in XS 4x2 with 1.9-litre turbo-diesel and XT 4x2 or 4x4 with the 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine.

The freestyle cab is only available in XT trim with the 3.0-litre engine but gets the choice of 4x4 or 4x2.

The most extensive choice is, as you’d expect, for the dual cab, with XT, XTR, GT and SP trims and is available with 4x2 and 4x4 as well as cab chassis and pick-up bodies (although the high-grade GT and SP are only available as a pick-up).

2025 Mazda BT-50 SP

The range begins at $36,400, before on-road costs, for XS single cab 4x2 and stretches all the way to $71,500 for the SP dual cab 4x4.

Standard equipment on the XS includes 17-inch steel wheels, LED headlights, black cloth seats, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and an 8.0-inch colour multimedia touchscreen.

Stepping up to the XT adds 17-inch alloy wheels, a rear locking differential and rough-terrain mode on 4x4 models, rear air conditioning (for dual cabs) and tailgate assist and rear parking sensors for pick-up models.

The XTR is only available as a dual cab and steps up the equipment with 18-inch alloys, LED front fog lights, daytime running lights (DRLs), side steps, keyless entry, dual-zone climate control, navigation and the pick-up gets a tub liner and tow bar with receiver, tongue and wiring harness.

2025 Mazda BT-50 SP

On top of that the GT, which is only available as a 4x4, has leather seats, electronically adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, remote engine start and front parking sensors.

Finally, the SP is only available as a 4x4 dual cab pick-up and adds a range of gloss black elements for a unique visual appearance, including 18-inch alloys, sports bar, side steps, fender flares, roof rails, exterior mirror caps and door handles, while also getting a manually-operated roller tonneau cover and black and terracotta synthetic leather and suede seat trim.

Mazda Australia has also developed a range of accessories including the bull bar that is integrated with the safety systems, Lightforce spotlights, a dual battery set-up, a roof platform, roof-mounted awning, rubber floor mats and more. The Mazda accessories are covered by the same five-year warranty as the rest of the car.

To come out hard at launch, Mazda is offering drive-away pricing on selected models. The entry-level XS single cab 4x2 is priced from $38,990, the XT dual cab pick-up 4x4 is $54,990, the XTR version is $62,490, the GT is on offer at $65,990, while the range-topping SP will start at $67,990 drive-away - which is a sharp saving over the $71,500 list price.

Design – Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10

7 / 10

Design has been the focal point for this upgrade, with Mazda Australia taking point on the changes as we’re the biggest global market for the BT-50.

The challenge for Mazda is that it clearly wants to incorporate the same design language as its SUVs, to give it a familiar look, but the modern consumer preference is for ‘tough’ and ‘muscular’ utes.

The pre-facelift BT-50 was designed to look more like an SUV, which isn’t what appeals to the majority of the market. So chief designer, Eiji Kimoto, evolved the design to be “sportier and tougher”; a philosophy he used when he penned the CX-50 SUV.

So, Kimoto and his team added new elements to the grille, while the lower bumper has been restyled. There’s also new LED tail-lights and a bigger Mazda logo, just so there’s no mistaking what you’re driving.

2025 Mazda BT-50 XTR

At the rear the tailgate has a redesigned top profile for better aerodynamics and a ridged design at the bottom for a different look.

There’s also a new 18-inch alloy wheel design to complete the changes.

Inside, the cabin has been redesigned for a more premium look, which is another preference from ute buyers. There’s a new multimedia system as well as a new digital instrument display on the XTR model and above, with a new 7.0-inch digital display integrated into the dashboard.

Ultimately the changes enhance the look of the BT-50, but it still remains the outlier in the ute market, noticeably less ‘boxy’ and ‘muscular’ than the likes of the Ford Ranger, Nissan Navara and Toyota HiLux.

2025 Mazda BT-50 XTR

Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside? 7/10

7 / 10

On top of the exterior upgrades, the cabin has been given a more premium look and finish, including a new multimedia system.

At least that’s the intention. The new technology has good functionality, with the central touchscreen working well and is now compatible with wireless Android Auto, having previously only worked wirelessly with Apple CarPlay, but there are also two new USB-C ports.

The set-up also includes new touch-sensitive buttons as well as new physical volume and tuning dials, which makes it a lot easier and safer to adjust those common functions on the move.

2025 Mazda BT-50 GT

However, the new 7.0-inch digital display on the instrument display doesn’t look as well integrated as it could. It’s not an entirely digital display, so the screen is an obvious later addition in between the analogue elements.

In terms of cabin space, Mazda only had dual cab pick-ups on the launch fleet we drove, so we can’t speak about the single cab and Freestyle cab variants. But the dual cab offers up good space front and rear, enough for a family or four adults.

As for the tray on the pick-up, it measures 1571mm long, 1120mm wide between the wheel arches, 1530mm wide at the top and 490mm deep. Payload varies from 1379kg for the XS single cab down to 924kg for the XTR dual cab.

2025 Mazda BT-50 GT

Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission? 7/10

7 / 10

While there have been extensive changes to the design - inside and out - mechanically the BT-50 is unchanged. That means it’s still powered by the same choice of either a 1.9-litre or 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, paired to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Mazda previously offered a manual gearbox, but with it only accounting for approximately three per cent of sales, and declining, the company decided to drop it for this update.

However, the 1.9-litre, which makes 110kW/350Nm, is only available on the entry-grade XS single cab model. The rest of the range gets the 140kW/450Nm 3.0-litre powerplant, with the choice of 4x4 or 4x2 drivetrains.

2025 Mazda BT-50 SP

Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range? 7/10

7 / 10

We spent the majority of our test drive off-road, so an accurate ‘real world’ fuel economy figure for a day of on-road driving wasn’t reflected on our trip computer.

The 3.0-litre diesel with the 4x4 set-up has a claimed combined (urban/extra-urban) consumption of 8.0-litres per 100km, while the 4x2 option with the same engine uses 7.7L/100km on selected variants. The entry-grade model with the 1.9-litre engine has a claimed rating of 7.0L/100km.

All BT-50 have a 76-litre fuel tank so the theoretical driving range for the 4x4 models is up to 950km and more than 1000km for the 1.9-litre.

Obviously, though, take these figures with a grain-on-salt as utes often have a load in the tray, head off-road or are influenced by other factors that have a major impact on real-world fuel economy.

Instead, use these numbers as a comparative tool against rival models to get a sense of which ones are more efficient, rather than banking on seeing those exact returns on your trip computer.

2025 Mazda BT-50 SP

Driving – What's it like to drive? 7/10

7 / 10

As mentioned earlier, mechanically the BT-50 is unchanged, so this refreshed model drives exactly like the previous one. Not that that is a bad thing, per se, there’s a reason why sales have been on the rise since Mazda introduced this latest version in 2020.

However, there are always areas any model can improve on, so Mazda may have missed an opportunity to make the BT-50 even more appealing.

The 3.0-litre turbo-diesel pulls strongly and provides the kind of power you expect from a modern ute, with 450Nm the (braked trailer) towing capacity is 3500kg, which is on par with its key rivals.

We didn’t get to sample the entry-level 1.9-litre, so we’ll have to reserve judgement on that, but on paper it has a lower towing capacity of 3000kg, which is reasonable for an engine of that size.

2025 Mazda BT-50 GT

The ride in the dual cab pick-up (we spent the majority of our time in the XTR) isn’t as well controlled or as comfortable as the class leading utes, tending to be more jittery on country roads.

The steering is also heavier and slower than the best utes in the segment. It’s still a nice ute to drive, just not the best-in-class, so it’s a shame Mazda decided not to fine-tune the chassis a bit more.

While its on-road performance could do with some polish, our test drive included some off-roading and the BT-50 had no trouble traversing mountain tracks, climbing over rocks, through ruts and scrambling up and down slippery slopes.

The suspension feels solid, providing good articulation and the steering worked well across the various conditions.

2025 Mazda BT-50 SP

Warranty & Safety Rating

Basic Warranty

5 years/unlimited km warranty

ANCAP Safety Rating

Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? 9/10

9 / 10

It may be a ute, but Mazda hasn't tried to skimp on safety across the expansive BT-50 line-up, with a good level of equipment on each model for its respective price point.

For starters, all models get a full suite of passive safety items, including airbag coverage for all occupants and the usual list of active safety acronyms like ESC (electronic stability control), FCW (forward collision warning) and ABS (anti-lock brakes).

But even base XS single cab gets all the active safety features, which includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB) for low speed, high speed, pedestrian and cyclist as well as turn assist, plus intelligent adaptive cruise control (i-ACC) with stop-and-go, emergency lane keeping (ELK) with road edge detection, rear cross-traffic brake (RCTB) and a reversing camera.

The BT-50 has a maximum five-star ANCAP rating, which was from a 2022 test. It’s worth noting the score is based on an Isuzu D-Max crash test with Mazda providing its own data showing it would crash in the same manner.

2025 Mazda BT-50 GT

Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs? 8/10

8 / 10

While it may be the black sheep of the family, the BT-50 still gets the same level of care and attention. That means it’s covered by the same five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, with Mazda Australia confirming there are no conditions on top of that for commercial use.

Importantly, as previously noted, all of the genuine accessories are covered by the same warranty, so it will allow owners to customise their BT-50 and still have the peace-of-mind that the new-car warranty isn’t impacted.

As there are no mechanical changes, servicing prices are unchanged from the pre-facelifted model.

That means services are due every 15,000km or annually (whichever comes first), which covers seven visits under the capped price program. The cost for a 3.0-litre 4x4 over that time will total $3419 or $488 per service.

2025 Mazda BT-50 XTR

Verdict

The BT-50 may be the black sheep of the Mazda family, but it has come into its own in recent years, with sales rising and these latest changes should only help that. The new look is more muscular, while still clearly remaining part of the Mazda group.

In some respects it’s a shame the company didn’t go a step further. Mazda could have done more to enhance the driving experience and close the gap on that front to the Ford Ranger. It would have been great if Mazda had been able to make some tweaks to the suspension and steering to improve the BT-50’s driving experience, but given its sales success it’s understandable why they didn’t want to mess too much with a formula that's working.

However, they may regret that as more competition is coming in the form of the BYD Shark 6, Kia Tasman and others in the near-future, so competition in the ute market is only going to get more intense.

For now, though, the BT-50 has what it needs to remain Mazda’s under-rated star.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.

Pricing Guides

$35,520

Price is based on the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price for the lowest priced Mazda BT-50 2025 variant.

LOWEST PRICE

$35,520

HIGHEST PRICE

$74,095

See all Mazda BT-50 pricing & specs

Range and Specs

Vehicle	Specs	Price*
XS (4x2) Standard Tray	Diesel, 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC	$39,932
XT (4x2) Standard Tray	Diesel, 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC	$42,932
XT (4x4) Standard Tray	Diesel, 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC	$54,222

See all 2025 Mazda BT-50 in the Range

*Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price

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Mazda BT-50 2025 review - Australian first drive

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Mazda BT-50 2025: XS (4X2)

Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 8/10

8 / 10

Design – Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10

7 / 10

Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside? 7/10

7 / 10

Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission? 7/10

7 / 10

Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range? 7/10

7 / 10

Driving – What's it like to drive? 7/10

7 / 10

Warranty & Safety Rating

Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? 9/10

9 / 10

Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs? 8/10

8 / 10

Verdict

Pricing Guides

Range and Specs

Rival reviews

Stories and articles

Comments

Mazda BT-50 2025 review - Australian first drive

Likes

Dislikes

Mazda BT-50 2025: XS (4X2)

Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 8/10 8 / 10

Design – Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10 7 / 10

Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside? 7/10 7 / 10

Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission? 7/10 7 / 10

Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range? 7/10 7 / 10

Driving – What's it like to drive? 7/10 7 / 10

Warranty & Safety Rating

Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? 9/10 9 / 10

Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs? 8/10 8 / 10

Verdict

Pricing Guides

Range and Specs

Have you considered?

Rival reviews

Stories and articles

Comments

Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 8/10

8 / 10

Design – Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10

7 / 10

Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside? 7/10

7 / 10

Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission? 7/10

7 / 10

Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range? 7/10

7 / 10

Driving – What's it like to drive? 7/10

7 / 10

Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? 9/10

9 / 10

Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs? 8/10

8 / 10