2020 Ford Ranger vs Mazda BT-50

What's the difference?

The Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux have been in a topsy-turvy two-way battle for top-selling ute supremacy in Australia for some time. The Ranger is one of the few utes on the market that has consistently threatened – and at times broken – Toyota’s hold on the segment.

However, when people think of the Ranger they think of the flashy more lifestyle-oriented versions, such as the FX4 or the Wildtrak or the Raptor, because they’re the ones that get all the publicity.

But what about a cheaper, basic Ranger, much more suited to work than its higher-spec stablemates? Say, for instance, something like an entry-level 4x2 Ranger variant. Does it deserve your attention? Is it actually cut out for load-carrying duties. Read on.

The Mazda BT-50 had a difficult birth as a Ford Ranger clone in 2011, largely because its elaborate styling didn't seem to know if it was meant to be a car or a truck. However, over the near-decade that has followed, Mazda has done a commendable job through styling tweaks in making the BT-50 look more truck-like and pleasing to the eye.

After all, we've never heard of someone refusing to buy a vehicle because it's too good-looking, so this was the correct path for Mazda to follow. And even though the current generation is nearing the end of its life cycle, a recent week behind the wheel confirmed that it remains a competent all-rounder in Australia's competitive ute market.