Mazda BT-50 Reviews

Mark Oastler road tests and reviews the 2016 Mazda BT-50 XTR dual-cab ute with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the 2016 Mazda BT-50 XTR Dual Cab diesel utility with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Marcus Craft road tests and reviews the Mazda BT-50 XTR 4x4 Freestyle cab ute with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the Mazda Bt-50 XT 2WD cab-chassis with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the Mazda BT-50 XTR 4x4 dual-cab ute with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Mazda is in serious competition for number two spot in the Australian sales race. While Toyota is in first place by a huge margin, Mazda, Hyundai and Holden are at it hammer and tongs for the second spot on the podium. What better way to increase sales than to upgrade its BT-50, Mazda's entrant in one of the hottest

The price makes the BT-50 the must-have four-wheel-drive ute for the family There's a lot more going for the pretty boy of the pick-up crowd than slick looks. The Mazda BT-50 may appear to be a jacked-up car but its underpinnings (shared with the Ford Ranger) make it a steroid-infused party animal in any environment.

Malcolm Flynn road tests and reviews the Mazda BT-50 XTR Freestyle Cab auto, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

If driving a Range Rover or LandCruiser briskly through the bends is akin to pedalling a block of flats, then this is like steering a housing estate.

We turn the spotlight on the Mazda BT-50 XT 3.2 cab-chassis and answer the questions, including the most important -- would you buy one?This is Mazda's workhorse, the new generation BT-50 ute in a wide range of  variants, in this case, the bottom spec 4x4 manual XT cab/chassis.This one goes for $36,810 but if you don't need 4x4 capability, the 3.2 twobie goes for $28,740 but if you're happy with the 2.2-litre four plonker diesel twobie it's $25,570 in cab chassis.Heads on them like white mice - Ranger, Hilux, Triton, Colorado, D-Max, Amarok, Navara.This is the 3.2 litre, five-cylinder turbo diesel shared with Ford Ranger. It's good for 147kW/470Nm output and sips fuel from an 80-litre tank.Like a shot. A performance ute even - once you get out of first cog. Even with a load on board it's a good goer. But the springs are stiff and she bounces a fair but unladen as you'd expect from a leaf spring rear end.Not bad at 8.9-litres/100km for this one, less for the twobie 3.2 and less again for the 2.2 four cylinder but the six speed auto is up around the 10 mark.Not really.Five stars with all that brings in terms of primary and secondary safety kit - air bags, stability control and so on..OK for a ute, with big seats unless you're in the 'third' middle pew which isn't really a seat at all. Plenty of handy kit in a base model like Bluetooth phone and audio, power windows and mirrors, trip computer, cruise control, aircon, hill hold and downhill assist, rake only steering adjust and cloth seats. No satnav which should be mandatory in a working vehicle.We liked it apart from the notchy six speed manual transmission. Whacked a tonne in the aluminium tray and it went like a train. Has a full size steel spare as well as practical steel wheels. The auto is arguably a better proposition for mixed driving, fully captures the diesel's grunt and is better in the city.We'd probably go for the 2WD at a lot less money unless 4WD was absolutely necessary. There's eight grand difference but if you talk sternly to a dealer, we are told you'll probably get a sharper price.Maybe depending on the price. Great engine, big 3.3 tonne towing capacity, 1411kg payload,  200mm ground clearance and under body protection. Plenty to like.