Mazda BT-50 News

Mazda has added two new model grades to its Australian BT-50 ute line-up.The first is the flagship Thunder, powered by the BT-50’s top-shelf 3.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, sending 140kW/450Nm to all four wheels via a six-speed auto transmission.A returning model grade, for $78,400, before on-road costs, it includes all of the premium GT variant’s standard equipment and adds a single hoop bull bar paired with Lightforce Beast driving lights, reinforced anti-slip side steps, a steel sports bar and a manual roller tonneau cover. Car-spotters should also look out for gloss black door handles and ‘Thunder’ graphics.And in case anyone on the job site is confused about who’s running the show, the BT-50 Boss is a new model grade, again a 4WD powered by the 3.0L turbo-diesel engine.This time, base standard equipment is equivalent to the XT grade with the addition of gloss black door and tailgate handles, gloss black exterior mirrors and a black steel sports bar. The Boss also picks up a tub liner and side steps.Standard price is $60,220, before on-road costs but Mazda has set an introductory price of $58,990, BOC. At the same time a 360-degree camera system is now standard on the XTR, GT and SP pick-up variants.2026 Mazda BT-50 pricing2026 Mazda BT-50 engine/powertrain and efficiencyPower options (varying by model) are a 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine producing 120kW/400Nm and a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four delivering 140kW/450Nm. Both are matched with a six-speed automatic transmission sending drive to the rear or all-four wheels.Official combined-cycle (urban/extra-urban) fuel efficiency for both powertrains is 7.1L/100km.2026 Mazda BT-50 standard featuresAside from included safety tech, standard feature highlights across all grades are:Android Auto & Apple CarPlayReversing camera8.0-inch colour multimedia touchscreenDigital radioAdaptive cruise control XT and above:Alloy wheelsLED headlightsHigher grades:9.0-inch multimedia screenSatellite navigationFolding exterior mirrorsSide stepsLeather-trimmed steering wheelLeather seat trimRemote engine startPower-adjustable driver’s seat 2026 Mazda BT-50 coloursStandard: ‘Ice White’.Optional ($695):‘Red Earth Metallic’‘Sailing Blue Metallic’‘True Black Mica’‘Geode White Pearl’‘Concrete Grey Mica’‘Ingot Silver Metallic’ Interior:Black clothBlack leatherBlack & ‘Terracotta’ synthetic leather & cloth2026 Mazda BT-50 safetyThe current Mazda BT-50 received a maximum five-star ANCAP assessment from testing in 2022:Adult occupant protection - 86 per centChild occupant protection - 89 per centVulnerable road user protection - 67 per centSafety assist - 84 per cent2026 Mazda BT-50 warranty and servicingService interval - 12 months / 15,000 kmWarranty - Five years / unlimited kmFive-year roadside assist2026 Mazda BT-50 dimensionsLength: 5320mm - 4470mmWidth: 1870mm - 1942mmHeight: 1785mm - 1800mmWheelbase: 3125mm

Is there a more important vehicle category in dual-cab-devoted Australia than utes? I’m not sure there is. And I’m also sure that, in a segment that has sat stagnant for years, there has never been a more exciting time to be picking the best and brightest in the country.Where do we start? Maybe with China’s full-throttle assault on the segment? Or with the rise of plug-in hybrid petrol in a diesel-dominated market? Or Kia turning its hand to a ute for the very first time? Or BYD, for that matter?See what I mean? It’s an exciting time to be picking the best ute in Australia as part of the ongoing 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year (COTY) awards, and the days of it being a two-way battle between the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger are well behind us.But to pick a winner, we first need to choose the best of the best that will be battling for the top prize. So without further adieu, this is the CarsGuide Car of The Year top-10 shortlist for sub-$85K Utes.This category's winner and two runners-up will be announced on February 6, 2026.Perhaps no other ute has been quite as surprising as the barnstorming BYD Shark 6, which has not only taken the fight to the established giants of the ute segment, it has done it without a diesel engine in sight.Instead, a plug-in hybrid powertrain does the heavy lifting here, with BYD arguably doing more to electrify the ute segment than any model to come before it. Our reviewers love the on-road refinement and the value-packed feature list, but concede its towing capacity lags its major rivals.It’s also on our shortlist because of its segment-altering drivetrain, which has forced several mainstream ute makers to follow its lead.A classic and the best-selling ute in the country for a reason. The Ford Ranger is on our shortlist for its driving dynamics (it’s among the most car-like utes on our list), which takes nothing away from its ability to get down and dirty in terms of towing or off-road capability.What really drew praise from our judges, though, is the breadth of the Ranger’s offering, with worksite-ready versions, family friendly versions, hardcore off-road versions, and a choice between several diesel engines or plug-in hybrid powertrains.That said, some pointed to the PHEV solution offering little in the way of real-world range.The unsung hero of Australia’s automotive world (it is, after all, often one of our top five best-selling vehicles), the Isuzu underwent a fairly major update that ironed out some of its more agricultural qualities with some design, cabin and technology updates.The D-Max was praised by our judges for doing exactly what it says on the tin, and delivering exactly what many ute buyers are looking for, with little fuss or fanfare. But some wonder whether it feels new and fresh enough.The entry-level cars also get a bigger smaller engine, if that makes sense. With the old 1.9-litre diesel swapped out for a 2.2-litre unit that’s both more powerful and more efficient. Tick and tick.Kia burst onto the ute scene with the boldly designed Tasman, a ute that really does look like few others on the road.Our judges were unanimous in praising the Tasman’s delightful and tech-filled cabin experience and its road manners, and reports of its off-road prowess are impressive, too.Its looks seemingly remain controversial, at least among the buying public, but there’s little doubting Kia’s first ute has plenty of substance, no matter what you think of its style.Sure, the BYD Shark 6 has been getting a ton of attention, but the LDV Terron 9 has been quietly plugs away as one of the biggest, and thus most practical in terms of tray, utes in the segment.And with 520Nm of torque at its diesel-powered disposal, it’s pretty punchy, too (as a vehicle this size probably needs to be).Our reviewers praised the space on offer in its tray, the strong value-for-money argument and its imposing street look, but were less sold on the lack of a power outlet in its tray and a sometimes lumpy power delivery.The BT-50 tends to stick out a little bit, both in the ute segment (where rough and tough is the design order of the day), and in Mazda’s own lineup, where the dual-cab ute rubs shoulders with mostly premium and polished SUVs.Early last year, Mazda addressed both those issues, deploying an Australia-led design overhaul intended to make the BT-50 “sportier and tougher”, clearly separating it from the rest of the brand’s lineup, and appealing more to traditional ute buyers.Our reviewers loved the look, the diversity of the range and the lux feel of the top-spec models, but didn’t love the too-firm suspension and the lack of a true hero model.The Chinese brand’s first-ever ute isn’t strictly its own, or at least not entirely. The MG U9 is a sibling to LDV Terron 9, which also appears on our shortlist.Our reviewers loved the U9’s interior space, especially in the impressive backseat, the ute’s sharp pricing against the established competition, and the nifty automatic step that deploys beneath the tailgate — described as “the nicest and definitely the easiest” way to climb into the tray.The active safety tech, however, impressed us less.The Mitsubishi Triton is a household name, albeit one that’s been left behind by the HiLux, Ranger and D-Max in recent years. A new generation arrived in 2024 that aimed to fix that, delivering more space, more power, more practicality and more space in the cabin.We loved the smoother drive experience, its warranty coverage (provided you service with Mitsubishi), its more modern-feeling cabin and its workhorse credentials.The less-positive notes included a clunky stop-start system and over-active safety tech.A new HiLux is big news in Australia, and while Toyota has opted to carry over a lot of key ingredients from the outgoing HiLux, they've also moved to address key complaints, like ride comfort and cabin technology, and to introduce a new look.And while our reviewers praised the updates, they also wondered whether Toyota had gone far enough in the face of new and stiff competition.The Volkswagen Amarok hasn't made quite the sales splash in Australia that its Ford Ranger relative has, but the German brand's ute has attracted plenty of praise from our reviewers, who love its style, its interior packaging and materials, and its on-road manners.Less positive is the sticker price of the high-end variants, and the sparse backseat amenities in the more affordable models. 

Mazda has announced a bigger 2.2-litre engine as part of its 2026 BT-50 range with pricing starting at $37,900.

Isuzu has already revealed plans to launch an electric version of its D-Max ute in Australia in 2026, but Mazda has confirmed it won’t follow suit just yet.

Mazda won’t go on a Raptor hunt.The Japanese brand recently revealed its updated BT-50 range and noticeably absent was its previous Ranger Raptor competitor, the flagship Thunder or SP Pro special editions. Instead, Mazda Australia has introduced a wide range of genuine, dealer-fit accessories for off-roading that customers can add directly at purchase. These include an integrated bull bar, roof platform, Light Force spot lights, dual battery set-up and more. It is also packaging some of these accessories up to make it easier for buyers to customise their ute for off-road adventures without going to the aftermarket.Still, the launch of the new BT-50 range with the SP model as the flagship does leave the brand lagging behind the likes of the Ford Ranger Raptor, Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior and the new Isuzu D-Max Blade - which shares its underpinnings with the BT-50.Mazda Australia managing director, Vinesh Bhindi, defended the decision not to introduce a new ‘hero model’ and instead focus on individual customisation for buyers.“I know others are calling it different names, but it's more of a cosmetic treatment, right?” Bhindi said. “So it's not a performance package, and we think  it's better to give our customers choices with a larger variety of accessories, which they can create their own customisation. “So in the previous model, we've had Thunder, Thunder Pro, SP Pro, those things are where we will go, rather than a third party.”Notably in that comment, he didn’t rule out bringing back a special name for a future hero BT-50, so the door remains open for Mazda to offer a more direct Raptor/Warrior/Blade rival in the future.“At some point we will consider it,” Bhindi admitted. “So at the moment, SP is our hero, with the latest one, and it's got a  lot of new cosmetic changes to it so that's our starting point, and at some point we will consider Thunder or SP Pro, but all those accessories, all those items are available via the accessory catalog anyway from day one.” Mazda Australia introduced the original BT-50 Thunder in 2022, two years after the latest generation of the ute launched, and then added the Thunder Pro in 2024 as part of the run-out plan ahead of this new facelifted model.

Utes are Australia’s most popular type of vehicle, but which models offer the best resale value when the time comes to selling them? CarsGuide’s analytics team crunched the numbers so that we could bring you this exclusive report. 

Mazda has given its BT-50 workhorse a major upgrade.The BT-50 is a twin under the skin with the Isuzu D-Max but has Mazda’s very distinctive design language applied.New styling toughens up the BT-50’s appeal. It has a new bumper, grille, larger Mazda badge and new-look LED lights.These changes are joined by fresh looking wheels, side body cladding and a re-worked rear end.The base XS grade arrives priced from $36,400 (before on-road costs), which is about $1000 more than the outgoing version.It is only available in a single cab chassis layout and is the only model in the line-up powered by a 1.9-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that makes 110kW and 350Nm. This is paired with a six-speed automatic and two-wheel drive.Mazda has deleted manual transmissions from the BT-50 line-up.The XS comes with 17-inch steel wheels, cloth seats, an eight-inch multimedia touchscreen and safety tech such as auto emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert and a reversing camera.Next up is the XT grade, which is available in single cab, freestyle cab and dual-cab body styles.All XT variants are powered by the same 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine as before, which makes 140kW and 450Nm. This is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and buyers can choose between two- or four-wheel drive.The XT grade swaps out the steelies from the XS for alloy wheels of the same size. Four-wheel drive variants have a locking rear differential and rough terrain mode. Dual cab versions have rear aircon vents and pick-up shaped variants have tailgate assist and rear parking sensors.For a full list of prices for the XT, refer to the table below.Next up is the XTR grade that is only available in a dual-cab body with the choice of a cab chassis or pick-up rear. It uses the same 3.0-litre motor and is available with two- or four-wheel drive.It steps up its game with 18-inch alloy wheels, front LED fog lights, side steps, folding side mirrors, daytime running lights.Inside buyers can expect a nine-inch multimedia touchscreen, dual zone air conditioning, satnav, tyre pressure monitoring.Pick-up shaped XTRs have a tow bar and a tub liner.For a full list of XTR prices, see the table below.The GT grade is only available in four-wheel drive, and is available ith either a cab chassis or pick-up back end.It has heated exterior mirrors, leather wrapped seats that are power adjustable for the driver, both front seats have a heating function and there are front parking sensors and a remote engine starting function.The top-spec SP is only available as a pick-up shape with four-wheel drive.It has a range of exterior styling tweaks compared to the GT. These include 18-inch gloss black alloy wheels and gloss black highlights all over, a roller tonneau cover and synthetic leather and suede wrapped seats.Prices listed are before on-road costs

If you want a big beefy engine under the bonnet of your dual-cab, it might be now or never.

Mazda revealed a facelift BT-50 at the Thailand Motor Expo, but there’s a twist.

One of Mazda’s most important models is getting a major overhaul, as the BT-50 ute takes on a series of safety and design upgrades.