Mazda BT-50

One of Mazda’s long-standing four-wheeler (4x4) models, the new Mazda BT-50, upgraded and launched in Malaysia.

A third-generation build (mid-size pickup truck), it underpins the Isuzu Dynamic Drive Platform (chassis: ladder frame – body type: double cab).

Fully imported (CBU – Thailand), available via Bermaz Motor (BAuto) is one variant (3.0 High Plus – RM140, 418).

Price (OTR, w/o insurance) includes a manufacturer’s warranty (five years/100,000 km) and a maintenance program (free: five years/100,000 km).

Exterior (single-tone) colours (Concrete Grey Mica, Vermilion Latosol Mica, True Black Mica, Geode White Pearl, Sailing Blue Mica). Interior (single-tone) colour (Black).

The new BT-50 has an uprightly tiered dashboard (Mazda Jinba-Ittai Design), linked to a low-rising centre console (armrest, storage, wireless charger, drive mode selector).

Soft-/hard-touched (dash, steering wheel, centre console, doors), it sees upholstery (leather) in one colour scheme (single-tone – Black) with contrast trims (Aluminium) and stitching (White).

Equipped are driver/central displays (instrument cluster, infotainment), air-conditioning vents (square: sides – rectangular: centre), a passenger dash-storage (upper section) and an ambient light system (LED).

Inclusively, the layout is ergonomic (functional) with accessibilities purposefully arranged (driver-centric, passenger-oriented).

A five-seater (mid-size pickup truck), the cabin (double cab) offers generous space, providing comfortable seatings for the occupants (front, rear) with ample interior mobility.

Sufficient head, shoulder and leg rooms.

Practical storage spaces. E.g., glove box, passenger dash-storage (upper section), centre console spaces (partitioned, caverned, retractable, under-stowage), pockets (seat backs, side doors) and under-rear seat storages.

Provided are four cup holders (two: front, rear) and four bottle holders (one: side doors).

The boot (flatbed/deck) features a manual-operated (damperless – lock handle) tailgate. Included are a bedliner and a roller shutter.

Deck (flatbed) measurements are 1,571 mm long, 1,120 mm wide and 490 mm tall.

Weighing in at 2,015 kg, the new BT-50 measures at 5,280 mm long, 1,870 mm wide, 1,810 mm tall and with a wheelbase spanning 3,125 mm.

Deck (flatbed) measurements are 1,571 mm long, 1,120 mm wide and 490 mm tall.

Robustly commanding (Mazda Kodo Design), it parades an athletically solid exterior, emphasised by roundly sharp and cleanly cut contours.

The front-end sees a moulded bonnet (raised sides), muscular quarter panels (flared fenders: wheel arch extensions) and a sculpted bumper (grille: interlocking multi-pin insert, wing trim, Mazda emblem – vents: vertical sides – under-guard).

Accentuations, body clad (Black: under-guard, wheel arch extensions), body trims (Black: grille, wing trim, vents, fog lamp surrounds, window surrounds, side mirror arms – Chrome: door handles, Mazda emblem), side steps (Black-Chrome) and roof rails (Black).

Robustly simple (Mazda Kodo Design), it continues the athletically solid exterior, emphasised by straightly cut and symmetrically designed contours.

The rear-end sees an upright tailgate (ridged lower section, lock handle, Mazda/BT-50 emblems), muscular quarter panels (flared fenders: wheel arch extensions), a flatbed (roller shutter, bedliner) and a squared bumper (bumper step, hidden exhaust).

Accentuations, body clad (Black: wheel arch extensions), body trims (Black: window surrounds – Black-body-colour: bumper, bumper step – Chrome: door/tailgate handles, Mazda/BT-50 emblems), bedliner (Black), roller shutter (Black), side steps (Black-Chrome) and roof rails (Black).

Largely angular, the headlamps are housed roundly sharp and inward-tilted with L-shaped light signature. Installed are Bi-LED (projector) units.

Features are automatic On/Off/levelling/cornering, Automatic High Beam (AHB), Daytime Running Lights (DRL – LED), welcome/leaving lights and sequential turn signals (LED). Included is a set of fog lamps (LED).

Borderline-protruding, the tail lamps are rectangularly wrapped-around and vertically housed with L-shaped light signature. Installed are combination (bulb/LED) units.

Features are automatic On/Off, welcome/leaving lights and sequential turn signals (LED). Included are a set of fog lamps (bulb) and a high-mounted stop light (roof-integrated).

The side mirrors (dual-tone – Black-body-colour) are electronic-powered (auto-fold, adjust) with turn signals (LED) and blind spot indicators (Blind Spot Monitor – BSM).

Fitted are ventilated (front) disc and drum (rear) brakes, featuring a conventional parking brake (manual handbrake lever).

Sportily designed, fitted is a set of 18-inch multi-geometric-spoke (dual-tone: Black-Silver) alloy rims, rubbered up in 265/60 R18 Dunlop AT25 Grandtrek all-terrain tyres.

Passive safety includes seven airbags (driver-passenger, driver-knee, front sides, front-rear curtains), seat belts (reminders, pre-tensioners, anchors), ISOFIX (two: rear-outer-seat), parking sensors (four: front, rear), parking camera (reverse: guidelines), rear-view mirrors (exterior: BSM – interior: automatic-dimming), automatic headlamps (On/Off/levelling/cornering/high-/low-beam), automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central-locking, walk-away-auto-lock), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), door ajar warning, impact beams and anti-theft system (security alarm, immobiliser).

Installed is a 9.0-inch HD touchscreen central display (infotainment – MZD Connect).

Features are Apple CarPlay/Android Auto (wireless), AM/FM radio, USB, Bluetooth, 5G/WiFi/WiFi hotspot, media, live navigation, voice recognition, vehicle telematics and customisable interface (drive mode dependent).