Aggressive, intimidating, sporty, rugged—these are just some of the words that best describe the pickup.
As good-looking as they are, it alienates a certain few. It’s like going to a buffet and seeing five trays of adobo of the same recipe, just different presentations. Others would prefer something that’s more apt for the city but has the same capability that the others offer. This is why the new Mazda BT-50 is a very refreshing pickup that goes against the norms.
It’s the only pickup that doesn’t look like it. If you see its front end in a parking lot, you won’t guess that there’s an open bed at the back since it looks similar to its crossover brothers. There’s no hint of ruggedness even at the sides where there’s only the right amount of flare on the fenders and a simple step board. No big sculpting on the wheel arches or body cladding.
At the back, they’ve removed the faux lighting ornament on the tailgate and made it simpler while flaunting some unique body lines. The bed is already equipped with a bedliner.
Inside, the BT-50 continues the classy appeal of the exterior. It starts with a very clean and flat dashboard layout followed by a new steering wheel design with soft-touch buttons and the very Mazda-like controls on the driver’s door. What’s surprising is the 4×2 trim still has a fair bit of leather. It has lightly padded leather on the door armrests, the sides of the shifter console, and on top of the dash.
There is enough headroom and legroom, while the seats have adequate recline to make long trips more bearable.
The touchscreen is in the same housing as the 9-incher of the 4×4 model, but since the one in this 4×2 model is only 7-inches, it has thick bezels on all sides. Look past that and it’s a great unit for this pickup. It’s functionally above par since it has Android Auto and Wireless Apple CarPlay, booming out of 6 speakers in the cabin. Having to use Apple CarPlay without a wire is certainly a treat and greatly decreases clutter inside the cabin.
The new BT-50 definitely feels like a modern pickup once it’s out on the road. Most noticeable is the firm steering. It’s not light, but won’t be a chore during turning and is very stable on the highway. This has a more tolerable suspension despite still being on the stiff side. It’s not jarring that my front passenger was even drinking from an open cup while we were going through EDSA’s bad segments, which are a lot. Comfort for the driver is also good despite the lack of powered seat adjustments. The seat is well bolstered, there’s a height adjustment for it, and the steering wheel has tilt and telescopic functions, making it easy to find a comfortable driving position.
Being a Mazda, the BT-50 has stellar cabin noise isolation. Wind noise tends to creep in only above the speed limit and even then, it’s not at an irritating level. Tire noise was almost non-existent while road noise was kept at a minimum even if you’re beside trucks or loud motorcycles wheezing past you. The only sound you’ll really hear is from the 3-liter turbodiesel engine but that’s forgivable since it’s not a thirsty boy. In the city during rush hour traffic it managed to get 8km/l while on the highway it returned 18.5km/l even when doing overtakes.
The BT-50 has power-folding side mirrors, cruise control, manual headlight adjustment, rear camera, rear sensors, hill descent control, hill launch assist, and keyless entry. The list isn’t exactly punching it above its price point, but it’s more than good enough to make the BT-50 easy to handle in most driving situations.
The Mazda BT-50 certainly redefines the term ‘lifestyle pickup.’ It’s ready to get down and dirty while also looking prim and proper to traverse all business districts in the country. It’s a refreshing option that will make you stop asking yourself “which is the least aggressive pickup I can buy?”
At P1,430,000 the Mazda BT-50 4×2 AT is very much drool-worthy, especially if you consider Mazda’s free parts and labor for every PMS for 5 years. Compromises were made to fit the price point but it did not devoid the BT-50 of its core merits. Mazda’s signature style and refinement stand out, complemented with the capability and power that pickups are known for. Middle children might be often overlooked but this mid-variant will definitely catch your attention.