MAZDA Australia has been selling utes all the way through from 1966 but, while it has since established itself as a sporty, semi-premium brand with an excellent range of cars, the B-Series and later BT-50 utes sat in the shadows.
That all changes with the all-new BT-50, which was developed as part of a joint project led by Ford that also created the Ford Ranger. But Mazda’s ute has its own unique exterior and interior as well as a sportier suspension tune.
The new BT-50 has been designed to look more car-like, the shape certainly is polarising, but can still work hard, with a towing capacity of 3350kg and payload of up to 1271kg.
BT-50
Released: November 2006
Ended: October 2011
Family Tree: THE BT-50 nameplate was introduced in 2006 but the model was essentially a carryover of the old B-Series Bravo range. It was updated in late 2006.
Available with the choice of two four-cylinder turbo-diesels, a 2.5-litre with 105kW and 330Nm of torque or a 3.0-litre with 115kW and 380Nm, the BT-50 was a fairly basic machine without many of the comfort features available on today’s model, and very few of the safety features.
Still, along with the Ranger, it was known for its relatively good handling.
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