2009 Mazda BT-50 review
January 27, 2009 by Karl Peskett
2008 Mazda BT-50 Review and Road Test
It’s the hard worker, perfect for tackling any task
Model Tested:
- 2009 Mazda BT-50 Freestyle Cab Chassis – $37,820
Options: ABS, EBD, Alloy Bull Bar and Alloy Tray Plus – Ladder rack, Tool Box and Water Tank – $3527
Engine, excellent gearbox, ride quality for leaf springs, space
More expensive than its badge-engineered sibling, the Ford Ranger
CarAdvice Rating: 
Ever had one of those days that nothing seemed to go right? “The best laid plans of mice and men…” or so said John Steinbeck. It seemed that every moment I took the camera out to take a photo of this week’s press car, the rain we hadn’t seen for ages suddenly appeared and drenched everything.
Forget doing a raindance – all I needed to do was undo the camera bag and the heavens opened. I felt like I could control the weather with just my hands. As nice a feeling as that is, it meant that I couldn’t get the photos I needed.
So instead of concentrating on getting photos, I concentrated on driving the car, and getting to know it.
You see, while some of the CarAdvice staff had fun over the Christmas period with our Ute Challenge, some of the other staffers actually had to work, and write up the reviews on the cars we had.
Case in point – this Mazda BT-50 Freestyle cab. When Mazda called up to say that the car was ready, I must admit, I was expecting a dual-cab. Rocking up to the state office to collect the car, a black dual-cab sat out the front with New South Wales plates on it.
Tags: Mazda BT-50
woo that’s one ugly mother!!
Calm down Cupid, put a real bullbar and steps and stuff on her and she wouldn’t look too bad.
That’s a really nice tray, must say I’m proud to see Car Advice review another vehicle with a dropside tray :)
That tray is quality. I wouldn’t want to put anything in it! I’m evaluating a Ranger dual cab ute 4×2 High Rider (same ground clearance as the 4×4, same tyres too!). I find the rear does bounce around a bit. I would expect the 4×4 with it’s heavier drivetrain to absorb some of this. Great to see the 4×4 capability and towing is up there. I am sometimes sceptical of the capabilities of a 4×4 ute compared to a 4×4 wagon however your towing of the Hilux was a good demonstration and Mazda should be very happy with this. I like how you covered the numberplate of the Hilux before taking the photo!
These are pretty much in almost run-out stage
A whole new generation Ford/Mazda Ute is coming out, designed in AUS built in Thailand [Ute centeral!]no news yet about it [well they are not saying] other than “class leading”
Some interior photos of this would have been nice…
I looked at one, the 2x jump seats are RUBBISH, my bench seat Falcon has a better seat in it, more room and comfort.
If you dont need 4×4 just buy the SUPERIOR Falcon like mine, drives like a car and only 0.05c/km on LPG
Cheers
F-0
Who designed these, Mazda or Ford?
Frugal,
when is the replacement due for release???
I havent read one single article about it. any links??
All i read ages ago was that the new one was Aussie designed.
lets hope that the aussie engineering makes it comfortable to drive.
the only thing in my mind that would get me out of a Falcon ute would be the prospect of a territory derived ute.
i just can not stand driving something that isnt comfortable and gutsy to drive.
the jap utes are shocking to drive.
lets hope the new Ranger/BT50 breaks the mould.
as usual though, the mazda will appear first.
I cant figure that out either
Andrew M^^^
Sorry, no idea, perhaps they *may* say something at the Melbourne Motor Show [Of which C/A will be giving me a Press-Pass].
If i was buying a extra/dual cab it would be hard to pass up the D40 Navara, its a generation ahead of this FORZDA.
Wonder whats going to happen longterm, FOMOCO no longer own any of Mazda???
Auto companies are VERY secretive, cannot get a release date on the new haonda City, even though its shown on the website?
Just keep your ear to the ground.
Cheers
F-0
Frugal,
ford still do own mazda shares.
they were smart in the way they re arranged it, it seems to have fooled many people into thinking ford arent a factor in mazda anymore
things will carry on as usual.
the money ford raised will see coin available to fund projects that will benefit mazda aswell.
if you read the fine print, ford will still pretty much control mazda, and its sealed in a way that no other manufacturer can jump in and leech off of their future developments
I agree that the Navara is the hands down best looker
If i could bring myself to buy a japper, it would be the navara
I find the hiluxes and navaras to almost be a next size up from the colorado/isuzu, bt and ranger – more so in the ute body than the tray type – whether this is just optical or supported by dimensions i have never looked into.
Ford still own atleast 10% of mazda.
Whilst the general appearance and shape hasn’t changed all that much, mnazda have just released the new model frugal one. Run out has just been (picked up my new one as a run out deal). So any new vehicle would be atleast 12 – 18 months away minimum i would imagine……. unless ford are going to access the new model first and not have a series 2 of the current shape???
New updated Ford Rangers are coming off the production line at the moment. They look very similar to the Ranger Max Concept that was released a few months ago to coincide with the Thailand Auto Show. No details of the interier or performance have surfaced yet either.
However they are just an update on the existing Ranger and not the much anticipated T6 being designed and engineered in Australia.
Navara, Hilux, Triton and Rodeo/Colarado/D-Max are all a size above the Ranger/BT-50 in width and cabin length as they are designed to be larger than some Japanese Road regulation that stipulated a 1,700mm width for delivery vehicles.
Interesting that the Navara and Rodeo/Colarado/D-Max have either zero or next to zero underbody protection, but that probably points to “on road only” demographic that the company’s are targeting.
Well done WaterHead^^
That’s it, “T6″ what i was refering to.
Really makes no differance, Ute market is owned by HiLux
Cheers
F-0
PS/ New VW Ute looks interesting, pity about the price!
how far off is the aussie “T6″
2010????
thats when everything else seems to be arriving
It was very smart of Ford to off load some of its Mazda share. It raised some cash and still left it with a great arangement with Mazda. This is probably the best “marriage” of two car companies in history.
I must say thanks to Ford for saving Mazdas life years ago as I have owned both makes and have been very happy with both. Much better than the Holden\Daewoo disaster.
nice call sign by the way Cupid….
no need for us to ask you “hows it hanging” because its there for everyone to see….
now for my call sign……
how do i make the letter “I” appear bigger…………… ha ha ha ha
Sadly, Frugal One is correct in that the ute market is owned by Hilux, but as usual Hilux is far from the best ute in that segment. Bone jarring ride is standard across the range, it’s just a shame Toyota decided to cut costs and not supply the necessary kidney belt. These Mazda/Fords are a lovely drive on the road.
Great ute, great review……zoom zoom.
Mazda just gave the BT a fresh up and the Ranger will be out around March as this was only cosmetic.
The BT/Ranger utes have made a notch for themselves within the the market but to see a Lolux get snatched from the sand by a Mazda was so rewarding…
and Mazda are doing great deals on the BT range at the moment as we have just ordered a DX 4X2 auto dual cab for work as it was a better price than Ford and we didn’t have to get white.
Well done Mazda once again.
ID LOVE TO HAVE ONE OF THESE AT THE AIRPORT, I CAN SEE LLOYED PORT LEWIS WITH ENVY AS I ROCK UP THE TARMAC IN A BT 50, WITH MY FISHING ROD HOLDERS, AND MY TWO AUSTRALIAN FLAGS TIED TO THE BACK. IT WOULD BE SUCH A LAUGH FOR A FAT MAN LIKE ME
I have just bought diesel BT50 ute and put slide on camper on back[+ air bags].Had a Telstra bloke over and he says Telstra have had some problems with Rangers jumping out of 5th gear. Anyone heard of this problem? I buess the BT50 and Ranger gearboxes are the samr
At the moment I’m work in the bush in West Africa, and just like in Oz, most of the vehicles going around are the landcruisers!!
For a brief period we were allocated the over-rated Mazda 4-door BT-50. What a sh*t box that was!! After reading quite few positive reviews about it, i was looking foward to giving it a go… What a little poof mobile that is!! It’s too dam tiny, and jumps around too much on the tracks!!
It’s too tight, and too dificult for anyone with size 12+ boots to get out from the back… It lacks handle bars to help you get in, and as well sits way too low!!
Not to mention it’s engine feels a little too astmatic!!
No thank you!!
Can’t touch the Landcruiser or the hiluxes we got on site!!
Those cars are trully built for real working man in harsh conditions and minimal fuss!!
The word is right about the Rangers jumping out of 5th gear. Ford has a fix for it. All OK now. Seems it was only a limited number.
I own a BT 50, gearbox rebuild at 102,000 kms Mazda didn’t want to know about it, now at 130,000 engine has had it (cracked head) Mazda don’t want to know, $9500 plus GST and fitting for new engine.
DON’T BUY A BT50 FOR A WORK VEHICLE OR FOR TOWING
I have the 2.5 cab chassis on order.
A modern diesel for under 24k on the road looks like good value when the opposition want $$$$ more for less powerful utes.
The Ford Ranger is the same thing,so combined there are a lot of these in use.
Craig House said he has a duff gearbox and a duff motor. What do you do with yours, Craig. Maybe U need a landcruiser or a patrol!