Mazda comes out swinging with BT-50 ute pricing

Tuesday, 24 November 2020

Watch as Mazda Australia reveals the all-new BT-50 ute.

At the launch of its new BT-50 ute today, Mazda New Zealand has revealed pricing that takes aim directly at Toyota’s aggressive strategy for the Hilux, with the BT-50 undercutting both the market-leading Ford Ranger and the Mazda’s twin-under-the-skin Isuzu D-Max, despite a slight price increase over the old model.

Eschewing any bare-bones entry models, single cab or cab/chassis options – and only available with a six-speed automatic transmission – Mazda is clearly aiming directly at the lifestyle market with the 2WD BT-50 range starting at $47,490 for the double cab GSX, rising to $51,490 for the GTX and topping out with the $53,990 Limited model.

The 4WD range is similarly structured with the GSX opening the line up at $54,490, while the GTX lands at $58,490 and the Limited at $60,990.

Mazda has revealed the pricing on its BT-50 ute at the launch today.

The aggressively-priced Toyota Hilux is still a cheaper option with the 2WD double cab automatic wellside range starting at $41,490 for the SR auto and topping out at $47,990 for the SR5 Cruiser auto, while the 4WD double cab automatic wellside range kicks off with the $48,490 SR and rounds out with the $58,990 SR5 Cruiser.

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The BT-50 undercuts the dominant Ford Ranger with its pricing.

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The BT-50 shares its underpinnings and powertrain with the recently launched Isuzu D-Max.

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* Mazda BT-50 grabs 5 star ANCAP rating

The Hilux range does include cab/chassis, single cab and extra cab models, all with a manual transmission option, as well as the modified range-topping Mako with its aftermarket Old Man Emu suspension, meaning the Hilux range actually covers a massive spread form $28,990 for the single cab chassis Workmate to $79,990 for the Mako.

The dominant Ford Ranger opens its 2WD double cab range with the bare-bones XL that costs $47,670, rising to $52,170 for the XLT and topping out with the FX4 for $56,170. The Ranger’s 4WD double cab range starts with the $59,170 XL, with the $64,670 XLT and $68,670 FX4 slotting in beneath two Wildtrak range-toppers – the $72,170 3.2-litre model and the $73,170 2.0-litre bi-turbo model.

Like the Hilux, the Ranger also has single cab, extra cab and cab/chassis options, as well as a more capable range topper in the form of the Raptor (but no manual option), meaning the Ranger line up starts at $42,170 for the 2WD XL single cab chassis and tops off with the $85,170 Raptor.

Most impressively, however, is the fact that the BT-50 also undercuts the vehicle it shares its underpinnings with – the Isuzu D-Max.

The D-Max is available with extra-cab and manual options, but the equivalent 2WD auto D-Max range starts with the $49,990 LX, rising to $56,490 for the LS, while the 4WD auto range kicks off with the LX at $61,990, the LS-M at $63,990, the LS at $67,990 and tops with the pricey X-Terrain at $75,490.

While it was previously based on the Ford Ranger the new BT-50 was co-developed with Isuzu, with the Mazda being powered by Isuzu's upgraded 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that produces 140kW of power and 450Nm of torque in both utes.

This puts it down slightly on the outgoing BT-50’s 147kW/470Nm Ford 3.2-litre five-cylinder unit, as well as Ford's latest 157kW/500Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four and Toyota’s 150kW/500Nm 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four.

However, the new BT-50 is said to be lighter than the current ute, so Mazda is saying that performance is expected to be the same, if not better.

With a wheelbase of 3,152mm and an overall length of 5,280, width of 1,870mm and height of 1,790mm, the new BT-50 is more or less the same size as its ex-sibling Ranger, while it will also sport the segment-expected 3,500kg towing capacity and one tonne (1,065kg to be precise) tray payload.