The BT-50 PRO - comfortable and luxurious

While Isuzu and Toyota are the market leaders and cater to all segments of the market (from commercial to personal), Mazda has a different marketing strategy. The BT-50 PRO isn’t a pickup for the masses, but serves the smaller part of the market where customers drive their own trucks, and want more refinement than regular pickups, along with a more passenger car-like environment.

These aren’t people who use the trucks carrying veggies to the market for a living, but are more upmarket folks who want a multi-purpose truck for their active lifestyles. And the message is strong – look at the truck and you can easily start to digest the “Sophisticated Beast” design theme.

Apart from the stylishness, another noticeable improvement is the quality of the materials and assembly. As I mentioned before, the BT-50 caters to buyers who want passenger car quality and Mazda has made sure they get it. The console, switches, seats and even the headrest give no clue that this is a pickup truck.

The rear seats, which are usually the weak point of double cab trucks due to the limited space and straight backrest, have been improved significantly. There’s enough legroom and headroom (actually these are best in class) for a six-footer and there’s some angle to the backrest. The rear headrests are also excellent – the design and feel reminds you of those offered in luxury cars.

Actually this space increase is no big surprise, considering that the BT-50 has grown into a behemoth monster measuring more than 5.6 metres long and 1.85 metres wide. Park it beside a Mazda2 and it would appear like a Bigfoot off-roader.

There’s a large number of storage areas in the cabin, including a driver’s glovebox and 1-litre bottle holder (front door panels).

The entertainment system has AUS and USB inputs along with a 3.5-inch multi-function display on the centre console. Also offered is Bluetooth connection and voice control. Car information is shown on the multi-information display in the fascia.

Power comes from a 3.2-litre EURO-4 diesel engine capable of pumping out as much as 200 horsepower and 470Nm, which is available from 1,750-2,500rpm. Torque delivery is quick but not intense, offering smooth acceleration when mated to the adaptive 6-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift control (the manual gearbox has an upshift indicator light).

Although the BT-50 PRO is capable of going faster, the top speed is electronically limited at 170km/h for safety reasons. This is a measure that other manufacturers should also follow, since the engine power of these vehicles have gone up dramatically while high-speed motoring is not what pickup trucks are designed and built for.

Having said that, the suspension of the BT-50 is another component that sets it apart from others. Compared with the previous model or its competitors, the Mazda truck offers a much smoother and comfortable ride, ironing out vibrations from cracks and bumps on the road with a dash of luxury car feeling. In fact, the test drive event of the BT-50 was held in Laos (Luang Prabang), where there are still many poorly maintained roads, and the comfortable ride was highly appreciated.

Stopping power comes from disc brakes (with dual-piston calipers) in front and drums at the rear. Apart from ABS, there is also EBD as well as a number of other safety features such as DSC (Dynamic Stability Control), TRC (Traction Control), BOS (Brake Override System), HDC (Hill Descent Control), HLA (Hill Launch Assist), LAC (Load Adaptive Control), TRA (Trailer Sway Assist) and RSA (Roll Stability Control). All this sounds like a list of features from a luxury passenger car.

The Mazda BT-50 PRO 3.2 R Double Cab automatic, priced at Bt988,000, is a large truck that has the capacity to serve an active lifestyle that is becoming increasingly popular among Thai pickup buyers.

It may be a little large in size when you have to enter parking lots and narrow streets, but at least we can all tow our boats and jetskis more comfortably when the flood arrives later this year.

 

Mazda BT-50 PRO 3.2 R Double Cab 6AT

Engine: 5-cylinder DOHC 20-valve commonrail diesel with turbocharger and intercooler

Displacement: 3,198cc

Bore and stroke: 89.9x100.7

Compression ratio: 15.5:1

Max power: 200hp/3,000rpm

Max torque: 470Nm/1,750-2,500rpm

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

Ratios: 5.441/2.839/1.721/1.223/1.000/0.794

Suspension (f/r): Double wishbones, coil springs, stabiliser and gas shocks/leaf springs, gas shocks

Steering: Powered rack-and-pinion

Turning circle: 12.4 metres

Brakes (f/r): Vented discs/drums with ABS and EBD

 

Dimensions (mm)

Length: 5,635

Width: 1,850

Height: 1,821

Wheelbase: 3,220

Track (f/r): 1,560/1,560

Ground clearance: 237

Wheels: 17-in alloys

Tyres: 265/65 R17

Fuel tank capacity (litres): 80 litres

Price: Bt988,000

Distributor: Mazda Sales Thailand