2024 Mazda BT-50 SP Pro review (video)

In the 1970s, when Ford needed a compact utility vehicle to fill a gap in its lineup, it turned to none other than Mazda, who supplied badge-engineered B-Series utes as the Ford Courier and Ranger for decades, internationally.

While a brief flipping of the script saw Ford take the lead engineering role with the T6 program from 2011, that relationship soured and Mazda’s latest BT-50 is sourced from Japanese compatriot, Isuzu.

This can only be a good thing given that Isuzu’s D-Max has earned a reputation as a very solid and reliable work vehicle, with its bulletproof powertrain. A great foundation then. Happily, Mazda’s ‘Kodo’ design language blends a lot more harmoniously with its new donor vehicle than the borderline-nightmarish clown facade of its predecessor.

Australians overwhelmingly choose utes over any other type of vehicle, so it is a very important market segment and one few manufacturers want to miss out on. According to VFACTS, Mazda BT-50’s market share in the PU/CC 4×4 segment soared by 33.3 per cent, to 14,043 in 2023, compared with 10,533 in 2022.

In the middle of last year, Mazda added the SP Pro accessory pack, vying for customers who would otherwise outfit their ute at ARB, adding a Lightforce LED driving light bar, unique 18-inch wheels and Nitrocharger suspension with twin-tube shocks plus a retro-ish sticker pack.

There is also a ‘Thunder Pro’ pack, which adds a bullbar, additional round driving lights, Old Man Emu BP-51 suspension with nitrogen dampers and a snorkel. All of this is well and good but brings us to a potentially controversial aspect of this model.

2024 Mazda BT-50 SP: Specifications (based on SP)

Engine: 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder
Output: 140kW@3600rpm / 450Nm@1600-2600rpm
Gearbox: Six-speed auto
Drive type: RWD/4WD
Wheels: F & R: 18×7.5, 265/60
ANCAP: Five stars
Tare weight: 2208kg
Power-to-weight: 15.77:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 8.0L/100km
Our consumption: 8.3L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 76L/Diesel

Power efficiency: 17.5kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 4.23 seconds*
0-100km/h: 10.14 seconds*
60-110km/h: 7.97 seconds*
1/4 mile: 17.20 seconds at 131.5km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.647g*
100-0km/h braking: 42.84m in 3.48 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.046g*
Decibel at idle: 48*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 80*
Starting price: $68,660 + $7668 Pro pack

*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different

2024 Mazda BT-50 SP Pro: How much does it cost?

The Mazda BT-50 SP starts from $68,660 before on-road costs. As a starting point, this is eminently reasonable for a sub-flagship model. After all, the BT-50 and D-Max on which it is based are both very solid and capable workhorses.

Our test vehicle, outfitted with the SP Pro accessory pack, adds $7668 to the price, bringing the total to $76,178 (plus ORCs). The Thunder Pro stretches that premium to $9046 ($77,556 plus ORCs). Both accessory packs are subject to a two-year warranty, seperate to the five-year/unlimited kilometre guarantee of the base vehicle.

With those packs added, the price creeps into Ford Ranger Platinum and Toyota HiLux GR Sport territory – two cars with arguably more sophistication, appeal and equipment (such as 360-cameras, passenger electric seat, electric roller tonneaus [in the case of the Ranger]). That might be missing the point, though, since Mazda has outfitted the SP Pro with off-road oriented accessories that a lot of buyers might want to add to their ute – and that’s key to understanding the appeal to Mazda’s approach.

An official fuel consumption rating of 8.0L/100km is an impressively low figure to be sure. At the time of writing, Sydney’s average diesel price is $2.08/L, meaning a cost of around $158 to fill the 76L tank. Touring range, impressively, can stretch up to 1101km on the freeway, and a still-impressive 776km in the city, so it is on the more affordable side in terms of fuel consumption.

Capped-price servicing varies between $334 and $795, depending on which of the 15,000km intervals it is. Capped at up to seven years or 105,000km, the total outlay for this period is $3705.

2024 Mazda BT-50 SP Pro: Interior & packaging

Internally, as you might expect, there is a lot of similarity to the Isuzu D-Max, with some Mazda flavouring sprinkled over the top. The two-tone tan and black theme works nicely to distinguish this as a higher grade model, as do the aluminium and chrome accents.

The infotainment system consists of a 9.0-inch touch-screen, connected to an eight-speaker sound system, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and digital radio, plus an in-built navigation system. Ergonomically, it is a bit flawed, with a generic appearance. Sound-wise, it offers decent bass, without being overly remarkable in the crispness and clarity departments.

Measurements are 5280mm long, 1870mm wide, 1790mm tall, with a generous wheelbase of 3125mm. This means five adults can sit comfortably with ISOFIX child seat fixtures in the rear.

For those who aren’t afraid to get their ute dirty and want to put it to good use, it has a payload of 892kg, a braked towing capacity of 3500kg and a gross combination mass of 5950kg. Load width is 1530mm.

2024 Mazda BT-50 SP Pro: Powertrain & handling

The famed Isuzu 4JJ powerplant reports for duty, displacing 3.0-litres with a variable-geometry turbocharger, developing 140kW at 3600rpm, and 450Nm from a low 1600-2600rpm. It is tied to a six-speed automatic transmission with a selectable low-range transfer case.

Power delivery is responsive, with torque on song early in the rev range. Despite some rivals having eight- and even ten-speed automatic gearboxes, the six-speeder is never caught off guard – not once did we yearn for more ratios during our test.

As for the driving experience, the suspension has a taut yet compliant tune with the damper changes offering a well-optimised compromise between minimal body roll and decent ride. We’d stop short of calling it plush, but the BT-50 exhibits good road manners and NVH, if not quite as good as the class favourite, Ford Ranger. Best of all, we achieved 8.3L/100km which is better than what we have achieved in recent HiLux and Ranger tests and very close to the official ADR81/02 figure.

In terms of safety, the BT-50 has been awarded a full five-star ANCAP rating, which you can read the details of here.

It scores well into the 80s percentage-wise for adult and child occupant protection, but as with most tall and bluff vehicles, vulnerable road user protection (pedestrians and cyclists) it is average at best. A safety assist score of 84 per cent seems consistent with our experience, although we think the autonomous emergency braking (AEB) is a bit overzealous in both forward and backward directions.

Manoeuvring through carparks is easy, with front parking sensors making up for the lack of a 360-degree camera. A 12.5-metre turning circle makes the BT-50 surprisingly agile in car parks.

Onto off-roading, which is a core attribute of this whole package. The approach angle is 30.4 degrees, break-over angle is 23.8 degrees, departure 24.2, with 800mm of wading depth and 290.8mm of ground clearance. We have tested this chassis off-road before and it has always excelled – the SP Pro pack’s features only improve on this formula, especially with an extra two inches of ground clearance thanks to the unique suspension.

If you are someone who takes your ute on off-roading adventures then here’s one Mazda prepared earlier –without having to visit an aftermarket outfitter such as ARB or Iron Man. We have no hesitation recommending this economical, hardy and capable performer, even if it lacks the clout of the ‘big two’.

2024 Mazda BT-50 SP Pro: Key attractions/reasons to buy

• The handsome twin: Arguably more handsome than D-Max, Mazda styling looks fresh and refined as opposed to rough and tough like most rivals.
• Off-road goodies already included: The SP Pro pack adds accessories many 4×4 enthusiasts would add to their truck anyway, and here they are covered by Mazda warranty.
• Big-capacity engine: At 3.0L, this is now the biggest four-cylinder in the class. With this capacity, things like towing (engine braking) and an unstressed engine are superior over a smaller unit.
• Nice interior: This is more like a luxury SUV that a workhorse, which might also be a bad thing if you’re going to use and abuse it.

2024 Mazda BT-50 SP Pro: Key considerations before you buy

• Generic infotainment system: It doesn’t present nice graphics and the menus are crude and basic.
• Interior lacks Mazda’s usual flair: It has only a faint Mazda identity about it, but is functional.

2024 Mazda BT-50 SP Pro: Video