Southern View: September 20, 2016

SOUTHERN VIEW Tuesday September 20 2016 23
MAZDA
Price $57,295
Dimensions Length, 5365mm; width,
1850mm; height, 1821mm
Configuration Five-cylinder, fourwheel-drive,
3198cc, 147kW, 470Nm,
six-speed automatic.
Performance 0-100km/h, 9.6sec
Fuel Usage 9.2l/100km
When you look at all the
product Mazda has to
offer new car buyers,
especially here in
New Zealand, there’s one vehicle which
looks out of place – that is the BT50
light commercial ute.
I say that because Mazda has a huge
manufacturing emphasis on cars and
sport utility vehicles, and the line-up it
has now is focused heavily on providing
buyers with quality product fit for
purpose.
Nevertheless, to be profitable and
competitive in today’s global market,
companies which have utility vehicles
are experiencing a buoyancy like never
before, more so here in New Zealand.
Last year Ford’s Ranger utility was the
biggest selling vehicle overall, and that has
never happened in this country before.
Mazda have capitalised on Ranger’s
success as well, the BT50 is a sister
vehicle; while the shape is different, the
platform and engine are the same.
BY ROSS KIDDIE
The BT50 has just had a substantial
upgrade both outside and inside. Major
exterior changes include a new grille
and lights up front, while rear tail light
assemblies have had significant garnish
changes. Inside, there are new seat
coverings, and an upgrade on the plastic
trim elements.
According to Mazda the changes give
the BT50 a more aggressive, muscular
look and by my reckoning, it is still
one of the best looking utes in the New
Zealand market.
Elsewhere, the BT50 is much the
same rugged ute as it ever has been. It
lands in a range of 13 variants priced
from $35,295 to $57,295. All have a
3.2-litre five-cylinder engine, and there
are the usual choices between single
cab, Freestyle cab and double-cab, two
and four-wheel-drive. And there are
options between manual or automatic
transmission, although it’s fair to say,
most are autos.
The test vehicle was the range topping
GSX double cab automatic. Incidentally,
that model with manual transmission is
available at $55,295.
I’ve often written about how much I
enjoy five-cylinder engines, they have
a characteristic of their own, and in the
BT50, it stands out for its smooth and
rattle-free operation.
It is a twin-camshaft, 20-valve unit
which is rated at 147kW and 470Nm,
it is a high technology engine which
offers low maintenance costs thanks to a
new capped price servicing initiative by
Mazda New Zealand.
It also has the benefit of low fuel usage.
Mazda claim a 9.2-litre per 100km
(31mpg) combined cycle average for
the BT50. My time with the test vehicle
constantly listed around 10l/100km
(28mpg) with an instantaneous figure
of 7.7l/100km (36mpg) available at a
100km/h cruise (engine speed 1800rpm).
Power is harnessed seamlessly through
the six-speeder. The ratios are a wide
spread of what is required for low range
work as well as broadening to promote
those satisfactory fuel usage figures. The
driveline is smooth, hiding well the tough
mechanical elements that have high
demands, such as a 3500kg towing figure.
Naturally, the four-wheel-drive system
has a low ratio transfer case, it can be
manipulated by a console-mounted
switch. I didn’t do a lot of off-road work,
but I did tackle a long shingle incline
deep in the Malvern Hills. The BT50 is
in its element on rutted road surfaces,
the suspension is supple, dealing to
bumps and corrugations, and providing
a cushioned ride.
Bearing in mind that the BT50 still
has a leaf-spring located live rear axle,
the suspension engineers have done well
to create the civilised ride along with
the load bearing properties needed in
the traditional ute. The BT50 also gets
a high ground clearance of 237mm,
which means cross-country travel can be
tackled with confidence.
The BT50 is at home on the seal as it
is off-road. I took the test car on a long
highway drive and it is relaxing and
inviting to drive. Such is the civilised way
it rides, it is easy to head into a corner
with more speed on than realised, so it
must be remembered there are some
cornering limitations.
In terms of on-road performance,
a standstill to 100km/h time of 9.6sec
is pretty useful for a big, heavy vehicle
which weighs in at just over two-tonne.
With the mid-range torque figure it will
also blast thorough a highway overtake
without effort.
award winning
techician SPeciaLiSt
dodge | chrYSLer | jeeP
avoid breakdownS
with reguLar Servicing
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Phone: 03 344 5565
3/15 Anchorage Rd, Hornby
aidan.cars@gmail.com
TYRES
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Monday - Friday 7.30am to 5pm
Saturday 9am to 12 noon
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AND mANy
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Telephone: (03) 349 0037
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