Drivesouth - Best Motor Buys: February 03, 2023

NEW CAR REVIEW
Price: Mazda BT-50 Takami,
$69,190
Dimensions: Length, 5280mm;
width, 1870mm; height, 1790mm
Configuration: Four-cylinder,
four-wheel-drive, 2999cc, 140kW,
450Nm, six-speed automatic
Performance: 0-100km/h, 10.5sec
By Ross Kiddie
Mazda BT-50 Takami
I was scheduled into the range-topping
Mazda BT-50 Takami and was very
anxious for it to arrive.
We had had a series of disasters in the
Kiddie-home and I needed a ute to take
away and recycle a hot water cylinder we
had replaced along with other associated
debris that had accumulated in the back
yard.
True to form the BT-50 completed the
tasks and now the property is looking a
lot more respectable.
That’s just many of the tasks today’s
modern ute is recognised for, it is the
quintessential load carrier – one-tonne on
the deck and 3500kg on the towbar – and
over the years I’ve always tried to make
good use of the load space offered in all
of the utes I’ve had for evaluation.
However, BT-50 Takami is a little
different to the run of the mill pick-ups
that dominate the Kiwi light commercial
market. It is a high-spec model that in
specification sits with all other Mazda
Takami product. It is high on luxury, which
makes it more sport utility vehicle-like –
it’s full leather khaki/black-coloured trim,
heated seats, electric seats and a host of
other specification makes it a ute for the
family, it’s a genuine five-seater and all
those on board are treated to luxury and
comfort.
There’s also a blackout kit, black wheels
and other trim elements along with a
retractable roller deck lid, sports hoop bar
and roof rails. The combination looks very
aggressive.
It’s not just the comfort and
convenience factor either than makes the
BT-50 Takami a standout, it has all the
safety kit Mazda has available through
its ute engineering programme, easily
earning it a five-star Australasian New Car
Assessment Program rating.
Interestingly, while the Takami has an
abundance of specification, I’ve never felt
the BT-50 in other forms was lacking
for kit, the Limited variant I evaluated
last year was also high on spec, but
nevertheless the Takami has everything
and, what’s more, it isn’t priced any distant
to other high spec four-wheel-drive
double cab brands.
At $69,190 it sits $6500 above the
Limited which to me still represents
value, the BT-50 as we know it is a tough,
quality-built ute that will last the distance
in terms of strength and reliability.
Even though it’s been around for a year
or so now, the latest generation BT-50
gets what I call a new engine. Gone is
the old Ford-sourced five-cylinder unit,
today’s BT-50 gets the four-cylinder
turbocharged diesel engine that is
sourced from Isuzu and is shared in its
D-Max.
The 3-litre unit is rated at 140kW and
450Nm, power and torque reached
at traditional points of the rev band –
4000rpm and 1600-2600rpm. Unlike
many large capacity diesels, this unit is
quiet and refined, sound is well isolated
from the cabin and it works smoothly
through a six-speed gearbox.
On the subject of transmission, the
BT-50 works traditionally, drive is sent
rearwards through to a live axle located
by leaf springs. When four-wheel-drive is
required a console-mounted dial system
will usher in low or high ratio as needed,
power is then directed through a transfer
system to the front wheels – four-wheeldrive
is then initiated.
Given the underpinnings are not only
load-bearing and able to tackle offroad
tracks and trails, the BT-50 has a
remarkable in-cabin ride. The spring and
damper rates are set so that occupant
comfort is also a priority. Sure, there’s an
underlying jiggle that is common to all
utes of this type, but it’s not significant
and it would seem that Mazda has put
a lot of thought into seat design, for the
driving position and comfort beneath
Fuel usage: 8l/100km
seems perfect.
In terms of performance and handling,
the BT-50 has solid mid-range boost
which in turn provides peace of mind
when negotiating that highway overtake
– 80-120km/h can be achieved in 6.6sec,
while for the record a standstill to
100km/h time of around 10sec is up to par.
More importantly, Mazda also claims an
eight-litre per 100km/h combined cycle
fuel usage average. In today’s market
where diesel prices are sitting not that
far distant to what we pay for petrol, fuel
thrift is of genuine importance.
During my evaluation time the BT-50
Takami was constantly listing around a
10l/100km average. On a long highway run
the instantaneous readout was sitting at
8.2l/100km with the engine turning over
very relaxed at 1400rpm at 100km/h.
Riding on high grade Bridgestone
Dueler tyres (265/60 x 18in), there is lot
of rubber meeting the road surface, that
connection transmitted firmly back to the
steering wheel; centre and off-centre feel
is involving, providing surety to the driver.
If a tight corner is entered a bit on the
quick side, there is still positive turn-in
and a definite feel of control and balance
through the rear driving wheels. Grip is
never brought into question thanks to
quick electronics that intervene quickly,
oversteer needn’t be considered.
I’ve driven several variants of the new
BT-50 series including the base model
that I took on a long South Island road
trip. I’ve come away from each experience
quite satisfied with the level of refinement,
Takami has only served to prove Mazda
has taken that sophistication one step
further.
It would be the ute that I would buy,
but I have to admit I am a little biased, my
wife and I are new members of the Mazda
owner-family, and we are very pleased
with the experience and quality of the
product.
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