Nor'West News: July 27, 2023

16
Thursday July 27 2023
Does Mazda’s 1.9-litre diesel turbo deliver?
MAZDA IS hoping for an uplift
in buyer interest in two of the
most affordable versions of its
BT-50 ute, as it feels the sales
heat from a host of rivals.
Mazda’s response is a new
1.9-litre turbo-diesel motor
for its price-leading 2WD GSX
and GTX double cabs, the only
body style offered here. Can this
motor with its modest engine
capacity and power output add
more spring to the BT-50’s sales
step?
Just to refresh your memory –
the latest BT-50 has been around
since early 2021. Apart from cosmetic
differences, it is a rebadged
Isuzu D-Max.
Offering a 1.9-litre turbo diesel
gives the BT-50 a major point
of difference over its rivals with
its low CO2 output of 205g/km.
Mazda claim it’s the lowest CO2
figure of any diesel double cab
Motoring with Bob Nettleton
ute on our market. This means
it attracts a lower government
clean car fee than most of its
rivals.
The 1.9-litre motor also saves
a fair wad of your hard-earned
cash compared to the 3.0-litre
turbo diesel in its AWD sibling.
The smaller power plant incurs a
$1868 fee. That’s $3767 less than
the clean car fee bounty on an
AWD BT-50.
This new, smaller motor
capacity is exclusive to the price
leading GSX and mid-spec GTX
2WD. The GSX supplied for this
road test heads the BT-50’s value
for money charge at $48,740, plus
the clean car fee.
This frugal four-cylinder
turbo diesel is feisty enough with
110kW of power and 350Nm
of torque. The latter is about
100Nm down on the larger
3.0-litre put to work in the AWD
Incorporating
best motorbuys
www.drivesouth.co.nz
BT-50. Despite less power and
torque, its towing capabilities are
only marginally down on these
models.
The Isuzu-sourced 1.9-litre is
widely used in BT-50 and D-Max
models sold in Southeast Asia,
including Thailand, where both
models are produced. It’s a tough
wee motor, yet unexpectedly
smooth and refined. Acceleration
from standing starts and in-gear
is brisk, but you are always aware
that with its modest engine
capacity it has to work harder
for the same results delivered by
the larger diesels powering in
its competitors. Enabling it to
punch above its weight is a smart
six-speed automatic well versed
in selecting the right gear at the
right time.
A generously proportioned
cabin has plenty of front and
rear legroom, while the seats
are supportive and comfy. The
instruments and controls for key
functions such as lights, wipers
and indicators are easy to operate
and read.
For a price-driven model the
GSX lacks for little in the way
of features and driver creature
comforts. A touch screen infotainment
system supports both
Apple CarPlay and Android
Auto, with a multi-information
display providing key driving
information are standard.
This model has a host of classleading
active safety technologies
to help keep the driver out of
trouble. These include Autonomous
Emergency Braking with
Pedestrian/Cyclist Detection,
Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind
Spot Monitoring, and Lane Departure
Warning.
The delicate balance between
ride comfort and road holding
is right on the mark and as
good as you will find among the
current crop of utes. With the
BT-50 you get as standard class
leading suspension refinement,
although the firmer rear spring
settings make its low-speed ride
over uneven surfaces fidgety. The
test ute cornered confidently,
with the experience made more
enjoyable by well weighted and
communicative steering.
Rating out of 10:
Performance 6; Handling
7; Build Quality 7; Comfort
7; Space 7; Styling 6; Test
consumption 7.8L/100km;
Value for money 6; Safety
– 5-star ANCAP crash
rating. Overall points out
of 10: 6.5
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