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8<br />
Thursday <strong>March</strong> 7 <strong>2024</strong><br />
MAZDA ISN’T one of the heavy<br />
hitters in our ute arena, but has<br />
undeniable longevity, competing<br />
with varying degree of success in<br />
this market since the mid 1960s.<br />
Up until 2020, the BT50 was<br />
the not-so-well-known twin<br />
of the hugely successful Ford<br />
Ranger, in a model share deal<br />
between Mazda and Ford. For<br />
the current Ranger, Ford opted<br />
out of this arrangement and<br />
instead partnered with European<br />
automotive heavy hitter<br />
Volkswagen, with the current<br />
Ranger the donor vehicle for the<br />
latest Volkswagen Amarok.<br />
Mazda was hardly flush<br />
with offers from other vehicle<br />
manufacturers keen to join forces<br />
with them on a new ute. After a<br />
www.drivesouth.co.nz<br />
End of an era for Mazda’s long-serving ute<br />
Motoring with Bob Nettleton<br />
bit of speed-dating, they tied the<br />
collaboration knot with Isuzu<br />
in a union of two of the smallest<br />
manufacturers of Japanese<br />
utes. Essentially the BT50 is<br />
the current D-Max with some<br />
cosmetic changes.<br />
It seems Mazda’s days in<br />
our ute market are numbered,<br />
having clocked up around 58<br />
years. The latest shipment of<br />
BT50s is reportedly the last.<br />
Mazda NZ deleting the BT50<br />
from their catalogue is due to a<br />
variety of factors including the<br />
huge rise in the popularity of<br />
SUVs, and increasingly tougher<br />
engine emission standards.<br />
The BT50 will still be sold in<br />
Australia.<br />
You can have your BT50 in<br />
Ratings out of 10: Performance 7 Handling 7; Build Quality<br />
7; Comfort 6; Passenger and Load Space 7; Styling 7; Value<br />
for money 6; Safety – Five Star ANCAP crash rating.<br />
Overall points out of 10: 7<br />
Incorporating<br />
best motorbuys<br />
any configuration as long as it’s<br />
a double cab, but you do have<br />
the choice of three specification<br />
levels, starting with the GSX. For<br />
this road test we check out this<br />
model in $57,290 4WD form.<br />
In the engine bay is a familiar<br />
face and one tough customer in<br />
Isuzu’s long serving and durable<br />
turbocharged 3.0L four-cylinder<br />
diesel.<br />
These days it makes a handy,<br />
but hardly class-leading, 140kw<br />
of power. The 450Nm of torque<br />
on tap is below the class average<br />
500Nm most buyers are looking<br />
for, but on the credit side of<br />
the ledger it is as smooth and<br />
refined as most of its rivals. It<br />
showed plenty of energy and<br />
endeavour to comfortably handle<br />
the toughest on and off road<br />
assignments.<br />
If you want a ute that’s relaxing<br />
to drive over long distances, and<br />
who doesn’t, few do it better than<br />
this one. A lot the kudos for this<br />
is down to the BT50’s well-sorted<br />
six-speed automatic that puts in a<br />
consistently good gear-changing<br />
shift, no matter the task.<br />
A well-proportioned cab<br />
provides plenty of leg and<br />
headroom, and the seats are<br />
supportive and comfy, with no<br />
complaints from the passengers I<br />
had on board.<br />
For an entry-level model the<br />
GSX is fairly well suited up.<br />
A touch screen infotainment<br />
system supports both Apple<br />
CarPlay and Android Auto,<br />
while a multi-information<br />
display provides key driving<br />
information.<br />
The balance between ride<br />
comfort and road holding is as<br />
good as you will find among the<br />
current crop of utes, apart from<br />
the class leading Ford Ranger.<br />
This has been achieved<br />
without compromising durability<br />
and strength, with the GSX<br />
offering plenty of both, with a<br />
heavier duty rear suspension<br />
arrangement in recognition of it<br />
being more of a work orientated<br />
ute.<br />
In GSX trim the firmer rear<br />
spring make the low speed ride<br />
over uneven surfaces fidgety.<br />
However, the test ute cornered<br />
confidently with the enjoyment<br />
heightened by well-weighted and<br />
communicative steering.<br />
Vaughan Pirie<br />
owner operator<br />
027 565 5577<br />
vpbaeries@gmail.com<br />
www.vpbaeries.co.nz<br />
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