2022 Mazda BT-50 vs Isuzu D-Max Comparsion: Spec Sheet Battle

Mazda BT-50 vs Isuzu D-Max: The truck wars rages on

As of 2022, the Philippine pickup truck market segment has plenty of choices for would-be buyers. This means that the local pickup truck wars rages on. 

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For Mazda, it offers the new BT-50, which it released last year. The truck comes with plenty of high-tech features, and a sleek but macho exterior look. 

On the Isuzu side, there’s the D-Max. It was also released back in 2021, and like the competition, it has plenty of gadgets for convenience, comfort, and safety. 

Do note though, the current Mazda BT-50 and Isuzu D-Max both use the same platform. They even use the same engine. So this begs the question, is there anything that makes one better over the other?  

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Let’s find out by comparing the specs of the top-spec BT-50 3.0 4x4 AT against the specs of the top-spec D-Max LS-E 3.0 4x4 AT. 

Mazda BT-50 vs Isuzu D-Max: Exterior

To begin, let’s compare dimensions. For the Mazda BT-50, it has a length of 5,280mm, a width of 1,870mm, and a height of 1,810mm. It then has a wheelbase length of 3,125mm, and a ground clearance of 237mm.  

The Mazda BT-50

The Isuzu D-Max meanwhile, is 5,277mm long, 1,880mm wide, and 1,810mm in height. Its wheelbase spans 3,125mm, and it has a ground clearance of 240 mm. 

To sum it up, the differences between the two in terms of size are marginal at best. The BT-50 is 3mm longer, while the D-Max is 10mm wider. Both trucks even come with an identical curb weight of 2,600 kg. 

As for exterior equipment, the top-spec BT-50 has LED headlamps, while the top-of-the-line D-Max has bi-LED headlamps. Both come with an auto on/off function, and automatic high beam controls.  

The Isuzu D-Max

Furthermore, both trucks also have LED taillights, power folding side mirrors with turn signal side repeaters, front fog lamps, rain-sensing wipers, a bedliner, roof rails, as well as side steps. Both also come with 18-inch alloy wheels. 

Mazda BT-50 vs Isuzu D-Max: Interior

Inside, both the BT-50 3.0 4x4 AT and the D-Max LS-E 3.0 4x4 AT can comfortably seat up to five occupants. Both pickup truck models also come with dark-themed interiors, a split-folding second row, a dual-zone automatic air-conditioning system, and leather wrapped steering wheels with tilt and telescopic adjustment. Both also have leather-wrapped seats, which are colored brown on both models. 

Moreover, both trucks' front seats are electronically adjustable. Also present on these two competing models is a push-to-start button, a digital trip computer and analog gauge cluster, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a 12-volt charging port, as well as several USB charging ports.  

A peek inside the BT-50

For entertainment, the top-spec BT-50 is kitted out with a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth and USB connectivity. It is then linked to an eight-piece speaker system. 

Meanwhile, the top-spec D-Max is equipped with a 10.1-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and USB connectivity. It also gets an eight-piece speaker system. 

Inside the D-Max LS-E

To this end, the BT-50's headunit is slightly smaller, but it does get a wireless function for its Apple CarPlay. The D-Max in turn gets the usual, wired Apple CarPlay. 

Mazda BT-50 vs Isuzu D-Max: Engine and Performance

Under the hood, both the top-spec BT-50 and the top-spec D-Max both use a 3.0-liter inline-4 turbodiesel engine. On these two models, the said engine has an identical output of 187 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque. 

Check out the BT-50's engine bay

Both also use a six-speed automatic gearbox with a gear lever manual mode. Both models also use a 4x4 drivetrain with multiple manual modes. 

The BT-50 and D-Max also use similar suspension systems. For the front, they both use a double wishbone type suspension. Their rears then use a leaf-spring type suspension. Both trucks then use front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. 

The only difference between the two is the fact that the automatic transmission version of the D-Max LS-E does not get a differential lock. Only the manual gearbox version of the LS trim does.  

The D-Max's engine

On the flip-side, the BT-50 3.0 4x4 AT comes standard with a rear differential lock.

Mazda BT-50 vs Isuzu D-Max: Safety

Both trucks come with the standard safety equipment that you’d expect from a modern vehicle. Both have electronic brake-force distribution, stability control, traction control, ISOFIX child seat anchors, a parking camera, front and rear parking sensors, hill-start assist, hill-descent control, an engine immobilizer, a walk-away auto lock function, and a security alarm. 

For driver assist features, both also get adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and forward collision warning. The D-Max does get a post-crash multi-collision braking system and a pedal mis-application mitigation system, both of which aren’t present on the Mazda model. 

Lastly, both trucks also come standard with seven airbags. 

Mazda BT-50 vs Isuzu D-Max: Price

Mazda BT-50 vs Isuzu D-Max: Conclusion

To conclude, both the BT-50 and D-Max are high-tech pickup trucks that will provide their owners with the utmost comfort and practicality. 

A rear-quarter view of the BT-50

The D-Max however, does have some safety systems that are not present on the BT-50. In turn, the BT-50 is arguably more capable off-road since it does come with a differential lock, which isn’t present on the D-Max.  

Style-wise though, we’ll leave it up to you to pick the better-looking vehicle. Also, if you are indeed in the market of a pickup truck, then we urge you to give each of these a good ol’ test drive. 

The D-Max from the rear

For more car comparisons like this, keep it here on Philkotse.