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

Updated Sep 12, 2022

The platform siblings go head-to-head.

In this article...

  1. The truck wars rages on
  2. Exterior
  3. Interior
  4. Engine and Performance
  5. Safety
  6. Price
  7. Conclusion

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. 

2022 Mazda BT-50 - The Most Stylish Pickup? | Philkotse Quick Look

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?  

2021 Isuzu D-Max: Huge changes for the new-generation model | Philkotse Reviews

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. 

Mazda BT-50 3.0 4x4 AT 

Dimensions 

Isuzu D-Max LS-E 3.0 4x4 AT 

5,280mm 

Length 

5,277mm 

1,870mm 

Width 

1,880mm 

1,810mm 

Height 

1,810mm 

3,125mm 

Wheelbase length 

3,125mm 

237mm 

Ground clearance 

240mm 

2,600 

Curb weight 

2,600mm 

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 3.0 4x4 AT 

Exterior Equipment 

Isuzu D-Max LS-E 3.0 4x4 AT 

LED w/ auto on/off 

Headlights 

LED w/ auto on/off 

With 

Daytime running lights 

With 

LED 

Turn signal lights 

LED 

LED 

Taillights 

LED 

With 

Front fog lamps 

With 

With 

Roof rails 

With 

18-inch 

Wheel size 

18-inch 

Alloy  

Wheel type 

Alloy 

With 

Bedliner 

With 

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. 

Mazda BT-50 3.0 4x4 AT 

Interior Equipment 

Isuzu D-Max LS-E 3.0 4x4 AT 

Leather 

Seat material 

Leather 

Electronic 

Driver’s seat adjustment 

Electronic 

Tilt and Telescopic 

Steering wheel adjustment 

Tilt and Telescopic 

Dual-zone automatic 

Air-conditioning type 

Dual-zone automatic 

Push button 

Ignition 

Push button 

Seating capacity 

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 3.0 4x4 AT 

On-board tech 

Isuzu D-Max LS-E 3.0 4x4 AT 

9-inch touchscreen 

Infotainment system 

10.1-inch touchscreen 

Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, USB 

Connectivity options 

Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, USB 

# of speakers 

With 

Power-folding side mirror 

With 

With 

Auto-dimming rearview mirror 

With 

With 

Rain-sensing wipers 

With 

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.

Specs 

Mazda BT-50 3.0 4x4 AT 

Isuzu D-Max LS-E 3.0 4x4 AT 

Engine 

Inline-4 turbodiesel 

Inline-4 turbodiesel 

Displacement 

3.0-liters 

3.0-liters 

Transmission 

Six-speed automatic 

Six-speed automatic 

Horsepower 

187 horsepower 

187 horsepower 

Torque 

450 Nm 

450 Nm 

Drivetrain 

4x4 

4x4 

Differential lock 

With 

None 

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 3.0 4x4 AT 

Safety equipment 

Isuzu D-Max LS-E 3.0 4x4 AT 

Airbags 

With 

Anti-lock braking w/ EBD 

With 

With 

Reverse camera 

With 

Adaptive 

Cruise control 

Adaptive 

With 

Hill-start assist 

With 

With 

Hill-descent control 

With 

With 

Stability control 

With 

With 

Traction control 

With 

With 

ISOFIX child seat tethers 

With 

With 

Lane departure warning 

With 

With 

Blind-spot detection 

With 

With 

Engine immobilizer 

With 

With 

Security alarm 

With 

With 

Emergency braking 

With 

Mazda BT-50 vs Isuzu D-Max: Price

Mazda BT-50 Variants 

Price 

BT-50 3.0 4x2 MT 

Php 1,390,000 

BT-50 3.0 4x2 AT 

Php 1,430,000 

BT-50 3.0 4x4 AT 

Php 1,790,000 

Isuzu D-Max Variants  

Price 

D-Max Single Cab 1.9 4x2 MT 

Php 857,000 

D-Max LT 1.9 4x2 MT 

Php 987,000 

D-Max RZ4E 1.9 LS 4x2 MT  

Php 1,219,000 

D-Max LT 3.0 4x4 MT 

Php 1,288,000 

D-Max RZ4E 1.9 LS 4x2 AT 

Php 1,309,000 

D-Max LS 3.0 4x2 MT 

Php 1,320,000 

D-Max LS-A 3.0 4x2 AT 

Php 1,390,000 

D-Max LS 3.0 4x4 MT 

Php 1,630,000 

D-Max LS-E 3.0 4x4 AT 

Php 1,825,000 

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

Cesar G.B. Miguel

Author

Cesar Guiderone B. Miguel was born and raised in Iligan City, Lanao Del Norte. He graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in English degree from Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology. He previously worked as a freelance writer for various websites, as a member of the Iligan City Disaster Risk Reduction Management's training staff, and as a medical sales representative.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goridus.goridus

View more