Apart from being sturdy workhorses and stylish recreational vehicles, pickups can also be paragons of safety. The all-new Mazda BT-50 demonstrates this as it gets a perfect score of five stars on crash tests conducted by the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP).
Mazda's BT-50 midsize pickup gives a stellar performance in ANCAP crash tests
On frontal offset crash tests, the driver’s head and upper legs received good protection, garnering a perfect four points each. Chest and lower leg protection fared slightly worse, being assessed as adequate with 2.69 points and 2.84 points, respectively.
Protection for the front passenger’s head and upper legs was also good with four points, while chest protection was rated at 3.39 points and lower leg protection merited 3.31 points. The head, neck, and upper legs for both driver and front passenger experienced good protection with four points each in a full width frontal crash.
For the side impact and oblique pole tests, protection for the head, chest, abdomen, and pelvis was likewise good at four points each. Whiplash protection from a simulated rear impact resulted in 3.5 out of four points, while rescue and extrication earned two out of two points. Overall adult occupant protection was placed at 33 points out of 38, for a total of 86 percent.
The ratings apply to almost all Australia and New Zealand releases of the BT-50 except for the Thunder trim level
Head and chest protection for child occupants were good during the frontal offset impact test. These were observed in the side impact assessment as well. Front and side dynamic tests achieved perfect scores of 16 points each, while child restraint installation garnered eight out of eight points. Overall child occupant protection was placed at 44 points out of 49, for a total of 89 percent.
Onboard safety assist features also performed admirably, with the autonomous emergency braking and forward collision warning receiving a good rating at speeds of up to 80 km/h. Occupant detection, seatbelt reminders, and driver monitoring also received passing marks. The BT-50 received 13.49 out of 16 points overall points for safety assist, translating to 84 percent.
Scores for the BT-50 were based on the crash safety performance of the Isuzu D-Max
Note that the ANCAP safety rating achieved by the Mazda BT-50 is based on that of the Isuzu D-Max, since both automakers collaborated on the same platform for the current iteration of their respective models. ANCAP says that technical information for both models show that the test results for the D-Max also apply to the BT-50.
The BT-50’s latest crash safety performance is likely attributable to the inclusion of a revised driver knee airbag and instrument panel for units built from July 2022 onwards. Additional frontal impact tests were reportedly performed on the updated D-Max to verify the improvements in safety, with the results combined with the findings on the initial D-Max tests held in 2020.
Pick up more relevant updates on the industry’s releases at Philkotse.com.
Know more about Mazda BT-50 2024
The third-generation Mazda BT-50 2024 is the latest pickup truck offering from the Japanese marque. It still remains to be a body-on-frame model, and it is based on the third-generation Isuzu D-max.
For the Philippine market, the Mazda BT-50 for 2024 is available in three variants. These come with a price ranging from Php 1,390,000 to Php 1,908,000, with the BT-50 4x4 MT as the entry-level variant, and the BT-50 Pangolin Edition 2 4x4 AT as the top-spec variant.
Under the hood of the BT-50 is a 3.0-liter 4JJ3-TCX inline-4 turbodiesel engine. At maximum, it can produce up to 187 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque. Available transmissions include a six-speed automatic and a five-speed manual. For drivetrains, only the top-spec variant comes with 4x4.
Size-wise, the new BT-50 2024 Philipines is 5,280mm long, 1,870mm wide, and 1,800mm in height. It also has a wheelbase of 3,125mm.
Competing against the Mazda BT-50 in the Philippine market are the Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi Strada, Isuzu D-Max, Nissan Navara, Ford Ranger, Maxus T60, etc.
Mazda BT-50 Launch
The newest Mazda BT-50 was launched for the Philippine market in November 2021. It replaces the older BT-50 which has been around locally since 2013. Other markets however received by new BT-50 earlier in 2019.
The new version of the BT-50 shares a platform with the Isuzu D-Max. And like the said model, the new BT-50 comes with a handful of improvements for its on-board tech, as well as its mechanical components.
Mazda BT-50 Exterior
While its roots are apparent in its general body shape, the third-gen BT-50 was provided with characteristics that are uniquely Mazda. For instance, it gets the hexagonal front grille, as well as a pair of sharp-looking LED headlamp clusters. These of course are also found on other Mazda models like the CX series of crossovers.
Exterior features include rain-sensing wipers, a set of 18-inch wheels, power-adjustable side mirrors with power fold, and roof rails for the top-spec 4x4 variant.
Size-wise, the BT-50 2024 Philippines comes with a length of 5,280mm, a width of 1,870mm, a height of 1,800mm, and a wheelbase length of 3,125mm.
Mazda BT-50 Interior
Like most trucks in the market today, the new BT-50 can comfortably seat up to five occupants. Its interior space, however, was designed to be more premium in look and feel. Furthermore, it also comes standard with a dual-zone automatic air-conditioning system, electronically adjustable front seats, leather seats, and many other niceties.
Technology & Safety Features
Safety-wise, the top-spec BT-50 4x4 comes with the Mazda I-Activsense suite of driver-assist technologies. This includes features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear-cross traffic alert, among others. It also gets 7 airbags at most, as well as the usual safety features like stability control, traction control, and anti-lock braking with electronic brake-force distribution, among others.
For entertainment, the top-spec 4x4 variant gets a 9-inch touchscreen headunit. Its connectivity options include Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It is then linked to an 8-piece speaker system. The other trims then have a seven-inch headunit with the same connectivity options, but it is linked to a six-piece speaker system.
Platform & Chassis
The BT-50 shares a platform with the Isuzu D-Max. As such, it also uses a ladder-frame chassis. For suspensions, the Mazda-branded truck uses a double-wishbone for the front and a leaf spring suspension for the rear. It then uses a ventilated front disc brake and a rear drum brake.
Engine & Drivetrain
Under the hood of the 2024 Mazda BT-50 is a 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine. At maximum, it can make up to 187 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque. For transmissions, it either gets a five-speed manual gearbox, or a six-speed automatic tranny with sequential shift.
The entry-level and mid-spec trims of the BT-50 use a 4x2 drivetrain. Only the top-spec variant comes with a 4x4 and a locking rear differential.
Mazda BT-50 Q&A
1. How much is the Mazda pickup BT-50 in the Philippines?
The price of Mazda BT-50 2024 in the Philippines ranges from P1,390,000 to P1,908,000.
2. Is the Mazda BT-50 reliable?
The Mazda BT-50 is generally considered a reliable pickup truck. It is built with high-quality materials, has a solid construction, and is equipped with durable components that can withstand tough driving conditions.
3. Is the Mazda BT-50 fuel efficient?
The Mazda BT-50 is generally considered to be a fuel-efficient pickup truck, especially compared to other similarly-sized vehicles in its class.
4. What engine is in the BT-50?
The Mazda BT-50 is available with either a 2.2-liter 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine or a 3.2-liter 5-cylinder turbo diesel engine.
5. Is the Mazda BT-50 automatic?
Yes, the Mazda BT-50 is available with an automatic transmission.
₱ 1,390,000 - ₱ 1,858,000
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