If you want to confuse a federal government bureaucrat, show them the 2026 Mazda BT-50.<\/p>\n
While the New Vehicle Efficiency Standards were designed to push carmakers into shrinking engines or adding batteries, Mazda has decided the path to environmental salvation is, quite literally, to go bigger. <\/p>\n
By evicting the puny 1.9-litre engine and installing a gutsier 2.2-litre turbo diesel, they\u2019ve pulled off a brilliant piece of mechanical irony: more power, more pulling ability, and somehow, lower emissions.<\/p>\n
This heart transplant nets a 10kW and 50Nm bump (now 120kW\/400Nm), but because the engine doesn\u2019t have to work quite so hard to shift the BT-50\u2019s bulk, fuel consumption has actually dropped. <\/p>\n
To be fair, Mazda didn\u2019t exactly do this homework themselves. They just copied the Isuzu D-Max \u2013 its twin under the skin. <\/a><\/p>\n But the real kicker for buyers is the math. Opting for the cleaner 2.2-litre over its 3.0-litre big brother saves you a flat $2500 across the range. Think of it as a government-subsidised \u201caccessories fund\u201d to spend on a catalogue of bull bars and snorkels that is currently thick enough to serve as a structural support for your house.<\/p>\n While also available as a single or dual-cab chassis, the dual-cab range XS starts from just over $51k drive-away for the two-wheel drive version, but our family drove the four-wheel drive derivative which is about $59,500. <\/p>\n What do you get? <\/p>\n Choosing the entry-level XS grade is Mazda\u2019s polite way of saying you\u2019re here to work, not to swan around in leather-trimmed luxury. The interior is a shrine to the hose-out lifestyle, featuring vinyl floor coverings that are ready to embrace mud, coffee spills, or the general organic materials from a building site without a hint of judgment. <\/p>\n If you graduate to a four-wheel drive variant, Mazda generously replaces the construction site-spec steel rims with a set of 17-inch alloys.<\/p>\n While the seats are wrapped in black cloth, the real hero of the cabin is the absence of anything too precious to get dirty. It\u2019s a toolbox with indicators.<\/p>\n However, Mazda hasn\u2019t totally abandoned the 21st century, nestled among the utilitarian plastics is an 8-inch touchscreen that boasts wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.<\/p>\n Unless you\u2019re a purist for flat white, prepare to cough up a $695 premium for any of the mica or metallic hues. Peace of mind comes via a standard five-year warranty, while capped price servicing averages roughly $440 per visit over five. <\/p>\n If the standard kit feels a bit basic, you can always dive into an accessories catalogue that is thick enough to stop a bullet. Mazda offers a staggering array of accessories, from snorkels and fender flares to the ruggedly named \u201cThunder\u201d bull bar. You could easily spend more time agonising over the Lightforce driving lights and retractable tonneau covers than you did on your wedding vows.<\/p>\n How was the drive? <\/p>\n Firing up the 2.2-litre turbo diesel is a noisy reminder that you\u2019ve bought a tool, not a toy. It sounds more John Deere than Zoom-Zoom. This isn\u2019t a ute for those who want to whisper through traffic; it\u2019s marketed as a workhorse, and from the moment you hit the throttle, it lives up to that rugged reputation.<\/p>\n However, there is sophistication hidden behind that tractor-like hum. The new eight-speed automatic transmission is the star of the show, delivering slick, timely gear changes that keep the engine pinned in its peak power band. Despite its smaller displacement compared to its 3.0-litre big brother, the 2.2-litre unit has genuine grunt.<\/p>\n The 12.5m turning circle means navigating a tight multistorey car park is less about \u201cdriving\u201d and more about giving your arms a CrossFit-level workout. <\/p>\n While it\u2019s honest and capable, it lacks the on-road polish and interior refinement of a Ford Ranger<\/a> or the new Kia Tasman<\/a>. <\/p>\n We also couldn\u2019t get close to the claimed fuel consumption numbers, averaging 8.1L\/100km which was 1.5L thirstier than the official figure. <\/p>\n Would you buy one?<\/p>\n Kel: It\u2019s not for me. Even in the base models, I\u2019d be more keen on the smoother riding Ranger or the Tasman. I\u2019m not a tradie, and while the interior is practical, I\u2019d trade the vinyl floors for a bit more on-road polish and a ride that doesn\u2019t feel quite so industrial.<\/p>\n