Mazda’s Under-the-Radar BT-50 Pick-up: A 2025 Facelift with an Oversized Badge

Mazda BT-50 (2025): The Obscure Pickup with a Giant Emblem

Despite the prominent brand symbol, it's not exactly a Mazda

When you think of Mazda, the iconic MX-5 Miata and rotary engines might spring to mind, yet the Japanese firm has a deep-rooted history with utility vehicles. In fact, the inaugural vehicle to bear the Mazda badge, launched in 1931, was a three-wheeled open truck known as the Mazda-Go.

The inaugural car produced by the company, the R360, was joined by a commercial vehicle variant, the K360, during the 1960s. This was succeeded by a series of pickups, including the 1974 Rotary Pick-up (REPU) which featured a rotary engine. The updated BT-50 is set to carry on this tradition in 2024.

Photo Gallery: The 2025 Mazda BT-50

Succeeding the B-Series pickups that were on sale in Europe from 1961 to 2006, the BT-50 initially shared its underpinnings with the Ford Ranger in its first two iterations. The inaugural generation was even available in Germany. However, with the launch of the third-generation model in 2020, Mazda transitioned to a new platform, adopting the foundation of the Isuzu D-Max.

The midsize pickup is now getting a makeover, roughly a year after Isuzu underwent its own refresh. It's a good-looking beast of burden, although we think the prominent winged Mazda badge on the front is a bit on the excessive side.

The 2025 Mazda BT-50 will feature revamped headlights incorporating LED daytime running lights reminiscent of those on the CX-5. The prominent emblem isn't the only new feature on the grille; it now showcases a unique pattern of octagons linked to larger hexagons. In addition, the grille is now highlighted by a colored trim, a design element frequently seen in Mazda vehicles. With this latest model refresh, the grille's trim appears to be even more pronounced.

The front bumper now features an integrated Air Curtain to enhance aerodynamics and reduce fuel consumption. Mazda has upscaled its emblem at the rear. There are fresh taillights and a revamped bumper with a textured bottom section. Updated alloy wheel designs and a selection of hues, such as Red Earth Metallic, complete the exterior upgrades.

Inside the car, there's an upgraded 9-inch infotainment screen accompanied by touch-sensitive quick-access buttons situated around the volume and setting controls. The existing row of physical switches has been retained, as has the small separate display. Elsewhere, the driver's digital dashboard has expanded to seven inches and now includes the capability to present off-road data that was previously only accessible on the central screen. This includes the driving mode/differential lock status, steering and tilt angles, tire pressure monitoring system, and the "Rough Terrain Mode."

2025 Model of Mazda BT-50

For the 2025 model year, there's a new addition of a wireless Android Auto connection, joining the existing wireless Apple CarPlay feature. A USB port has been installed near the rearview mirror for connecting a dashboard camera. The latest updates also include a traffic jam assistant, rear cross-traffic braking, an adaptive cruise control system with traffic sign recognition, and advanced stereo cameras at the front that double the field of vision. Mazda has also applied a hydrophobic coating to the rearview camera to maintain its cleanliness.

When we refer to Mazda, we're actually talking about Isuzu. Both the BT-50 and the D-Max are manufactured in Isuzu's Thailand factory. In Australia, the BT-50 comes in three different cab configurations: single, extended, and double. It's available with either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive options.

Additional Mazda Coverage:

The vehicle is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine with four cylinders, delivering 188 horsepower and a torque of 450 Newton-meters. In some markets, a smaller 1.9-liter diesel engine is available, which produces 148 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque. Depending on the market and engine choice, there are options for a six-speed manual transmission and an automatic transmission.

Attached is a gallery of the 2024 Isuzu D-Max, which serves as the foundation for Mazda's new BT-50. However, this isn't Mazda's sole foray into the pickup sector, as they offer a variety of vans in Japan, including the Bongo, Scrum, and the larger Titan model.

Source: Mazda

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