General News
2 May, 2025
4WD enthusiasts give new Mazda BT-50 utes ‘heaps’
A GROUP of four-wheel-drive enthusiasts gave Mazda’s new BT-50 dual cab utes “heaps” at a special off-roading event.
Cairns Mazda hosted about 30 people at the Low 4 Off-road 4WD Training ground at Leotta Rd near Mareeba earlier this month where four of the new BT-50s were put to the test over four tracks.
The tracks consisted of tight, narrow, steep and muddy sections to test the BT-50’s off-road abilities.
Most of the time the utes tackled the challenging terrain in two-wheel-drive only and it was only in particularly muddy and wet parts that 4WD low and the differential lock were engaged.
Even novices got behind the wheel and were shown the finer techniques of four-wheel-driving … slow and steady wins the race.
The BT-50 impressed with its prowess and not one failed to get through the four tracks. The models tested included a top-of-the-range SP, an XT cab-chassis fitted with a tray, an XTR and a GT.
They are respectably capable off-road, with a rough terrain mode to dampen the throttle a bit and make the vehicle easier to control.
The rear diff lock helps in really tricky conditions, but they can haul through in 4H with just some careful line selection and careful use of the accelerator. It’s impressive.
At one stage we also drove a new Volkswagen Amarok V6 over the same terrain and its ground clearance was not as good as the BT-50’s and many times it scraped the underside on several humps … something that didn’t happen to the BT-50.
The range is pretty extensive, with 15 different models across various body styles and drivelines
There are four 4×4 dual-cab models, all powered by the same 140kW/450Nm 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel powerplant that’s become a tried and trusted companion.
To simplify things still further, Mazda has, for the time being at least, released the new BT-50 with Australia-wide drive-away pricing. The range kicks off with the XT at $54,990, steps up to the XTR at $62,490 and then the GT at $65,990 before topping out with the flagship SP variant at $67,990.
Mazda claims that BT-50 buyers typically spec their vehicles with, on average, $3800 of genuine accessories at the time of purchase, which are all covered by the same five-year warranty that applies to the vehicle. Mazda has more than 100 special accessories, including new alloy wheel designs, spotlights, bull bars, snorkels, roof platforms, awnings, LED lighting bars, toppers, drawer fit outs and so on.
Some of the guests even took their own vehicles over the tracks, including a Nissan Patrol, a Ford Maverick and a Toyota LandCruiser Prado.
Read More: Far North
