Pros and Cons: 2022 Mazda BT-50 1.9 High - It's no 'Hailak', but that's OK too
Sanjay · Apr 23, 2022 10:00 AM
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It may be far from the last word in the Malaysian market, but the 2022 Mazda BT-50 brings a unique package to the pick-up truck world. Perhaps it's the only one in its class that dares to mix the hardy character of an Isuzu, with the soft charms Mazda's perfected over the years.
Which actually wouldn't be entirely inaccurate. It is a rebadged Isuzu D-Max, and long-time readers of this site wil recall that we like that a lot. Good point to start off from then, but objectivity is a thing, so we'll explore the highs and lows of the 2022 Mazda BT-50 1.9 High (RM 124,179, on-the-road without insurance) in this article.
Pro #1: Economical to run
The turbodiesel mill is paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission
The sole 1.9-litre variant of the BT-50 squeezes into a very specific crevice: with 150 PS and 350 Nm of turbodiesel power, it's good enough to do some work, but if you're looking for something to do some serious off-roading with, you're better off with something that has a bigger engine.
Then again this isn't exactly a bad thing, with the most obvious benefit being it has the cheapest pick-up truck road tax in Malaysia. Yearly it costs RM 400 in (RM 221 in Sabah and Sarawak), which is much, much cheaper than the 2.2-, 2.4-, and 2.8-litre engines its rivals have.
Trip computer readings usually differ bit from actual calculations
It's also a sizeable difference when it comes to fuel consumption. In our internal tests, the 1.9-litre BT-50 returned 8.3-litres/100 km, which is about the same as the Hyundai Kona Active, let alone rivals like the Mitsubishi Triton (9.5-litres/100 km).
Pro #2: Stand-out looks
Look, this point might put the BT-50 dangerously close to ‘mall crawler’ territory, but it is what it is - it’s a looker. Mazda’s kodo design language injects a touch of class to what is a pretty hardy, practical everyday workhorse.
Skinned to suit the rest of the Mazda line-up, distinctive best describes how it looks. With its sharp LED headlights, family grille and all-round design finesse, it’s a pick-up truck that you needn’t be shy to be seen in if you’re in Bangsar or thereabouts.
And the best part? Since it's essentially the hardy D-Max underneath it, it won't just be a 'all show and no go' kind of truck.
Pro #3: More than decent interior
Spoiler alert, it's mostly a carbon-copy of what you get in the D-Max, but that's a pro when the cabin is a nice place to be. True to character, everything is well-designed and feels robust.
Rear air-cond vents are nice to have
Ergonomics are great, with all touchpoints being logically-placed and easy to reach. Its infotainment too is the same like the D-Max (no Mazda Connect here), but that's fine as audio quality is decent to begin with already - and there's Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Seating up front is fantastic, especially the driver's. The breadth of adjustments - electric for the driver's seat, plus the tilt and telescopic steering wheel - allows any driver to find a good seating position effortlessly.
Con #1: Loses out on segment-beating warranty
Sadly this is a big one: for what is essentially a D-Max underneath, you lose a bit in terms of relative warranty. Every variant of the D-Max gets a 5-year/150,000 km warranty, but the BT-50 falls in line with other Mazdas with a shorter, 5-year/100,000 km warranty.
Mind you, it also does not benefit from Mazda’s arguably best-in-class free maintenance/service packages like other models do too.
Con #2: Rear seats not as comfortable as Triton
Granted, it's hard for any truck to go toe-to-toe against the brilliantly-designed Triton in this aspect. Yes, though the BT-50 has brilliant front seats, the rears are...not the most comfortable place to be in.
Most of it has to do with its shape. Most trucks' rear pews are very upright (this included), and this feels unnatural to the body. The Triton does this differently, with its signature 'J-line' contour that makes the rear seats much more comfortable, almost sedan-like too.
Con #3: Lacks nifty storage solutions
Compounding issues with the rear half of the BT-50 is the lack of storage spaces. Granted there's a huge bed for all the stuff you ever want to shove, but in-cabin storage solutions can be better.
Notice the bigger space round the back of the Triton. But you do lose out on rear air-cond vents
A big one is the rear-seat storage. The problem with trucks is that there's no easily accessible space to keep small items like laptop bags: you either have a too 'open' and dirty rear deck which is also hard to reach. The Triton's hidden storage idea is a good feature that we wish made it to the BT-50 too.
Conclusion: More city slicker than jungle ranger
Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) complements the BT-50's safety array
When all's said and done the 2022 Mazda BT-50 1.9 High offers an interesting proposition for buyers getting into the 'truck life', but don't need to call upon its talents too often. Think about it as a lifestyle truck, if you will.
And there's value in that. In return, one gets a truck that's fairly comfortable, stands out from the rest, and perhaps most importantly, won't need you to pay through the nose to keep it on the roads.
With humble beginnings collecting diecast models and spending hours virtually tuning dream cars on the computer, his love of cars has delightfully transformed into a career. Sanjay enjoys how the same passion for cars transcends boundaries and brings people together.
