Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 72%

Mazda might be better known for its sporty ethos, but it's had a long history of producing commercial vehicles. The BT-50 is the replacement for the B-Series – which sold more than 3 million worldwide – and promises more of Mazda's trademark Zoom-Zoom.

We took to the road to find out.

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor |Rivals

1. Looks

Commercial vehicles are rarely bought on looks alone, but the range-topping TS2 we tested has all manner of shiny bits, including body coloured bumpers, chromed side steps, wing mirrors and grille and a set of 16-inch alloys. The grey wheel arch extensions looked good alongside the silver paintwork, and big '4x4' decals at the rear add to the look.

7/10

2. Looks inside

The cabin is vastly improved over the old B-Series, but it still gives away the BT-50's purpose as a commercial vehicle. The emphasis is on toughness rather than looks with acres of grey plastic with grey carpets and grey and black upholstery. The centre console houses an MP3-compatible CD/radio, but a strange blanking plate underneath looks entirely out of place. Every part of the interior looks like it's built to last though, with a refreshingly mechanical-feeling lever to select the low-range gear ratios.

6/10

3. Practicality

Choosing a pickup depends entirely on your needs. If you rely on a big load space, the two-seat Regular Cab is the one to go for. But if you want practicality in the cabin, the four-door/five-seat Double Cab is the one – but it lops off a huge 75cm from the load bed. We filled our Double Cab BT-50 up on a journey to the tip, and it swallowed plenty of garden rubbish, with lots of room to spare. A plastic load liner is an option, and worth considering if rust-inducing scratches are to be avoided.

There's bags of room in the front seats, with plenty of storage spaces. The rear is better suited to smaller adults with a high floor, meaning it's difficult to sit upright. Getting out can be tricky too, as the square doors don't allow much room for the occupants to swing their legs around.

8/10

4. Ride and Handling

The BT-50 rides and handles far better than its B-Series predecessor, but it's still a long way off modern car-like SUVs. That's because it’s a commercial vehicle which needs to haul loads heavier than the family and a couple of suitcases. It has leaf-spring rear suspension, which is perfect for carrying its 1.2 tonne capacity, but compromises its ride and handling prowess. Fortunately, the springy seats help to soak up the worst of the bumps. The BT-50's steering is vague, although this is common with pick-ups as they are designed to spend time off-road – adding 'play' to the steering avoids the wheel jolting and catching the driver's fingers. Naturally, the BT-50 has the option of driving in its default two-wheel drive, high ratio state, or shifting to four-wheel drive on the move. When stationary, the low ratio four wheel drive mode can be selected, preparing the Mazda for tackling off-road terrain.

6/10

5. Performance

For a big truck, the BT-50 has excellent performance. It's got a 141bhp, 2.5-litre diesel under the bonnet, which produces a healthy 243lb/ft of pulling power. This, combined with a short first gear for getting heavy loads moving means it can tow a three tonne braked trailer, which is very impressive. Unladen, it is capable of hitting the 62mph marker from standstill in 11.1 seconds in two-wheel drive, or 12.5 seconds in when all wheels are powered. Top speed is 102mph or 95mph respectively.

8/10

6. Running Costs

You'd think driving a 1.8 tonne truck would cost a packet, but the BT-50 manages and impressive 33mpg average in two-wheel drive, dropping to 31.7mpg in four-wheel drive. Service intervals are every 12,500 miles. Even insurance is moderately low at groups 9 to 11. Depreciation is surprisingly low too, with huge demand for pickups from builders and other trademen.

8/10

7. Reliability

Mazda consistently performs well in tables of the most reliable cars, and the BT-50 looks like it will carry on the trend. The engine is said to be good for at least 180,000 miles, and the rest of the mechanicals look and feel equally robust.

8/10

8. Safety

It’s a commercial vehicle, so hasn't been tested by EuroNCAP, although a cut-away view of the chassis supplied by Mazda reveals a couple of dirty great metal beams which run the length of the car. They should be comforting to anyone in the car. Driver and passenger airbags are standard across the range, although mid-to-high spec BT-50s have front side 'bags too. All models have a steering column which collapses in the event of a collision. Its other features, such as height-adjustable seatbelts and anti-trapping electric windows are standard fare on most vehicles. Although an alarm and immobiliser are standard, the tailgate doesn't lock, rendering a locking cargo cover useless.

7/10

9. Equipment

Modern pick-ups are nothing like they used to be, and the range-topping TS2 model has a decent complement of standard equipment. All models have a clever pull-out tray above the glovebox and plenty of storage equipment. The TS2 adds air conditioning, a six CD autochanger in the dash, front and rear electric windows and mirrors. There's also a set of alloy wheels and a collection of chrome bits on the bodywork. Sadly equipment levels fall short of the current pick-up darlings of the Mitsubishi L200 and Nissan Navara.

7/10

10. X-Factor

Mazda sells more pick-ups in the UK than any virtually every other European country – and it's set to continue with the BT-50. It might not be the first choice for fans of 'lifestyle' orientated pick-up trucks, but its no-nonsense Tonka toy looks and strong performance is likely to appeal.

7/10

Rivals

You might also want to consider:

Mitsubishi L200
Isuzu Rodeo
Nissan Navara

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