Photo: Mazda
Previously based on the Ford Ranger, the new BT-50 is now twinned with the Isuzu D-Max pickup truck. Mazda of Australia has improved the breed for the 2021 model year with a flagship grade called Thunder, which is available from 65,990 kangaroo bucks ($50,430) with the stick shift.
Customers who prefer the six-speed automatic transmission will have to shell out 68,900 Aussie dollars, which convert to $52,655 at current exchange rates. Based on the GT trim with the double cabin and 4x4, the Thunder stands out from its brothers with matte-black fender flares, a single-hoop bull bar constructed from steel, and 18-inch alloy wheels painted in black.
Matte-black side steps and an LED lightbar from Lightforce also give this pickup a character of its own, along with the electrically-operated tonneau cover, tub liner, and sports bar. A challenger to the likes of the Nissan Navara N-Trek Warrior and Toyota HiLux Rugged X, the Thunder flaunts a 3.0-liter turbo diesel from Isuzu with 140 kW and 450 Nm of torque on deck.
Those numbers convert to 188 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, which is more than adequate for a mid-sized workhorse. The combined fuel economy is quoted at 7.7 liters per 100 kilometers (30.5 miles per gallon) for the manual tranny and 8.0 liters per 100 km (29.4 mpg) for the six-speed auto.
Switchable high- and low-range 4WD is also worthy of your attention, as are the locking differential for the rear axle and hill-descent control off-road cruise control. Scheduled to go on sale next month, both versions of the BT-50 Thunder are covered by a five-year and/or unlimited-kilometer warranty.
When it comes to pickup-like stuff, the newcomer is no pushover, thanks to a payload rating of 897 kilograms (1,978 pounds) for the row-your-own standard transmission. Unbraked towing capacity is 750 kilos (1,653 pounds), while braked towing is quoted at 3,500 kilograms (7,716 pounds).
Compared to the HiLux and Navara, which are prepped for off-road shenanigans at dedicated facilities in Australia, the BT-50's goodies are added by dealers to create the Thunder. Customers who are planning to go beyond this specification have more than 100 official accessories at their disposal.
Matte-black side steps and an LED lightbar from Lightforce also give this pickup a character of its own, along with the electrically-operated tonneau cover, tub liner, and sports bar. A challenger to the likes of the Nissan Navara N-Trek Warrior and Toyota HiLux Rugged X, the Thunder flaunts a 3.0-liter turbo diesel from Isuzu with 140 kW and 450 Nm of torque on deck.
Those numbers convert to 188 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, which is more than adequate for a mid-sized workhorse. The combined fuel economy is quoted at 7.7 liters per 100 kilometers (30.5 miles per gallon) for the manual tranny and 8.0 liters per 100 km (29.4 mpg) for the six-speed auto.
Switchable high- and low-range 4WD is also worthy of your attention, as are the locking differential for the rear axle and hill-descent control off-road cruise control. Scheduled to go on sale next month, both versions of the BT-50 Thunder are covered by a five-year and/or unlimited-kilometer warranty.
When it comes to pickup-like stuff, the newcomer is no pushover, thanks to a payload rating of 897 kilograms (1,978 pounds) for the row-your-own standard transmission. Unbraked towing capacity is 750 kilos (1,653 pounds), while braked towing is quoted at 3,500 kilograms (7,716 pounds).
Compared to the HiLux and Navara, which are prepped for off-road shenanigans at dedicated facilities in Australia, the BT-50's goodies are added by dealers to create the Thunder. Customers who are planning to go beyond this specification have more than 100 official accessories at their disposal.
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