Recognising that double cab 4×4 automatic utes account for three in five sales in the one-tonne pickup segment, Mazda New Zealand is pitching the all-new BT-50 at both business and lifestyle buyers.
Thanks to an injection of Kodo design, the new BT-50 wears the same friendly face as the CX SUV family, and it now offers passenger and lifestyle values in addition to commercial values which the model has espoused since the B1500 ute which launched in 1951.
Mazda New Zealand says 96% of sales of the previous model BT-50 were double cab, 4% were Freestyle cab and 2% were single cab, hence the new model will solely be offered in double cab format and solely with an automatic transmission.
Three grades of the new BT-50 double cab will be available, being GSX, GTX, and Limited in a 4×2 or 4×4 drivetrain and all will come with a six-speed automatic transmission.
Pricing for the new BT-50 ranges from $47,490 to $60,990, and there is a $7000 walk up from 4×2 to 4×4.
The Mazda BT-50 features the same 3-litre four-cylinder engine and active and passive safety technology as its technology sibling, the Isuzu D-Max, but the two are differentiated in the New Zealand market by styling and specification as well as recommended retail prices.
Mazda New Zealand product and sales planning manager Tim Nalden says the launch of the BT-50 has been a two-year gestation which culminated in 237 staff members from Mazda dealerships across the country gathering at Hampton Downs to put the vehicles through their paces.
Nalden says that 4×4 utes account for 74% of new vehicle sales in the segment with 4×2 taking the remaining 26% and the level of customisation with accessories in the segment far exceeds any other.
Hence, Mazda New Zealand dealers will offer a full range of nudge bars, bull bars, canopies, roof rails, cycle carriers and the like which have been designed to integrate with the vehicle and its five-star ANCAP rated safety systems.
New BT-50 customers will receive a comprehensive Mazdacare programme with their freshly purchased vehicle. It has a 5 Years/150,000 km factory warranty with a $250 (inc. GST) fixed price servicing for 5 Years/150,000 km and free roadside assistance for 5 Years/Unlimited km.
Mazda New Zealand managing director David Hodge says the new BT-50 will appeal to a wider audience than the previous model and he says the company is focused on building the brand in New Zealand. He is not focused on sales volume and says there will not be any discounting, but rather he wants to see organic growth across both the business and private buyer markets.
2020 Mazda BT-50 recommended retail pricing
| Model Description | RRP* |
| 2WD Double Cab | |
| BT-50 Double Cab 2WD GSX Wellside 6-Speed Automatic | $47,490 |
| BT-50 Double Cab 2WD GTX Wellside 6-Speed Automatic | $51,490 |
| BT-50 Double Cab 2WD Limited Wellside 6-Speed Automatic | $53,990 |
| 4WD Double Cab | |
| BT-50 Double Cab 4WD GSX Wellside 6-Speed Automatic | $54,490 |
| BT-50 Double Cab 4WD GTX Wellside 6-Speed Automatic | $58,490 |
| BT-50 Double Cab 4WD Limited Wellside 6-Speed Automatic | $60,990 |
*Recommended retail pricing inclusive of GST, excluding on-road costs.
