2023 Mazda BT-50 price and specs: More expensive, up-spec manuals axed

The Mazda BT-50 is largely unchanged for 2023, though it has shed three variants.

You can no longer get the up-spec GT, SP and Thunder with a six-speed manual transmission, though a three-pedal option remains in lesser trims.

Tyre pressure monitoring is now standard on all trim levels from the XTR and up.

Prices are up across the entire range, with increases of between $1520 and $2220.

Mazda recently revealed a new variant called the LE, which takes the mid-range XTR and adds a range of accessories. It’s available exclusively as a dual-cab ute with the larger 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine and an automatic transmission.

The company sold 12,937 BT-50s in Australia in 2022, making it the fifth best-selling ute on the market behind only the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Triton and Isuzu D-Max, though BT-50 sales were down on 2021 tallies.

Pricing

4×2

• 2023 Mazda BT-50 XS single-cab chassis 1.9 auto: $35,370 (+$1520)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 XT single-cab chassis 3.0 auto: $38,370 (+$1520)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 XS dual-cab pickup 1.9 auto: $44,310 (+$1520)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 XT Freestyle cab-chassis 3.0 auto: $41,870 (+$1520)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 XT dual-cab chassis 3.0 auto: $45,910 (+$1520)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 XT dual-cab pickup 3.0 auto: $47,310 (+$1520)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 XTR dual-cab pickup 3.0 auto: $51,390 (+$1620)

4×4

• 2023 Mazda BT-50 XT single-cab chassis 3.0 manual: $43,370 (+$1520)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 XT single-cab chassis 3.0 auto: $45,870 (+$1520)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 XT Freestyle cab-chassis 3.0 manual: $46,870 (+$1520)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 XT Freestyle cab-chassis 3.0 auto: $49,370 (+$1520)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 XT dual-cab chassis 3.0 manual: $51,180 (+$1520)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 XT dual-cab pickup 3.0 manual: $52,580 (+$1520)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 XS dual-cab pickup 1.9 auto: $52,930 (+$1520)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 XT dual-cab chassis 3.0 auto: $53,680 (+$1520)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 XT dual-cab pickup 3.0 auto: $55,080 (+$1590)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 XTR dual-cab pickup 3.0 manual: $56,630 (+$1620)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 XTR dual-cab chassis 3.0 auto: $57,730 (+$1620)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 XTR dual-cab pickup 3.0 auto: $59,130 (+$1620)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 GT dual-cab pickup 3.0 auto: $62,510 (+$2220)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 LE dual-cab pickup 3.0 auto: $64,295 (NEW)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 SP dual-cab pickup 3.0 auto: $68,510 (+$2220)
• 2023 Mazda BT-50 Thunder dual-cab pickup 3.0 auto: $73.410 (+$2220)

All prices are before on-road costs.

Drivetrains

The 2023 Mazda BT-50 XS comes with a 1.9-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine with 110kW of power and 350Nm of torque, mated with a six-speed automatic transmission.

All other BT-50 models use a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine with 140kW and 450Nm, mated with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic.

The BT-50 is available with either rear- or four-wheel drive.

Efficiency

With the 1.9-litre turbo-diesel engine, the Mazda BT-50 uses a claimed 7.0L/100km on the combined cycle.

With the 3.0-litre, the BT-50 consumes 7.7L/100km on the combined cycle in the automatic-only 4×2 dual cab ute. The same figure applies to the manual 4×4 dual cab ute.

4×2 dual cab chassis and 4×4 dual cab ute models consume 8.0L/100km when equipped with an automatic transmission.

All single-cab chassis and Freestyle cab chassis models consume 8.0L/100km.

Dimensions

The 2023 Mazda BT-50 measures 5280mm long as a dual-cab chassis, dual-cab ute or Freestyle Cab and 5320mm long as a single-cab chassis.

Height varies: all cab-chassis models are 1800mm tall, while XT dual-cab utes are 1785mm tall and all other utes are 1790mm tall.

All 2023 Mazda BT-50s are 1870mm wide.

Models with the 3.0-litre have a braked towing capacity of 3500kg and an unbraked towing capacity of 750kg. Braked towing capacity is 3000kg with the 1.9-litre.

Servicing and Warranty

The Mazda BT-50 is covered by the brand’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with roadside assistance for the same period.

Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, whichever comes first.

Service prices vary depending on the model. For example, the first five services are capped at $388, $394, $521, $469 and $313 in an XS 1.9-litre 4×2 single-cab-chassis, for a total of $2085 over five years.

In a dual-cab SP 3.0-litre 4×4 pickup, however, they’re capped at $443, $409, $699, $524 and $329, for a total of $2404 over five years. We recommend checking out the Service Pricing Guide on the Mazda website.

Safety

The Mazda BT-50 wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating with a 2022 date stamp, based on tests conducted on the related Isuzu D-Max. This rating applies to all variants bar the BT-50 Thunder.

The utes were reassessed despite having already received five-star ratings in 2020, as the D-Max and BT-50 received a design change to the driver’s knee airbag and instrument panel.

The BT-50 received scores of 86 per cent for adult occupant protection, 89 per cent for child occupant protection, 67 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 84 per cent for safety assist.

It’s worth noting the BT-50’s unique front end compared to its Isuzu twin garnered a slightly weaker pedestrian protection score (from 69 per cent).

All Mazda BT-50 models come standard with the following safety features:

• Autonomous emergency braking
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane-departure warning
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Turn assist
• Driver attention monitoring
• Front, front-side and curtain airbags
• Driver’s knee airbag
• Front-centre airbag
• Traffic sign recognition

Automatic models also feature lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control.

Standard Equipment

The XS and XT come standard with the following features:

• 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
  • Wired Android Auto
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay
  • DAB+ digital radio
• 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen
• Cloth upholstery
• Carpeted floors
• Air-conditioning
• Power windows
• Cruise control (manual models) or adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go (automatic models)
• Reversing camera
• LED headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Automatic headlights
• Automatic high-beam
• 17-inch wheels (alloy on XT)

The XTR gains:

• 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Satellite navigation
• Dual-zone climate control
• Rear air vents
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
• Auto-dimming interior mirror
• Rear seat centre armrest
• Power-folding exterior mirrors
• Keyless entry and start
• Tyre pressure monitoring (NEW)
• LED headlights with auto levelling
• LED front fog lights and daytime running lights
• Side steps
• 18-inch alloy wheels

Over the XTR, the LE gains:

• Single hooped polished alloy bull bar
• Polished sports bar with integrated brake light
• Heavy-duty tub liner

Over the XTR, the GT gains:

• Brown leather upholstery
• Eight-way power driver’s seat
• Heated front seats
• Remote engine start (automatic only)
• Front parking sensors
• Heated chrome exterior mirrors

Over the GT, the SP includes:

• Dark grey roof rails
• Black grille
• Glossy black exterior mirrors
• Gloss black door handles
• Black 18-inch alloy wheels
• Dark grey side steps
• ‘Driftwood’ leather and black synthetic suede trim
• Manually-operated black roller tonneau cover
• Tub liner
• Gloss black sail-plane sport bar
• Front bumper lower decoration trim
• Gloss black wheel flares

Over the GT, the Thunder includes:

• LED light bar
• Steel bull bar
• Fender flares
• Black sail-plane sport bar
• Power tonneau cover
• Side steps

Colours

Ice White is standard, while premium paint is an extra $695.

The full palette consists of:

• Red Volcano
• Concrete Grey
• Gun Blue
• Ingot Silver
• Rock Grey
• True Black

MORE: Everything Mazda BT-50