2021 Mazda BT-50 Thunder review

Fitted with a locally developed steel front bar, flared wheel arches, an electric roller tonneau cover and more, perhaps the only thing it’s missing is a lift kit and all-terrain tyres.

So is Mazda’s heavily-accessorised BT-50 truly the Thunder from Down Under, or a storm in a teacup?

The 2021 Mazda BT-50 Thunder goes on sale from April priced from $65,990 before on-road costs for the manual and $68,990 before ORCs for the auto – both six-speeders with a 4x4 driveline, and both dual-cab utes.

Mazda is also offering introductory drive-away pricing at the same amounts, delivering a saving of $4000 to $5000 depending on the state or territory in which it is bought.

Compared with the Mazda BT-50 GT upon which this new flagship model is based, the Thunder truck is about $9000 more expensive. However, Mazda Australia claims $13,000 worth of extras is included.

Although similarly priced to the Ford Ranger FX4 MAX (from $65,940), Toyota HiLux Rugged X (from $69,990) and pre-facelift Nissan Navara N-TREK Warrior (from $63,490), I wouldn’t go so far as to calling it a genuine tough truck, as it doesn’t have any chassis mods or new tyres.

But it does deliver plenty of extra eye candy via the fitment of several significant accessories, chief among them a robust steel front bar with a dual-row LED light bar from offroad lighting specialists Lightforce.

The new steel front bar was developed in-house by Mazda’s Aussie engineering crew in Melbourne and transforms the look of the ute. It also makes it 190mm longer, taking overall vehicle length to 5470mm.

The front-end armour also reduces the ute's approach angle from 30.4° to 25.8°, while the removal of bodywork around the wheels improves the ‘practical’ approach angle, according to Mazda's engineers. After testing it on rough terrain I have to agree.

The steel bar also features integrated fog lights and indicators and, because it’s not a hoop bar, the details of the BT-50’s front-end are not obscured, similar in effect to the snout on the Toyota HiLux Rugged X.

Similar to that vehicle, the Thunder also features an underslung bash plate with BT-50 lettering, but it misses out on the snorkel and recovery hooks of the similarly-priced X-rated Toyota.

Other accessories fitted to the 2021 Mazda BT-50 Thunder include pumped-up wheels-arches, rock sliders (aka side steps), new-look six-spoke black 18-inch alloys, a ‘premium’ rear sports bar with integrated LED brake light, Thunder stickers on its rear flanks, and a push-button electric roller tonneau cover from ERG.

The latter offers extra security but limits what you load into the tray. The electric motors and roller cover also take up a bit of space at the back of the tray.

The metal roller cover is custom-fitted to the Mazda BT-50, as is the tub liner. There’s also a switchable LED light fitted to the inside right of the tray.

Unlike some of its rivals, the Mazda BT-50 Thunder gets no interior trim upgrades. How about some embroidered thunderbolts on the seats? An opportunity missed perhaps, but it’s still one of the most upmarket cabins you’ll find in this segment, with high-quality leather upholstery on the power-operated and heated front seats.

Check out our BT-50 GT review for all the details on the unchanged cabin.

Similar to all Mazda vehicles, the BT-50 Thunder is backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years of roadside assistance. Service intervals are 15,000km or 12 months, whichever comes first, and a capped-price service program (Mazda Service Select) costs $2288 over five years.

While safety is technically not altered by the fitment of the new front bar on the 2021 Mazda BT-50 Thunder, with airbag functionality unaltered, it should provide improved protection against wildlife and delivers more confidence when off-roading.

Even the side steps were designed to avoid interfering with the side airbag deployment sensors and the tub liner was made with custom tooling to imprint to BT-50 spec.

The new power-operated tonneau cover and dual-row LED front light bar are the only real tech additions to the Thunder, and both are push-button operated.

The light bar is activated via a button on the dash and illuminates when the high beams are toggled, while the powered tonneau roller cover features a pair of buttons near the tailgate and works when the ute is unlocked.

Inside the cabin, the Mazda BT-50 Thunder features wireless Apple CarPlay and cabled Android Auto, which make use of the vehicle’s large 9.0-inch central touch-screen.

There’s dual-zone climate control and a variety of other useful features, including adaptive cruise control, which are detailed in other reviews.

Isuzu's standard 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine is also under the power-domed bonnet of the 2021 Mazda BT-50 Thunder, as it applies across the rest of the BT range.

It’s an easy-going powerplant with plenty of low-end thrust, the 4JJ3-TCX four-cylinder oiler pumping out 140kW of power at 3600rpm and 450Nm of torque between 1400rpm and 3000rpm.

On-road it’s relatively unobtrusive and ticks over at low revs, allowing for decent fuel economy over longer distances, while there’s enough shunt there – especially in low-range 4x4 – to clamber up some pretty steep and challenging off-road trails.

When hooked up to the six-speed auto on test here, the official fuel use figure for the Euro 5 emissions-compliant engine is 8.0L/100km, although we saw figures just above 10.0L/100km after four days in the saddle.

This included a mix of off-road, urban and highway driving. The Aisin-sourced six-speed auto proved to be a good cog-swapper in a wide variety of situations.

Towing capacity is unchanged at 3500kg with a braked trailer, and the BT-50 is claimed to have an 800mm wading depth.

Just like its GT donor model, the 2021 Mazda BT-50 Thunder is a more refined and salubrious vehicle to drive than the equivalent Isuzu D-MAX.

And while its on-road manners are good, one area where the Thunder could have zigged rather than zagged -- improving its off-road capability.

Sure, it’s got excellent 240mm ground clearance, a locking rear diff along with high- and low-range four-wheel-drive settings, hill start assist and hill descent control. And it can rumble off-road with confidence.

But a mild lift kit or chunky mud-plugging all-terrain tyres that would more aptly fill out the extended wheel arches would be welcome additions.

The carryover Bridgestone Dueler H/T tyres have a road bias and are easily clogged with clay and mud when exploring off-road.

It’s likely Mazda didn’t go down this path because new suspension and tyres would have incurred significant cost via renewed Australian Design Rules (ADR) compliance, increasing the sticker price.

Anyway, owners who will want to increase the off-road ability of their BT want to fit their preferred brand of tyres and suspension.

The new-generation Mazda BT-50 is a convincing piece of kit but was missing a key ingredient – a hero model.

The 2021 Mazda BT-50 Thunder is designed to take pride of place in dealerships and attract the eye of ute buyers who want something that not only stands out but does more.

And while it makes some significant improvements in terms of equipment levels and certainly looks tougher, those seeking genuine bush-bashing improvements would be wise to test drive the Ford Ranger FX4 MAX first and perhaps the Toyota HiLux Rugged X as well.

The Mazda BT-50 Thunder represents strong value if you can snap one of these up at the promotional drive-away price, but with competition in the dual-cab ute segment hotter than ever – and still heating up – I feel this ute needs a bit more aggro.

Watch this space.

How much does the 2021 Mazda BT-50 Thunder automatic cost?
Price: $68,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: April 2021
Engine: 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 140kW/450Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.0L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 207g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2020)

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