Mazda just dropped a teaser for the facelifted BT-50 in Australia, hyping up its October 18 debut. The midsize truck is gearing up for a round of styling and tech upgrades, apparently to keep up with the the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, and Mitsubishi Triton. The current-gen BT-50 hit the scene in 2020 and got a sprinkle of updates for 2024, but 2025 is set to bring a more serious overhaul. Mazda’s calling it a “comprehensive redesign inside-out,” so expect more than just a subtle makeover. The teaser zooms in on the front, showing off sharper LED headlights that echo the Mazda CX-5’s look. There’s also a redesigned grille and what looks like the biggest Mazda badge to ever make it onto a production vehicle.
Alongside the new exterior, the BT-50 is
expected to get some functional upgrades, including a revamped interface,
improved safety features, and more tech. Given the BT-50 is basically a
re-skinned Isuzu D-Max, we’ve got a
pretty good idea of what’s coming. It’s very likely the BT-50 will inherit the
D-Max’s 7-inch digital instrument cluster, updated switchgear below the 9-inch
infotainment, extra USB-C ports, remote engine start, and a few additional
driver assists. The truck could also gain Isuzu’s Rough Terrain Mode setting,
which improves traction in more challenging off-road conditions.
Under the hood, we expect carry-over
powertrain options. The outgoing BT-50 is available with a 1.9-liter
turbodiesel producing 148 hp, or a beefier 3.0-liter
turbodiesel with 187 hp. The engine are mated to a six-speed
manual or six-speed automatic transmission, sending power to the rear or all
four wheels depending on the version. The BT-50 is Mazda’s second-best-selling
model in Australia, right behind the CX-5. However, it’s been pulled from New
Zealand and South Africa after struggling to gain traction. Production for the
BT-50 is handled in Thailand, alongside the Isuzu D-Max.
