Mazda has revealed the facelifted version of its third-generation BT-50 truck, improving the look and luxury, and also adding some useful safety equipment. For 2025 the mid-size pickup gets a visual makeover that adds a touch of Mazda’s Kodo soul of motion design language and brings the design a little closer to the brand’s cars and SUVs. The exterior refresh is most noticeable at the front, where LED headlights are framed by a new grille as well as a redesigned bumper that Mazda claims has an ‘air curtain’ to improve fuel consumption. At the rear, the tailgate gets a ridged design and is joined by revised LED lights. Both the front and rear now feature the largest Mazda logos we’ve ever seen, just in case you in case you somehow forget that this isn’t just an Isuzu D-Max trying its hardest to look like a Mazda. Mazda has also introduced three new paint colors to keep things fresh: Red Earth Metallic, Geode White Pearl, and Sailing Blue Metallic, bringing the total available palette to seven. The Red Earth Metallic is exclusive to the BT-50, while the new alloy wheel designs complete the exterior updates.
Moving to the interior, the BT-50 now
boasts a new 9-inch infotainment system that gives the cabin a more modern
look, complete with physical volume and tuning dials—an increasingly rare but
always appreciated feature. The instrument cluster screen (Multi-Information
Display) has grown from 4.2 inches to 7.0-inches and now provides real-time
vehicle data, including tire pressures, steering angles, drive modes, and diff
lock status. Furthermore, Android Auto now activates wirelessly, something
previously limited to Apple CarPlay. And if you’d rather plug and play you can
now do it via usb-c sockets. Mazda’s design team has also paid attention to the
finer details, updating the materials used on the door trims, console lid and
dashboard, and switched from brown to black leather on some trims. Flagship
models take it a step further with optional black and terracotta Maztex leather
seat trims with synthetic suede, featuring the BT-50 name stitched into the
front headrests.
The current BT-50 is based on the Isuzu
D-Max and was launched in 2020, when safety tech was less advanced than it is
now, so Mazda has used the facelift as an opportunity to redress the balance
and introduced advances already on the latest Isuzu. Rear Cross Traffic Brake,
adaptive cruise and traffic sign recognition join the list of standard
equipment and new stereo cameras at the front double the truck’s field of view.
The auto emergency brake system can now detect motorcycles and pedestrians at
intersections and the lane-keeping tech no longer needs to see line marking to
tell where the edge of the road is. In Australia, Mazda is rolling out a range
of new Genuine Accessories, developed specifically for the local market in
partnership with “trusted suppliers”. While Mazda is keeping quiet about the
details for now, expect these add-ons to cater to the BT-50’s adventurous,
workhorse nature.
Under the hood, the 2025 BT-50 continues
with the same powertrain options as its predecessor. Buyers can choose between
the 1.9-liter turbodiesel engine producing 148 hp, or a more
muscular 3.0-liter version making 187 hp. Both engines are
available with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission,
driving power to the rear or all four wheels, depending on the model.
As for when you’ll be able to get your
hands on one, that will depend on the market. The 2025 BT-50 is expected to
arrive in Australia in the first quarter of 2025, with pricing and final
specifications to be revealed closer to the launch date.
