Pickup trucks tend to look rugged and unapologetically utilitarian. Most buyers either need them for work or appreciate that tough, no-nonsense aesthetic. Rarely do you see one doubling as both a weekday workhorse and a weekend family car. But with the facelifted Mazda BT-50, those lines start to blur.
Let’s get straight to the biggest talking point — its looks. The front fascia is unmistakably Mazda, featuring the brand’s signature grille shaped by its “Kodo” design philosophy. Paired with its L-shaped LED daytime running light signature, it certainly feels like the front end of the facelifted Mazda CX-5 has been transplanted onto a pickup. It looks almost nothing like the Isuzu D-Max it’s based on.
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Down the sides, the Mazda BT-50 rides on dual-tone 18-inch twin five-spoke wheels as standard. The design blends the classic five-spoke look often seen on older pickup trucks with a more modern touch. Framing them are a set of wheel arch extensions, part of a complementary accessories package that also adds a rolling shutter for the cargo bed.
Completing the look are side steps finished in a brushed metallic effect which, at certain angles, subtly reflect the body colour — almost as if they were body-coloured trim pieces. Speaking of which, the car is offered with five exterior colour options: Concrete Grey Mica, Vermillion Latosol Mica, True Black Mica, Geode White Pearl, and Sailing Blue Mica.
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Cruising around town, for some reason, I couldn’t help but notice a boost in confidence. Whether it was the heightened driving position, the classy design, or a combination of both, the BT-50 simply felt good to drive. There’s just something satisfying about piloting a vehicle that looks this polished while still being genuinely capable — even if you’re not using it to its full potential.
Inside, the Mazda BT-50 remains largely similar to the Isuzu D-Max it’s based on, albeit with a few cosmetic tweaks. The cabin leans toward a cleaner, more straightforward layout, featuring squared air-conditioning vents and a flatter dashboard design. The honeycomb textures as seen in the D-Max have been removed, giving the interior a slightly more understated look. Even the glovebox lid has been reworked, now incorporating six recessed quadrilaterals for a more rugged character.
Beyond those tweaks, the rest of the cabin remains largely identical to the Isuzu D-Max. That means you still get the classic Japanese layout — plenty of physical buttons and knobs laid out logically. It may not be the most futuristic interior out there, but when it comes to usability, it’s hard to fault.
In terms of tech, the BT-50 carries over a seven-inch TFT-LCD colour display within the instrument cluster, paired with a nine-inch central infotainment touchscreen that supports voice control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The seats are unchanged, but this variant comes standard with an eight-speaker roof-mounted sound system, adding a surprisingly decent audio experience.
The best part about the interior, however, is the addition of the streaming rear-view mirror. With the press of a button, it switches the rear-view mirror with the reversing camera. This comes especially handy if you have long or tall items stored on the bed, allowing for a clear and unobstructed view of the back.
READ MORE: 2025 Mazda BT-50 facelift launched in Malaysia – 1 variant, 3.0L turbodiesel, from RM140k
Powering the Mazda BT-50 is a 3.0-litre inline-four turbodiesel engine sourced from the Isuzu D-Max for 190 hp and 450 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the four-wheel-drive (4WD) system via a six-speed automatic transmission, allowing for a maximum speed of 180 km/h.
While we didn’t take it on any serious off-road trails, the BT-50 had no trouble crawling up my condo’s steep basement ramp — even with a full cabin and a rear bed loaded with instruments and amplifiers.
The Mazda BT-50 comes in a single variant — the 3.0 6AT High Plus — priced at RM140,418 on the road, without insurance. That price includes Mazda’s comprehensive five-year/100,000 km warranty and the accessories package mentioned earlier. Unlike the complex line-ups of Isuzu and Toyota, where you might face up to nine variants, the BT-50 keeps things refreshingly straightforward.
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