We are getting another big pickup, the 2023 Mazda BT-50 Pickup Truck. There was news that Mazda made a deal with Ford about producing some pickups. That went south. Unfortunately, because Ford has an amazing pedigree and is a proven truckmaker. Now Mazda has to search for another partner for the production of their announced pickup. And it sounds like they found it. The Japanese company unveiled that they will partner up with Isuzu.
This is once again a great thing since Isuzu makes a very popular pickup. Not as many as Ford, but still they are a great manufacturer and we are sure this symbiosis will turn out great. Mazda is not well known however for producing trucks. So this turns out to be Schrodinger’s cat kind of situation. We assume it is going to be good until it isn’t. It would be easy to imagine the whole truck by Mazda. They are known for great and contemporary style. Also, the exterior looks sporty as usual. Powertrains are reliable and well picked among a heap of engines. Electrical or not, this truck sounds like a head turner. Let us read in more detail what this truck will look like.
Interior and Exterior Styling
On the inside we can see obvious borrowed styles from other Mazda cars. This is of course done often by all manufacturers. Why not borrow something you already made and people loved. The seating is a bit more cushioned than usual, this is improved by decent lumbar support. Heated and ventilated seats are present. However, the massage feature isn’t. This can come in handy during off-roading and driving in the harshest environments. We aren’t expecting a first-class cabin from Mazda. But still, it is as stylish as possible.
There is leather and fabric for material choice. Also, we can find some chrome on the instrument panel, this adds to the luxury feel. There is a 13-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. The steering wheel is lined with leather and has a lot of buttons. This adds to the safety since all the attention is focused on the road ahead. The dashboard is digital as well which simply allows for better tracking of needed information.
On the outside, the pickup looks aggressive and ready to take on some wild roads. The 2023 Mazda BT-50 Pickup Truck is built to last and to go wild. There is a stunning Kodo design language present on the Mazda truck. Wheels are lightweight alloy, 19 inches in size. It remains to be seen if there are larger wheels and if they come with off-road ready tires. The cargo bed is standard at 5.5 feet length. Front fascia is a classic Mazda. With big mesh and air intakes from left to right. Headlights are linear and use the latest LED technology. Ride height is above 7 inches and we get brand new air suspension.
2023 Mazda BT-50 Pickup Truck Engine and Specs
This is where we expect Mazda to shine the most. The new 2023 Mazda BT-50 Pickup Truck might differ powertrain-wise. This will depend on the country you are driving in. As of now, the Mazda pickup uses good old diesel engines that are sourced from Isuzu. We have the weaker 1.9-liter diesel powered engine. It produces a meager 150 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This is enough to move the Mazda pickup truck around even in harsh environments.
Also, the extra torque helps scale tall obstacles. The other option for the engine is a 3.0-liter turbo diesel. This has 190 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. This version of course seems more appealing. Especially to those who are interested in a bit of off-roading. The second engine mentioned is the best choice for the North American market. Despite it being a diesel and the prices for diesel being sky high. It has great fuel economy and can tow up to 7700 pounds. Which is commendable for a mid-size pickup.
Other Configurations
There is surely a gasoline version to be announced. We can assume that this powertrain will be one by Mazda. The obvious suspect is the 2.5-liter turbo four engine. It can produce 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque. When compared, this engine proves as useful and reliable as the diesel one. We expect Aisin transmission for diesel ones, while the gasoline ones will use Mazda’s automatic transmission. There aren’t any hybrid or electrical versions announced and we are saddened to hear that.
We all know about the benefits of the hybrid powertrain. Better horsepower and improved fuel economy. This is an amazing selling point as gas prices are becoming greater each day. A fully electric Mazda truck is possible, it depends how much the company wants to invest in it. It could be based on Ultium technology. With a 150kWh battery pack, this puts the range above 300 miles. With fast charging and peer-to-peer charging, this is an amazing package.
The fuel economy of the Mazda pickup truck is decent, with a diesel engine it gets 24 mpg in the city, 40 on the highway and 35 combined. The gas version is similar in that regard. It gets 23 mpg in the city, 38 on the highway and 33 combined mpg.
2023 Mazda BT-50 Pickup Truck Release Date
Expect to see the new 2023 Mazda BT-50 Pickup Truck on the road later this year or early 2023. This can be pushed back due to supply chain issues. But we have our fingers crossed. Starting price is estimated at around $38000 but this is an estimate and not an official announcement. So keep an ear out, we will have more information as soon as Mazda decides to unveil more.