Mazda’s new ute outsmarts efficiency laws
While most car brands are scrambling to meet new efficiency laws, Mazda has pulled a surprise move.
The Australian car industry has been scrambling for the past few months, desperately trying to wrap its head around the Federal Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES).
The industry reform design to cut emission was both long overdue but also arrived in too much of a hurry for many brands, which have been forced to make major changes to either what they offer in showrooms or how much they charge.
Some brands have simply passed on the cost of the upcoming government fines for not meeting emissions standards, leaving it with the consumer to deal with. While others have been busy making plans to try and help cut emissions and avoid the fines altogether.
One area where this will be particularly tricky is the ute market, Australia’s favourite type of vehicles. While the government cut these light commercial vehicles some slack, it has still forced many brands to take a long, hard look at what they’re offering and try to find something better.
Which brings us to the 2026 Mazda BT-50 2.2-litre. This is the Japanese brand’s somewhat unorthodox approach to dealing with the need to cut emissions.
You might expect the obvious solution to less fuel economy and therefore less emissions to be a smaller engine - but you’d be wrong. At least when it comes to a big ute like the BT-50. Instead, the new 2.2L engine actually replaces a small 1.9-litre version of the same four-cylinder turbo diesel unit.
This new, bigger engine has more power and more torque (pulling power) and because it doesn’t have to work quite as hard it means it actually uses less fuel. At its best the 1.9L used 7.0-litres per 100km, whereas this new, bigger engine cuts that figure to just 6.3L/100km.
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The new 2.2L makes 120kW of power and 400Nm of torque, which is a 10kW/50Nm bump over the old 1.9L. Further aiding its cause to be more efficient, Mazda has swapped a six-speed automatic transmission for an eight-speed gearbox. While Mazda will continue to offer the more potent 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine, it’s clear that it’s hoping to attract more buyers to this 2.2L as the more people who choose it over the bigger engines keeps its overall emissions down.
That’s why Mazda has expanded the range, whereas the old 1.9L was only available in a workhorse 4x2 Cab Chassis variant, the type typically bought by fleet operators for work sites and mines, the new 2.2L is available with 4x4 and more body styles. There’s a new Dual Cab pickup, which potentially expands its attraction to private buyers who prefer the built-in tray.
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Not that Mazda is planning to avoid fleet buyers, the opposite in fact. Timed to arrive at with the new BT-50 variant is a new ‘Complete Fleet’ offer from the brand, which will aim to provide benefits and bonuses to fleets of all sizes to try and drive more sales and better compete against the likes of the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux.
Driving the new 2.2L it’s a clear and obvious step up from the old 1.9L, which could struggle at times in what is a big vehicle.
The combination of more power, torque and the new transmission means it feels more competent and better suited to the needs of a modern ute.
As for the expanded range, Mazda made it clear it is looking to expand that reach with examples of the BT-50 finished in both “mine spec” and “fire brigade” for the local launch event, but also examples of the new Dual Cab pickups to drive. These more family-friendly offerings will give Mazda more chances to cash-in on the increasing number of ute buyers that want one for image rather than any business purposes (regardless of what they tell the tax department).
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