The last time I got behind the wheel of Mazda's new BT-50 ute, I headed out to the forest for a bit of rough and tumble - after all, they do plant five trees for every vehicle sold.
However, since rugged utes are increasingly being used as family wagons, Mazda has handed the BT-50 over to their arts and crafts department to create a new upmarket Takami edition. I decided to take it uptown to see how it fared.
For Mazda, Takami is the moniker they assign to the editions that sit at the top of their respective model trees, certainly with respect to options, fitting and refinement; but the name seems even more fitting when added to the 1.8m tall BT-50 since translated, Takami literally means 'height' or 'elevated place'.
To avoid any confusion, nothing has been done to the BT-50's performance or handling. For the Takami edition, this is all cosmetic, but don't think that makes it any less special, as the list of additional upgrades, both superficial and practical, is well and truly noteworthy.
The ute's signature Mazda family grille has been blacked out, making it less blingy and more subtle. Less subtle are the extended black wheel arch flares that envelope the 18-inch alloys that come in a gloss black. The mirror caps and door handles are, you guessed it, black, however the side steps and roof rails are in a shade of gunmetal grey and silver, while separating the cabin from the tray is a BT-50 embossed sports hoop bar.
The rear itself hasn't been fettled with much; it still comes with LED lights, chrome badging and a black handle for the rather heavy tailgate, but this upmarket model does come with a retractable and lockable roller lid for the deck, allowing you to store stuff in the rear away from prying eyes (or fingers).
As anticipated, more of the Takami improvements are found inside, with the cabin boasting leather furniture that really brightens the environment - khaki with black suede. The front seats are well-bolstered and heated and the driver's seat has the added benefit of eight-way electric adjustment.
The brighter trim extends to the dash, console and door cards, making the landscape that much more improved, and from there on in, all boxes are ticked in terms of its nine-inch infotainment screen, eight-speaker stereo and the myriad of driver and safety aids such as hill launch, attention and blindspot assist, plus adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and emergency lane keeping. I could go on!
As I said before, the powertrain and handling in the Takami BT-50 hasn't changed, so there's still plenty of grunt available from the 3L turbo engine (140kW/450Nm), but it's also just as diesel 'rattly' when cold. I feel like city-living owners or neighbours would prefer a little more sound-deadening for those early morning starts - especially since I used the remote start feature a lot.
The suspension itself is still grand and comfortable whatever the surface, ideal for those times when you have to mount kerbs. Even in the narrower city car parks, the steering feels light enough to manoeuvre this big ute around, especially with the aid of camera views and sensors.
Having such a tall riding position makes sightseeing around the city a breeze and looking for elusive street parks a fraction simpler. Whether alone or with the family, the cabin space and upmarket feel added an extra sense of achievement and maybe even a hint of smugness when pulling up beside 'lesser' utes.
The Takami edition elevates the BT-50 into another, more premium space, where it's just as comfortable pulling up to a luxury hotel as it is doing the school run or being out in the wild (some would say that the latter two are the same). It's a poshed-up ride that justifiably sits at the top of the model range and as such, will have many ute 'wannabes' feeling very covetous.
Why you should: It's a next level BT-50 that offers Mazda's top end car-like interior combined with some second-look exterior treats.
Why you shouldn't: It's not as quiet as an SUV and is starting to get up there in price.
What else to consider: When it comes to utes, it's hard to go past the Ford Ranger and in this case, the Wildtrak. Other than that, you may need to take the top of the line HiLux, D-Max, Triton or Navara and add your signature mods.
Tarmac Life
