Category: Pick-ups 
Price Range: No data available
Quality interior, refined and punchy common-rail diesel, decent value, square-jawed looks.
Rocky ride from unsophisticated suspension, not enough innovation, no high-spec halo model.
A million miles from its no-mark predecessor, but not enough glitz or intelligence to tap into the pick-up boom.
Those who hate pick-ups wonder why anyone would spend nearly twenty grand on a commercial vehicle. Those who love them argue they've spent just twenty grand on a highly desirable 4x4.
And the 'love' crowd is growing. Makers are increasingly tailoring their double cabs to catch dissatisfied SUV owners, tired of being persecuted for driving machines so soft they hardly merit the abuse.
These days, pick-up drivers can brag of smooth common-rail diesels, standard equipment rising to the heights of sat nav and a macho pride built into each one. From sales of just 7,500 in 2000, the market has soared to an expected 38,500 in 2006, a rise of 400%.
Mazda has largely missed out on the gold rush, but hopes to redress the balance with this, the BT-50. Naming it after a telecom calling plan doesn't seem the brightest way to begin an assault on the success of the mighty Nissan Navara, but it's got a few bolt-ons to tempt the buyer.
On sale now, the BT-50 double cab costs £17,600 for the TS and £19,200 for the TS2, give or take a few quid. Claim the VAT back - as you can if your business is VAT-registered - and that drops to £15,000 and £16,400.
