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.
When the rear suspension isn't softening much, the seats are the last line of defence for the spine. Thankfully, Mazda realises that. The driver seat is decently cushioned and well braced - it just lacks height adjustment and adequate lower-back back support.
Behind, the high floor means the rear passengers won't get enough thigh support unless they're 5ft or under, but there's loads of headroom and okay legroom for two. The old pick-up problem of ramrod rear seat backs has been relaxed here, but you still snag your foot on the B-pillar on the way out.
The equipment levels are OK, if not stunning. In the top-spec TS2, there's air con and a six-CD in-dash multichanger, plus remote central locking (with jacknife key). The windows and mirrors are electric, and there are plenty of cubbyholes. They include a potentially innovative slide-out tray above the glovebox that's touted as a laptop table-cum-paperwork drawer. In fact, it's next to useless. It doesn't slide out nearly far enough and won't fit A4 documents.
What Mazda really needs to capture disaffected SUV owners is a higher-spec model. Until that time they're not going to be seduced into switching over to a BT-50 contract.
