Mazda BT-50 test drive since 2006-
A backpack on wheels
So what is the Mazda BT-50 pickup? A modest unpretentious assistant summer resident or a full -fledged all -resistant car with the capabilities of a comfortable city sedan and the functionality of a lightweight one and a half? The marathon on Russian roads with a length of 3,500 km in less than a week gave comprehensive answers to all questions. Oh, and he is healthy, this strange Japanese according to our concepts! You have not yet been sitting in the salon, you begin to represent the tightness of urban traffic jams and all the charms of maneuvering with the help of lateral mirrors: the intra-saline due to Kung’s cargo platform turns only into an element of the interior. Well, of course, fuel costs. However, the first impression is often deceptive, and, being driving, quickly get rid of far -fetched fears.
Mazda took into account the Russian mentality and brought to our BT-50 market in the Dubble Cab configuration. That is, the owner of such a car receives a full -fledged five -seater version with four doors and a dining in the form of a cargo platform from behind. In nature, there are double versions of this car, as well as five -seater two -door models, but they are more popular on the American and Australian continents. To date, the option is all in one for us the best. Anyone who has experience in a SUV will immediately be at ease. Spacious both in front and behind, a high landing and, accordingly, a wonderful frontal review, and, of course, the comfort of such cars. Not the slightest hint that in an open or covered optional top of 1.51.5 m, a ton of cargo can be located. All the same air conditioning and high -class receiver with CD/MP3, the same electric package, the same controls and, most importantly, the quality of the materials. And the front chairs with full side support are not inferior in convenience traditional for Mazda to the seats. The only minus is the absence of their height adjustment and lumbar backup. This is what made the only stop during the first continuous 12-hour run and
mark the back. Another option to adjust the steering wheel would not hurt. With sufficiently large pedal moves and their high initial installation to a lifting person is not always comfortable. But passengers in the spacious rear row do not experience any inconvenience, except perhaps excessive shaking, but these are the costs of a powerful spring-shock-controlled suspension. To the overwhelming external mirrors managed to get used to quickly. Thanks to their size and shape, they allow you to look as if for the body. True, fans of clinging closely only at night around the light of headlights, and therefore the rear view camera would not have prevented. But the concept of pickupu implies the presence of an experienced driver behind the wheel.
A new generation diesel engine with a volume of 2.5 liters and a capacity of 143 hp. With a torque of 330 Nm, a wonderful power unit, and that's why. The maximum of the moment is already gained from 1600 revolutions, almost from the moment of the start, and remains unchanged to the limit of 4,500 rpm. Such characteristics are provided by the Common Rail injection system and used in the construction of turbocharges. In practice, this means a quick and confident start, as well as thanks to a five -speed manual transmission, excellent dynamics in the entire speed range. One of the most dangerous maneuvers overtakes the BT-50 performs with the agility of a high-speed sedan, and does it confidently at almost any speed. It is most comfortable in the range of 110-
120 km/h, but, as it turned out, on a good road, it gains 150 km/h without problems, leaving a reserve under the accelerator. At the same time, the noise level is not at all diesel. The BT-50 slows down quite efficiently and predictably, but with a sharp press on the brake pedal for a split second, ABS is triggered. Of course, there is no need to talk about fuel savings in this mode, but at 90-100 km/h, the turbodiesel does not go beyond the ten-liter consumption limit. And this is with a car mass 2 tons, not counting the cargo! Due to the temporary testing limit and the desire to slip the most loaded section of the track at night, I had to sacrifice comfort, which was directly proportional to the speed. The larger it is, moreover, the car is more on a bad road, the more the car is swinging, especially in the longitudinal direction. For all the survivability and rigidity of the anterior torsion suspension, as well as the already mentioned spring-shock-controlled rear, BT-50 is not a rally car. Having certain skills, you can afford to go through delicious turns with a burden, however, high-speed movement on the rear-wheel drive without ESP, a half-empty body and more than a 20-centimeter road clearance impose certain restrictions on active drive.
The turn to traveled country and further movement along the forest road broken by tanks led to the discovery: the frame pickup appeared in a completely different light. Switch to all -wheel drive mode and select a reduced series of gears for several seconds. The steering control of the rack structure with a hydraulic wrap, which was empty until this moment, is fundamentally changing its habits, gaining rigidity. Of course, the three -meter base of the car is not the best option for passing multi -level off -road. You can hang out one of the wheels even with a long -term suspension, in addition, in terms of locking, the machine is not the top of perfection. There is only a differential of increased friction of the rear unreasonable bridge, but in deep dirt or loose sand it is enough for the eyes. True, with appropriate skills in management. And this is jewelry with gas and clutch, so as not to overdo it with the torque and not to bury, as well as the use of inertia. By the way, one of the features of the BT-50 all-wheel drive system of the RFW free range of free stroke. When the button on the front panel is pressed, the system will automatically transfer the car from the 44 mode to the rear -wheel drive. But Mazda BT-50, as it turned out, is good not only on the go. The thrown back board turns into a table that is quite suitable for a picnic, and the cabin with a back of the front passenger chair in a single -spar compartment even for a person with a tall of 185 cm. We will not say that you can go into reconnaissance with this car, but for multi -day hunting and fishing definitely yes !
