When it comes to transporting dirtbikes, there are plenty of options but one thing’s for sure, the vehicle of choice needs to offer reliability, ruggedness, and comfort. On paper, the 2024 Mazda BT-50 Thunder Pro ticks all our boxes for getting from home to the bush so we picked one up for a real world test. Things like a bull bar (we always seem to find skippy in the bush), spot lights (so we can see skip), a sports bar (for tying things off to), cruise control (we do a looooot of highways) and somewhere to lock gear bags away when we’re not at the car are crucial. As a dirt bike magazine that covers hundreds of kilometres weekly with dirt bikes in the tub, we picked the BT-50 Thunder Pro because it’s packed with $9000 worth of aftermarket extras, including Old Man Emu suspension, Lightforce LED driving lights, and a snorkel just what we were looking for.
THE BEATING HEART
Under the bonnet, the Mazda BT-50 Thunder Pro is powered by the reliable Isuzu 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine found across the BT-50 range. This engine delivers 140kW of power and 450Nm of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and part-time 4×4. It has a claimed fuel consumption of 8.0L/100km but we’re averaging just under 10L/100km.
The motor is incredibly strong and the gearbox is smoother than a baby’s behind. It doesn’t jump around in gears, even when towing and it’s got plenty of punch when you need to make a pass. It’s also not very loud with the cab doing an excellent job at keeping the noise down.
The BP-51 nitrogen-filled internal bypass shocks from Old Man Emu are a game-changer, offering position-sensitive adjustments for compression and rebound. Tailored for typical load weights up to 300kg (two dirt bikes, your gear and fuel), these shocks improve the ride comfort considerably meaning our dirt bikes don’t go flying all over the place on rough dirt roads. This suspension was the highlight for me and made the Mazda BT-50 Thunder Pro feel like a coil-suspension SUV, not a leaf sprung paddock basher. The electric power steering is incredibly light as well.
THE GUTS
The interior of the BT-50 Thunder Pro edition is lux. The seats are a standout feature, with good side and thigh bolstering, heating, and powered adjustments for the driver.
There are notable differences from the Isuzu D-Max, including unique trim colours, a distinct steering wheel design, and modified vent shapes around the touchscreen. The steering wheel features simple audio and cruise control buttons, with an adjustable rake and reach. A standout feature is the button on the right spoke that disengages the lane-keeping assist system for three seconds.
The 9.0-inch centre touchscreen offers Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a decent sound system, and a sat-nav system. Below the screen, a series of switches control the climate settings, while a dial engages 4H and 4Lo. Buttons for the locking rear diff, seat heaters, and downhill assist control are next to the gear shifter.
Storage is ample with dual gloveboxes while the rear seats are well-trimmed, with pull-down centre armrest with cupholders, rear vents, and a USB port. At 188cm I could squeeze into the back without my legs crammed up against the front seats and my two kids in their car seats had plenty of space. The tub features a solid, high-quality liner and a powered roller-shutter tonneau cover. The electronic roller cover is lockable (you have to lock the tailgate manually though) which means I can leave my gear bag in the tub with the roller cover shut and not worry about some lowlife walking past and taking my precious and expensive Ogio.
I was nervous about tying bikes down against this cover but so far it has been fine and two bikes fit with the tailgate down, just. The payload capacity is impressive, with Mazda claiming 887kg for the Thunder Pro.
Considering most of our driving is done on highways I’m glad it’s not constant four-wheel drive. It offers rear-wheel drive for tarmac and low- and high-range 4×4 modes for when we get off the freeway and into the bush where we need to unload our bikes. The rear locking diff is a handy addition but we haven’t used it yet.
SAFE AS A HOUSE
The Mazda BT-50 Thunder Pro has all of the top-of-the-line safety features too which includes eight airbags, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, forward collision alert, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beam, lane-keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, and rear cross-traffic alert.
PRICING
The pricing of the Mazda BT-50 Thunder Pro edition is reflective of its premium features and capabilities. The standard BT-50 is priced at $73,945 before on-road costs, so prepare to part with about $75,000 drive-away. The Thunder Pro package adds an additional $9046, bringing the total to $82,991. While this price point may seem steep, the added value in terms of aftermarket extras and enhanced capabilities makes it a worthwhile investment for serious dirt bike enthusiasts who require a reliable and robust vehicle for hauling.
KEEN TO GO RIDING!
Despite the BT-50 sharing its mechanical base with the Isuzu D-Max, Mazda has taken steps to ensure the Thunder Edition stands out by offering a ready-to-go modified product, something Isuzu haven’t done and as dirtbike freaks, we appreciate a little aftermarket gear.
The 2024 Mazda BT-50 Thunder Pro stood out to us as a formidable option for hauling our test bikes, that’s why we got it. Its blend of comfort, practicality, and off-road capabilities make it an excellent choice for those who knock over big kilometres getting from home to the track or bush. While it might be pricier than lower spec utes, the value it offers in terms of features and performance justifies the investment for us, especially that Old Man Emu suspension, it’s bloody impressive.
I’m keen to put some more kilometres on the BT-50 Thunder Pro and will do so over the next six months carting my 2024 Beta 300 Racing around so tune in next month to see how it’s going.
Words & Photos | Mitch Lees
