Mazda BT-50 Thunder Professional: A ute with out boundaries

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When Mazda threw me the keys to its newest and best dual-cab ute, the BT-50 Thunder Professional, we headed off-the-beaten-track for some enjoyable on the pristine New South Wales South Coast leaving the every day grind behind.

Selecting up the BT-50 I used to be excited to see the full-fat Thunder grade ready patiently for assortment, prepared for no matter we may throw at it.  

Our BT-50 was additionally fitted with the Professional Enhancement Pack, including tools together with adjustable Previous Man Emu suspension, a snorkel, and two Lightforce driving lights complementing the usual double-stacked 20-inch mild bar. 

It seems to be the half too, with a black single hoop bull bar, black facet steps, fender flares, and a totally helpful electrical tonneau cowl.

The BT-50 boasts a wide variety of paint colors, however the True Black Mica paint on our tester is my choose of the bunch. Given the all-black modifications of the Thunder Professional Pack, it seems to be incredible.

In the event you’re heading on adventures like ours frequently, the one aftermarket additions we’d recommend are an electrical winch and a set of high quality all-terrain tyres making certain you can get out and residential from even the stickiest conditions.

Why not, given the duality of abilities this dual-cab has going for it.

We’d have pushed the range-topping BT-50 Thunder Professional on this event, but it surely’s effectively price noting the variety of grades accessible within the Mazda BT-50 ute vary. It’s bookended by the XS single-cab chassis 1.9 auto from $35,520 earlier than on-roads and the top-shelf Thunder dual-cab pickup 3.0L auto pushed right here from $74,095 earlier than on-roads.

For the present line-up, Mazda gives its BT-50 ute in seven totally different 4×2 variants and no fewer than 15 4×4 variations, with a setup to go well with nearly any work/life/play scenario.   

I definitely turned accustomed to the array of options and niceties within the range-topping Thunder Professional seen right here. In the beginning was the electrical tonneau cowl. Higher nonetheless, the tray consists of an LED mild bar that showers the complete tray mattress with evenly distributed mild; one thing that proved helpful throughout our late evening filming within the forest.

And whereas it’s a 4×4 succesful dual-cab ute, it’s blessed with loads of luxurious trappings inside, making the BT-50 Thunder a really comfy place to spend hours behind the wheel.

Climbing out and in of the high-set cabin isn’t any situation with sturdy sidesteps and completely positioned seize handles that make it straightforward to haul your self into the effectively bolstered, leather-based seats which embrace energy adjustment for the motive force – they proved completely comfy for each metropolis and off-road duties.

It’s not simply the seats, the identical brown stitched leather-based extends to the door playing cards and different trim bits all through the cabin giving it a premium atmosphere.   

Expertise is in abundance with wi-fi CarPlay and wired Android Auto; we used this to lean on Waze as a lot as potential (no less than on tarmac) and used the USB-A cable to maintain my cellphone juiced up for the journey.

Whereas trays on dual-cab utes have by no means been large, I nonetheless managed to pack a dual-suspension MTB with 29-inch wheels in addition to an extra-wide, six-four twin-fin surfboard, and equipment together with wetsuits, helmets, and an honest Esky – all safely secured beneath the lockable electrical tonneau cowl.

Leaving the confines of Sydney in pitch darkness meant I prevented the tradie rush hour on my strategy to the spectacular seaside city of Kiama, earlier than hooking up with our crew to seize some pictures of the BT-50 whereas it was clear… one thing we knew wouldn’t final lengthy.

From there it was a brief hop to the quaint city of Berry. With its nation really feel and cosmopolitan vibe, it’s a must-stop location on any South Coast journey. 

Simply South of Wollongong it gives loads of journey inside 10 minutes hanging distance. Specifically the well-known browsing spots of Gerroa and Seven Mile Seaside, each of which supply good waves in numerous wind circumstances.

It’s additionally the house of the Berry Donut Van, now an establishment and a preferred vacationer cease amongst others within the city. In some way, we bagged a parking spot in entrance and obtained to take pleasure in a few their world class cinnamon treats.

It’s additionally the spot the place we confirmed off BT-50’s distant begin function, simply because the mercury was on the rise. It’s a good way to pre-cool the cabin to a extra civilised 20 levels earlier than getting beneath manner once more.

Subsequent on the agenda was one other comparatively brief hop inland (and off-road) to the Coondoo MTB Park at Comberton within the Nowra State Forest. Nonetheless no requirement to modify from 2WD to 4H, as a result of dry circumstances of the dust roads.

The path right here is rated Intermediate and it didn’t take lengthy earlier than we have been suited up and have been prepared for some quick pedalling on the MTB.

Whereas I trip trails pretty ceaselessly round Sydney’s Northern seashores, I additionally fancy myself on jumps – however after negotiating a novice drop, it didn’t finish effectively after I tried the upper plunge. Rookie mistake if there ever was one, with not almost sufficient tempo!

Time was already getting away from us and we hadn’t but stopped for lunch (it was 2:30pm) and the world-famous pie store was shutting at 3:00pm sharp.   

What made it more difficult by way of timing, was that the dust street was now not flat and quick. Actually, it appeared like a full-blown 4×4 path requiring 4H on the very least.

Fortunately, circumstances on the bottom have been dry making for faster progress than initially anticipated. It’s additionally tremendous straightforward to modify from 2WD to 4H, you simply flip the dial on the fly and presto, the BT-50 was immediately way more composed on the dust street.

Hayden’s Pies at Ulladulla is one other a kind of iconic South Coast locations, frequented by surfers and punters alike – all of whom need to take pleasure in the very best pies in NSW.

They’re recognized for his or her scrumptious fillings, flaky pastry, and pleasant employees. It’s nonetheless a household enterprise and its been round for greater than 20 years. However be warned, you possibly can’t simply can’t cease at one.

I’ve been browsing the varied Ulladulla breaks for 20 years or extra, from the Bommie to Sandmines and Potholes when circumstances flip it on. There’s Bawley Level too, the place I’ve had some insane waves with just one or two different surfers within the water.

However whereas circumstances have been fairly good on the day, the concept of lacking out on river crossings and hardcore trails within the BT-50 meant we needed to bail nearly instantly after a fast cease at Bawley.

You may drive a part of the way in which all the way down to the purpose (in a 4×4), but it surely’s rocky with sharp edges and greatest finished in 4H. It was additionally the primary time I felt the additional cushioning results of the Thunder’s Previous Man Emu suspension system with its twin-tube shock absorbers absorbing any main hit.  

Nearing night at 5:30pm, with gray skies and light-weight drizzle falling, we have been eager to get to the river crossing earlier than darkish – by no means thoughts the hardcore path climb to check the Lightforce equipment nonetheless to come back.

From right here on it was full-time 4H, till we hit the path to the river crossing at Flat Rock at which period I switched into 4L, simply to be on the secure facet. Fact be advised, it was quite a bit decrease than on earlier crossings.

Regardless of taking it fairly straightforward on the step off level, we nonetheless hit a big underwater boulder which immediately ripped off the entrance quantity plate, requiring me to wade into crossing to retrieve it… adopted by some fast restore work on the plate itself.

Daylight was slipping away from us quick and we nonetheless had a little bit of floor to cowl if we have been going to make the rutted path. This time there was much more mud; correctly blinding this time, any nearer than 300m between the 2 automobiles meant I couldn’t see a factor.  

By now it was 8:15pm and pitch black, however to be sincere I couldn’t have been happier.

Whereas the BT-50 Thunder already has good LED headlamps with auto excessive beam, this was subsequent stage darkness and a tough climb over correctly critical ruts and bumps.

The trio of Lightforce LED driving lights on board with the Thunder Professional Pack can successfully illuminate a complete forest or no less than as much as 1.1km forward of the automobile.

It’s extremely reassuring when tasked with crawling up deep-rutted trails, however much more so when it’s 10:30pm in the course of a forest with a 90-minute dust street simply to get again to sealed roads.

Whereas there are many aftermarket 4×4 driving lights round, I can’t reward the Lightforce spotties on our BT-50 Thunder Professional sufficient. It’s not simply the street forward that lights up, it’s the animals you possibly can keep away from hitting with a system like this. Not less than one wallaby and one wombat walked away unscathed.

As I mirrored on this action-packed journey, it obtained me pondering how good dual-cab utes are as of late.

Comfy heated leather-based seats with dual-zone local weather management, and far of the identical equipment you’ll discover in a premium SUV, with the advantage of a tray out again, and correct off-road {hardware} like a low-range switch case and rear differential lock, which make journeys away like this not solely doable but additionally endlessly enjoyable on the identical time. 

No animals have been harmed through the making of this movie, only a bent quantity plate!

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