The Japanese brand claims the suspension and steering of the BT-50 has been tuned “to steer and handle like an SUVâ€, and, in comparison to rugged off-roaders like the Holden Colorado 7 or Isuzu MU-X, it seems a fair claim â€" maybe not a CX-5 or CX-9, though.
Unlike the Ford Ranger â€" which saw an update of its steering system to an electronic unit rather than the existing hydraulic system, which makes for easier turning at low speeds â€" the Mazda persists with the existing hydraulic rack and pinion setup that means the nature of the steering is quite heavy, particularly around town, but offers good linear response at higher speeds.
As for the ride comfort there is still some sharpness at the rear end without a load on board, and the back can step out over rough patches. Indeed, it never feels 100 per cent settled, even over smooth road surfaces.
While many owners may not throw their truck through the twisty stuff, the BT-50 feels competent at cornering with some pace on board, and stable in bends, too â€" so long as there are no mid-corner bumps.
While the tradie-friendly cab-chassis models are more configurable in terms of tray size, the tub of the dual-cab pick-up has seen no modifications to its measurements.
That means it remains one of the better examples in the class, with a tray that measures 1549mm from front to rear, 1560mm from side to side, and a depth of 513mm. The space between the wheelarches remains at 1139mm, which means it’s too small for a standard Aussie pallet to fit (1165mm by 1165mm).
Comments
Post a Comment