The five-point chrome grille is now larger, has wide wing bars and a chrome-plated Mazda logo. The front also has new multi-reflector head lamps and side lamps integrated into a single housing. The side lamps are circular with silver trim for added sedan-like stylishness, and round fog lamps are integrated into the front fascia.

In silhouette, the new Mazda BT-50 has grade-specific details like larger overfenders – with new protective seals for higher quality – and new blister fenders for 2WD models, which lend these versions added sophistication. On Double Cab and Freestyle Cab models, the belt line rises towards the back of the cab for a more unified design between cab and cargo box. Rigid-bar door handles used on Mazda passenger cars are introduced, in either chrome or body colour (depending on grade), along with all-new 15 and 16-inch alloy wheel designs. The 16-inch wheel is standard on high grade 4WD models and its design features both V and U-shaped spaces between its spokes for a dynamic, sporty look. The new Mazda BT-50 comes with a choice of nine monotone exterior colours and three two-tone colours to meet the tastes of just about every customer.

The rear end of the vehicle has a new look as well. The rear lamps have the same design motif as the front lamps. Their lenses require no screws, which give them a seamless appearance, and the bumper is newly designed to resemble that of a passenger car (depending on market). Forming the end of the Mazda BT-50’s taller cargo box, the tailgate is larger than that of the previous model and has passenger-car like details (depending on grade) including a chrome tailgate handle and chrome badging.

Denting, scratching, and rain are serious challenges to the durability of pickups. To prevent scratching and possible corrosion, organic resin-coated steel is used for areas of the pickup exposed to weather. This is made using a process of cathode electro-coating which makes them especially tough. The outer panel walls, the cargo box floor, wheel wells and load gate are made of galvanized steel, while the fuel tank is made of corrosion-resistant solder-plated (zinc/lead) steel. For long-term durability, the cargo box floor is slightly tilted towards the rear and grooved to promote water drainage. This is combined with a double-wall structure for the cargo box sides and the tailgate so that if dented on the inside, the outer panel will not show it.

The new Mazda BT-50’s cargo area is just as easy and convenient to use as its predecessor´s. The tailgate has a single-action lever that makes opening and closing easy and quick. Insightful details are available that make it easier to secure a load as well, including rope hooks on the top outer edge or on the inside of the cargo-box walls. The hooks on the inside are now placed lower than those of the previous model for more efficient hold. Also available (depending on market and grade) are retractable load rest stoppers at the rear of the cabin that can be raised to secure items too long for the cargo bed, like a ladder.

Interior designers of the new BT-50 focused on delivering a cabin design that combines sophistication with quality craftsmanship for a truly sedan-like ambience. A two-tone grey interior colour and new materials are introduced that, with silver accents, make for a clean and modern look. All models have a new dashboard design with quality and sophistication very similar to those found in Mazda passenger cars. The three-dial instrument cluster now has white lettering on a grey background with green backlighting and silver rings around each meter (depending on grade). An all-new centre stack is introduced as well, with a silver-look panel that is echoed by a silver-faced door switch, gear shift knob face and  chrome-plated inner door handles for a coordinated look (depending on grade).

These newly-introduced design aspects are carried out with greatly improved fit and finish for high levels of craftsmanship and quality. The gap between the dashboard and the doors, for instance, is only 6 mm, while the gap between the glove box lid and the side of the centre stack is so small, at just 1 mm, that you need to look very close to even see it. Designers also introduced a new one-piece floor console, which eliminated the two-screw assembly of the previous model’s floor console and gives the console a solid look it did not have before.

The Mazda BT-50 not only looks great inside and out, it has been developed to be more comfortable and easier to use than its predecessor with new seats, improved seat comfort, better visibility, improved climate control and a much quieter cabin. To this it adds improved interior functionality, with a new centre stack that is easier to operate, and an expanded list of equipment.

The Mazda B-Series pickup has always given customers a roomy interior, which of course is inherited by the new Mazda BT-50. Added to its roomy cabin are levels of interior comfort that are greatly improved versus the previous model. New seats are introduced with a taller seatback bolster (+43 mm) and thicker sides for improved side support and comfort, especially during off-road driving. Mazda also improved the internal design of the upholstery and used high-elasticity urethane foam material in the seat cushions that supports the occupant’s weight more evenly for improved comfort. The rear seats for the Double Cab version are also improved and now have a greater torso angle, increased from 20° to 23° and a new integrated headrest design for more comfortable seating. A new and larger centre armrest is also introduced to the back seating area of the Double Cab, which not only provides more comfort, but supplies support when driving off-road or on winding roads.

Driver visibility is enhanced to make driving the new Mazda BT-50 easier and safer. The newly-designed front bonnet makes it easier for the driver to see where the vehicle ends at the front, while the 60 mm increase in the cargo box wall height makes it easier to estimate where the rear end lies when looking in the rear-view mirror.

The Mazda BT-50 is also more comfortable to be in during hot or cold weather conditions. The climate control system has a new blower unit layout with two intake ducts, rather than only one like the previous model, for quicker heat-up or cool down and more cabin comfort, but also for drastically reduced fan noise. New interior features include (depending on market and grade) front seat heating, lighting for the ignition key, glove box and power-window switch; along with indirect lighting at the bottom of the centre stack, which makes the cupholders on the front console easier to see and use.

The sedan-like comfort improvements of the new BT-50 would not amount to much, if the cabin were unduly noisy while driving. Extensive measures were taken to suppress engine and wind noise. This began by introducing a new common-rail turbo diesel that uses multi-stage injection for suppressing diesel knock and dual counter-rotating balance shafts that reduce engine vibration. Mazda engineers also added a dual-mass flywheel for the five-speed manual transmission that absorbs torque fluctuations from the higher engine torque of the new engine, decreases gear teeth rattling and engine boom noises. A new radiator fan is also introduced that has nine, instead of the ten blades used by the previous model. This creates an asymmetrical pitch that offsets the sound of the individual blades cutting through the air, making the fan quieter during operation.

Insulation material is also added in abundance to prevent what engine noise remains from reaching the cabin. The decorative engine cover is lined with Thinsulate® material, glass wool insulation is added to the front and right side of the engine compartment, insulation is added to the dashboard on the engine compartment side above the flange and insulation is used on the inside of the bonnet. And finally, a larger air cleaner is used for less intake noise and new seal plates are introduced between the front fenders and the doors to prevent noise from the engine compartment from entering the cabin here. The result of these measures is a significant 6.5 dB reduction in engine noise at 120 km/h compared to the previous model (from

item storage. Its new dashboard has a centre stack with meters that are easy to read and controls that are easy to reach and operate. A new slide-out tray located above the glove box is introduced for all models. It is 148 mm long when pulled out, 17 mm thick and 353 mm wide with a carrying capacity of 10 kg.

The floor console has a new design that integrates the console storage box, removable ashtray and three cupholders in front and two cupholders in back into a single unit. The console box is positioned high enough between the two front seats to function as a comfortable armrest (when closed) and has two interior compartments – a 1.7-litre upper storage compartment and a large, 5.1-litre lower box. The BT-50’s front and rear door trim panels include a deep pocket with bottle holders, while the Freestyle Cab has a handy tool box under the rear cushion of the left rear seat. Other sedan-like convenience features include power adjustable side mirrors, remote fuel cap cover release, one touch driver's power window, power door lock/unlock from