What would Mazda’s Kodo Soul of Motion design language, as seen on its range of crossovers, look like on a pickup truck? The 2025 Mazda BT-50 shows us that it looks a little bit out of place—like an automotive mullet or a tuxedo jacket and shirt with cut-off jorts.

The BT-50 is Mazda’s follow-up to the B-Series pickup. It’s not sold in North America or Japan, but it was a popular choice in other Asian markets and Australia, where it competes with models like the Toyota Hilux.

It’s Not All Mazda

The latest BT-50 is based on the Isuzu D-Max pickup, which is clearly visible in the cab sides and the truck bed. This 2025 model gives the pickup a facelift that adds even more of Mazda’s own styling, at least up front. Mazda describes the 2025 BT-50 as having a “tougher, more powerful stance” thanks to the facelift. We think it just makes this look more elegant than any pickup has a right to. It turns it into a CX-90-El Camino, though the BT and the CX models have no underpinnings in common.

The Japanese automaker has changed up the design at the back a little bit as well. It has new LED taillights and a larger Mazda logo, plus a new ridged design on the bottom edge that makes it slightly more differentiated from the Isuzu.

On the inside, the BT-50 shows its Isuzu roots. There is a brand-new infotainment system on a 9.0-inch screen that looks nothing like Mazda’s other offerings. It doesn’t even have the brand’s scroll-wheel controller. It does have tuning and volume dials on the edges of the screen – one feature Mazda’s in-house models lack that has us a touch (screen) envious.

There are big safety system upgrades that you can’t see. New cameras give the autonomous emergency braking system and other assists a wider detection angle. They can also now detect motorcycles and pedestrians. It now has traffic jam assist, rear cross-traffic braking, and adaptive cruise control with speed sign recognition.

Specs And Pricing Coming Next Year, But Expect Just Diesel

Mazda didn’t reveal pricing or specs for the new model, so engines aren’t confirmed. The 2024 BT-50 was offered with two diesel engines: a 1.9-liter turbo-four making 150 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque and a 3.0-liter inline-six making 188 hp and 332 lb-ft. Six-speed manual and automatic transmissions were available.

The automaker didn’t show off the other versions of the truck, but you can expect this Ute to be sold in the same uniquely Australian versions it was before. That includes a single cab and extended cab as well as the four-door Dual Cab, with a pickup bed and purpose-built cargo tray models and chassis cabs available.