Family Car Review: 2025 Mazda BT-50 SP

How much does the Mazda BT-50 cost and what are the options?

The Mazda BT-50 SP is priced at $73,490 before rego, stamp duty and other on-road costs, making it the second-most-expensive BT-50 in the range, just below the new Thunder at $79,490. The SP sits above the GT ($68,160) and is available exclusively as a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel 4×4 Dual Cab Pickup.

What does the SP add over the GT? The head-turning looks! When we took it to Mulgumpin Moreton Island, the man who guided us onto the Micat ferry even remarked “that's a tidy BT”! It has 18-inch black alloy wheels, a gloss black sports bar with sail plane (adds a bit of shade for rear-facing infants in the back), gloss black side steps, gloss black fender flares, gloss black roof rails, gloss black mirror caps and gloss black door handles. You can also get the rest of it in gloss black I guess! It also has a manual roller tonneau cover, tub liner, and a distinctive black-and-terracotta Maztex and suede interior with stitched BT-50 headrest emblems. For 2026, the 360-degree camera has been added to the SP (as well as XTR and GT Pickup variants), which is fantastic news for families needing help parking their big ute in kindy car parks.

If you don't need the SP's styling upgrades, the GT at $68,160 shares the same engine, 4×4 system, heated front seats, power driver's seat, remote engine start and front parking sensors.

Mazda offers a five-year warranty. Premium paint (metallic, mica or pearl) costs an extra $695.

How big is the tray of the Mazda BT-50 SP?

The tailgate of the Mazda BT-50 SP drops down to toddler head height when lowered. Those sharp corners on the tailgate edges are worth keeping in mind too, so always keep little ones clear when you're opening and closing it.

The SP comes standard with a manual roller tonneau cover, and I found it nice and easy to manage by myself once I was used to the little flick of a wrist to lock and unlock it using the fabric strap that you pull to close it. I could do it one-handed, which isn't always the case with ute covers (some of them I need my husband's help with!). One downside is that you lose some space in the tray near the cab and the BT-50's tray isn't all that deep so the roller wouldn't close with my big camping fridge in the tray.

The tray of the Mazda BT-50 SP will hold 28 shopping bags. That's less than the Volkswagen Amarok (31 bags), Kia Tasman (31 bags) and Ford Ranger (30 bags), and one less than the Toyota HiLux (29 bags). It is more tray space than the Mitsubishi Triton (26 bags) and, surprisingly, the very similar Isuzu D-Max (25 bags).

A multi-configuration pram with a single seat, will fit in the tray of the Mazda BT-50 SP with 20 shopping bags.

The same multi-configuration pram with two sibling seats, will fit in the tray with 20 shopping bags.

The same multi-configuration pram with a single seat and the bassinet, will fit in the tray of the Mazda BT-50 SP side by side with 14 shopping bags.

The boot space and its functionality are really important. I like to have a big boot space and little side wells or areas I can divide things into. So something I don't want to move around while I'm driving such as my daughter's lunch bag or her wet swimming gear can be sectioned off in a little well where it's not going to spill or get squashed by the rest of the things in the boot.

Hooks for securing shopping bags to are also favourites of mine, I like being able to secure the bag containing more fragile things like eggs so they don't move around on the journey.

I measure the boot space in freezer shopping bags, prams and dogs. Not because I think all there is to a mum's life is food shopping, prams and dogs. (Although it can feel like it sometimes!!) But because these are visually measurable items we can all associate with. For me, the car company boot measurement of litres is not an amount I can easily visualise and 400L in one car may differ in usability to that in another due to the configuration or shape of the space.

A running stroller with the back wheels on fits easily in the tray of the BT-50 SP, with 17 shopping bags.

The double running stroller with the back wheels on fits easily in the tray of the Mazda BT-50 SP, with 15 shopping bags.

The compact stroller fits in the tray of the Mazda BT-50 SP, with 23 shopping bags.

The tray of the BT-50 SP can also accommodate an assortment of duffel bags.

Any size  large dog will fit comfortably in the tray when the tailgate is up.

How good is the storage in the Mazda BT-50 SP for families?

Storage throughout the Mazda BT-50 SP is good and the interior feels hard-wearing, which suits outdoorsy families like mine.

In the back of the BT-50 SP, there is a fold-down armrest in the central seat back with two cup holders. They will hold a reusable or disposable coffee cup, and kids' drink cups fit well too.

On the back of both front seats are map pockets that will hold and conceal an iPad. There's also a bag hook on the back of the front passenger seat, which is handy for hanging school bags or a nappy bag to keep it upright.

In the back of the central console box, there is a little tray for your phone, plus USB-C and 12V sockets for charging devices while driving along.

The door bins in the back will hold a large refillable water bottle but not much else.

In the front of the BT-50 SP, there are two cup holders in the central console that will hold a reusable or disposable coffee cup. Behind them is a small central console box, and in front of the gear lever is a phone tray with USB-C and 12V sockets for charging.

The glove box is a good size and will hold my wallet and iPad with the manual. Above it in the dash there's a second, smaller compartment that's great for tissues, a phone, or (as my kids discovered) an entire shell collection from our island trip.

There is a lined glasses case in the ceiling. The visors in the front both have vanity mirrors, which is excellent. But unlike many utes there are no dashboard cup holders below the outer aircon vents! Come on Mazda!

The front door bins are a good size too. They will hold a large refillable water bottle, and an iPad and wallet fit in them as well. There are also little storage wells in the door handles.

How many child seats will fit in the Mazda BT-50?

This dual-cab Mazda BT-50 SP has ISOFIX in the two outer rear seats.They're not within plastic guides but they're nice and easy to connect to.

There are top tether anchorages for both of those outer rear seats only. The BT-50 uses the loop system: you post your top tether strap through a fabric loop behind the headrest, then across to the metal top tether anchorage behind the central seat headrest, and attach it there. The loops are a bit too small and can be a bit fiddly to thread through, but I managed it (with some choice language).

You can't install a child seat in the central seat of the Mazda BT-50 because there's no top tether anchorage for that position. So only two child seats can go in the back. This is sadly the same for almost every ute on the market. See our full dual cab ute comparison here.

I've got two child seats installed in the back of the BT-50 SP, one rear-facing and one forward-facing. With two child seats in the outer positions, there is good space between them, so I found I could sit comfortably between the two seats as well, which is great for families with different-age siblings.

With a rear-facing infant capsule behind the driver, we could fit about a 182-centimetre driver comfortably in front. With forward-facing child seats, a 186-centimetre or taller driver and passenger can fit in the front, which is good news for taller families.

The rear footwell has a hump in the central position, so passengers in the middle do need to straddle that.

The BT-50 SP has manual child locks on the rear doors.

How comfortable is the Mazda BT-50 SP for families?

All members of the family will be kept comfortable in the Mazda BT-50 SP.

Rear passengers have air-conditioning vents in the back of the central console box, so you can keep your little rear passengers at the right temperature while driving along.

There are lights in the ceiling that I can reach from the driver's seat, which makes it much easier getting kids in and out in the dark. There are also handles above both rear doors, so you can hang a little toy on those to keep rear-facing passengers entertained.

I have found our daughter does not like travelling in the dark in the car so if it gets dark whilst travelling then I reach back and turn the interior light on for her. So it's really important for me that I can reach the rear ceiling light.

Also if I am traveling home and it is getting near to bed time and I DEFINITELY DON'T want her to fall asleep in the car as even a 5-minute nap in the car means bed time is all over!!!! I lean back and pop the light on so it's not dark and try to keep her awake!! Along with screaming/singing at the top of my voice!!!

It is also useful when there are lights situated above the doors where the handles are usually positioned. These are good for when putting baby into their child seats when visibility is poor, so you do not have to reach across them to a light situated in the ceiling centrally etc.

The front seats in the BT-50 SP are finished in black-and-terracotta Maztex (Mazda's synthetic leather) and suede, with stitched BT-50 emblems in the front headrests. The Maztex is practical for families because it wipes clean, and the colour combination looks premium without being precious about it. The driver's seat has eight-way power adjustment, and both front seats are heated, which is lovely for cold mornings. The SP also comes with remote engine start, so you can get the cabin cooled down (or warmed up) before loading the kids in. The headrests only adjust up and down but not forward and back, which makes them not ideal for having your hair in a ponytail.

I had spent hours styling my hair this morning to get it just right too… said no new mum ever!!!

The steering wheel is adjustable in and out and up and down.

The media system in the Mazda BT-50 SP is controlled on a 9-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dash. It's quite basic and no-frills, but I found it easy to use and easy to find what I need. There are physical volume and tuning dials on either side of the screen, which I prefer to fiddling with a touchscreen while driving.

It has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto built in, which is fantastic. You can safely access your phone's navigation, music and messaging apps without needing to plug in a cable.

Through the settings menu, you can customise the driver assistance systems and the sounds within the car, turning alerts on and off or adjusting them to suit your family.

This is a really useful one with noise-sensitive kids (and sensory-overloaded parents), because you can adjust what beeps and what doesn't. I also love that there are none of those awful “concentrate on driving!” or “you're over the speed limit!” beeps that plague a lot of new cars and utes, which makes a massive difference for parents with a lot of mental and sensory load on their plate already.

The 360-degree camera is new for the SP in 2026, and the camera images are clear and fill the whole screen. You can switch between views and there's a 3D view as well, which is great for seeing around the vehicle in tight parking areas or tricky off-road situations. You can also access the cameras using buttons on the steering wheel without putting the car into reverse, which is handy for checking around you before pulling out of a driveway for example.

You can turn the parking sensor beeping on and off with a button in the central console, which is a nice touch for parents who want the cameras but not the noise.

Becoming a parent I soon realised there are some noises and sounds I feel are unnecessary and I could happily live without if it meant my baby stayed asleep!!

That often the distraction of my screaming, distressed baby is more dangerous when driving than not having a lane departure warning for example.

If it is the lane departure warning beeping that creates distress with my baby then which is safest?

It's where I think we need to be able to strike a balance and choose when we can mute the warnings or swap them to a vibration in the steering wheel or flashing light perhaps?

How safe is the Mazda BT-50 for families?

The 2025 Mazda BT-50 comes with a five-star ANCAP safety rating, scoring 89% for child occupancy and 86% for adult occupancy. It also scored 67% for vulnerable road user protection and 84% for safety assist. That child occupancy score matches the Toyota HiLux and Mitsubishi Triton (both 89%), while the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok score higher at 93%. You can compare all ute safety scores in our safest dual-cab utes guide.

The BT-50 features eight airbags, including:

Dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting (curtain) airbags that extend to the second-row passengers, a driver knee airbag, and a front centre airbag which provides added protection to front seat occupants in side impact crashes.

Installation of child restraints in the centre seating position of the second row is not possible as there is no top tether anchorage for that position. You can see our guide to fitting child seats in utes here.

The Mazda BT-50 SP comes with heaps of active safety technologies as standard, including autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with motorcycle detection and pedestrian detection at intersections, intelligent adaptive cruise control (i-ACC) with stop and go, a lane support system with lane keep assist (LKA) and emergency lane keeping (ELK) that can detect road edges without line markings, and traffic sign recognition.

The driver-assist safety features also include forward collision warning (FCW), blind spot monitoring (BSM), rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA) with rear cross-traffic braking (new for 2025), traffic jam assist (new for 2025), trailer sway control, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, a reverse camera with hydrophobic coating, and tyre-pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

Some of these safety features are also features that drive me crazy as a mum! Like the lane departure and forward collision alert or the parking sensor beeping sound. I want all the safety technology AND to be able to mute the sound when Bub's asleep!

What is the Mazda BT-50 SP like to drive?

The Mazda BT-50 SP is a really nice ute to drive. Fantastic off-road on our camping trips and decent on-road for the daily school runs.

On the road, the BT-50's ride is comfortable for a ute, and once up to speed (the engine is noisy when you start it and accelerate) the cabin is quiet enough that I could hold a conversation (or a sing-along) without raising my voice.

One of my favourite things about the BT-50 is that it doesn't bombard you with constant beeping and warning alerts. It has all the safety tech, but feels less intrusive than other modern utes and you can customise the alert settings through the media system. This made such a difference to the day-to-day enjoyment of the BT-50 with my family.

Visibility is good in the BT-50 SP. With two child seats installed in the back, I can still see out the central rear windscreen. The 360-degree cameras and parking sensors make parking and manoeuvring in tight supermarket and school car parks nice and easy, and the turning circle is good for a ute this size.

One thing I have noticed since being a mum is I hate it when I reach a destination or get home from being out and the kids have either done really well in the car or she is screaming her head off and I have done really well to keep it together for the entire journey (usually the latter!!) and it takes 10 minutes to park the car! It can be really stressful.

The BT-50 SP comes with 4×4, a locking rear differential and Rough-Terrain Mode as standard. We took it off-road with the whole family on board and it gave us a lot of confidence. The touchscreen can show your tilt angles and tyre pressures and I love that it's got a clever system that flashes the lights and makes a noise when you have pumped the tyres back up to the right pressure after off-roading.

The BT-50 has a 3,500kg braked towing capacity, so it's well suited for towing a boat, caravan or camper trailer. Trailer sway control comes standard, plus there's a tow bar fitted from the factory on the SP.

Additional Information:

Mazda offers a five-year warranty for the BT-50 range. The 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine now cuts the engine at traffic lights to save fuel, which isn't the smoothest system. When she was an infant my eldest child would ALWAYS wake up when a car's engine went off assuming the journey had ended, so I'd always disable start-stop systems.

The SP is the only BT-50 that comes with the terracotta-accented Maztex and suede interior. The roller tonneau cover is also exclusive to the SP and Thunder grades although you can pay the dealer to fit one to any BT-5o along with around 100 Mazda Genuine Accessories that get the same five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty as the ute when fitted before delivery.

Compare the Mazda BT-50 SP:

If you're looking at the Mazda BT-50 SP as a dual-cab ute for your family, the Ford Ranger is worth considering. It holds 30 shopping bags in the tray (two more than the BT-50) and scores 93% for child occupancy with ANCAP.

For families looking for more interior space there's the Kia Tasman (31 bags, 5-star ANCAP).

The Toyota HiLux (29 bags, 5-star ANCAP) is a close competitor with similar pricing and capability.

If you're interested in a plug-in hybrid ute, the Ford Ranger PHEV offers electric-only driving for daily trips and holds 30 bags in the tray and it's not as expensive as it used to be.

You can also read our previous Mazda BT-50 review and our safest dual-cab utes for families guide and our mega ute comparison.

BabyDrive Verdict on the 2025 Mazda BT-50 SP

To sum up, enjoyed the Mazda BT-50 SP as a family and it worked brilliantly for us.

You can fit those two child seats in the back nicely with good space between them for a passenger, and the legroom is generous enough for taller parents (186cm+ with forward-facing seats).

While we had a Kia Tasman on long-term test we took another BT-50 SP along and enjoyed the fact that compared with the high-tech Kia, the BT-50 is a ute that just gets on with the job without making a fuss, and that's exactly what you want when you're juggling kids and camping gear.

The top tether loop system is a bit fiddly compared to direct-anchor setups, but it's manageable once you get the hang of it. Like almost every ute on the market, you can't install a child seat in the centre position. See our list of dual cab utes that can fit three across here.

The tray has been exactly what we need for family holidays and camping trips. Everything fits: prams, bikes, duffel bags, the lot. The roller tonneau cover keeps it all dry and secure, and it's easy to operate by yourself.

The driver assistance technology is all there, but it's not constantly nagging you with beeps and chimes. You can customise the sound settings through the media system, and even if you don't it is still calm and not overwhelming. In my job driving modern cars that beep at you every time you glance sideways, the BT-50 was a breath of fresh air.

At $73,490 before on-road costs, the SP is at the pricey end of the market. If you don't need the gloss-black styling and roller tonneau, the GT at $68,160 shares the same engine, safety tech, heated seats and power driver's seat. But if you want those head-turning looks (and compliments from Micat workers), and the convenience of a factory-fitted roller tonneau cover, the SP is the way to do it!

Key Pros:

• Fits two child seats comfortably with space between them
• Five-star ANCAP safety rating (89% child occupant protection)
• Eight airbags including second-row curtain airbags
• Non-intrusive driver warnings with customisable sound settings
• Manual roller tonneau cover keeps tray secure and dry
• 360-degree camera with steering wheel shortcut buttons
• Parking sensor beeping can be switched off
• Refined on-road ride and capable off-road
• Remote engine start for pre-cooling or heating the cabin
• Heated front seats and 8-way power driver's seat
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Practical, good-looking  interior that wipes clean
• 3,500kg braked towing capacity with trailer sway control

Key Cons:

• Cannot install child seat in centre rear position (no top tether)
• Top tether loop system is fiddly to thread
• Tailgate at toddler head height with sharp corners when lowered
• Premium price at $73,490 before on-road costs
• Media system interface is basic compared to some rivals
• No child presence detection
• Central footwell hump for middle passengers