By PETA LEE
At first glance I assumed it was just another bakkie but the Mazda Drifter BT-50 3000 double-cab very quickly killed that idea on our first outing as I turned up into the steep and sharp right-hander to my house.
A rather unexpected little wheel-spinning quickstep delighted my daughter - and woke me up very quickly.
Torque it has - in buckets - but it also has other attributes that account for it being a highly desirable leisure vehicle. Not only is it very handsome but it also has class-leading safety and this three-litre diesel has the highest torque in its class (380Nm at 1800rpm).
This double-cab has ample space for four passengers and, despite the generous layout, doesn't sacrifice load space - loading a big bicycle flat was no problem and the canvas cover went over it with no strain. No broken nails on the tailgate release and there's a step-bumper.
The test Drifter had attractive Harley-coloured upholstery: black, with unusual burnt-orange corners and stitching, and an easy-to-read and all clearly visible bank of gauges and dials.
The kids found the flat tray on the fascia ahead of the front passenger and it quickly filled with thin books, tissues and miscellaneous paraphernalia; the two cupholders in the central rear armrest came in useful, too.
Incidentally, I love having a nine-year-old as a co-driver: at the petrol station the pump jockey and I spent a good few minutes searching for the fuel-flap release but it was she who knew where it was and opened it for us - she'd spotted in on her very first exploration of the vehicle.
It's next to the bonnet opener, under the fascia
The seats are comfy. Those in the front have a multitude of recline and upright options and the steering wheel position is adjustable.
We skipped around a bit on long and winding dirt roads with no load in the back but the BT-50 felt as though it would be highly capable on the real thing off-road (it also comes with a diff lock). The usual bone-jarring dongas and potholes, a more than common occupational hazard on South African roads, were handled with aplomb and style, due to Mazda's refined suspension and larger shock-absorbers.
I drove the automatic version and found it smooth and capable. Incidentally, the vehicle has an 80-litre fuel tank, so you should burble along for ever and a day on a fill of diesel.
The Mazda BT-50 diesel has 10 000km service intervals and a three-year or 100 000km warranty. With all models, you get the Mazda Motion five-year or 90 000km service plan as well as three years of roadside assistance.
Price? R284 990.