Sometimes it gets a bit confusing trying to figure out who owns whom and who builds what vehicle so it's understandable if consumers question whether there really is much difference between Mazda's BT-50 and Ford's Ranger bakkies.
Valid question, since they share engines and platform.
The difference lies in their images: the Ranger is touted as a workhorse - albeit a very comfortable one - and Mazda as a "sports activity vehicle".
An SAV should be comfortable city transport during the week yet capable of towing a trailer or caravan and should also have a fair amount of off-road ability.
I put the BT-50 Drifter 3.0 CRDi double cab through its paces and found it fitted the lifestyle accessory bill superbly with ample space and all the pamper features normally associated with a car as well as rugged off-roading ability.
The Mazda is also not lacking in the looks department with its nose dominated by a large one-piece grille and bumper.
At its heart is a gem of a diesel engine - a three-litre, common-rail, direct-injection turbodiesel that's one of the smoothest I've driven. It's power trumps rivals at 115kW - with the exception of the Toyota Hilux - although the media info doesn't mention its top speed.
Being a law-abiding citizen, I didn't seek it on public roads but an educated guess would be that the Mazda could reach 160-170km/h. The lack of turbo lag makes it an easy vehicle to drive in heavy traffic.
It also has 380Nm of torque and that not only beats that of its rivals but is also available across a wide spread of engine speed - overtaking rarely needs a downchange.
I took it around the off-road section at the Gerotek test facility west of Pretoria and the BT-50 dispatched the obstacles with contemptuous ease. Only once did I grate and that was only the tow hitch while clambering over a boulder.
The differential lock can be invoked by turning a knob which certainly doesn't detract from listening to the MP3-compatible sound system with its six-CD magazine. A second, smaller gearshifter put the truck into all-wheel drive high or low range - or back into rear-wheel drive.
The ride is good over ripples and undulations and is softer than similar lifestyle vehicles. The five-speed manual gearbox is slick for a bakkie though not quite as smooth as a car.
An auto gearbox is an option.
Two-tone cabin
Bakkie interiors - I suppose we should call the BT-50 a truck - are not what they used to be. The cabin is more car-like and has aircon, leather, power windows and cut-pile carpet overlays.
It's finished in a two-tone colour scheme with grey as its keynote colour and silver accents. The seats are particularly comfortable for long spells at the wheel and adjust easily - as does the steering wheel, though only for height.
The handbrake is below the fascia - awkward in traffic but leaving legroom between the front seats - and there's a central storage box that doubles as an armrest.
Like most double cabs, front leg- and headroom is exceptional, the rear seats are rather cramped.
Safety features abound: the Mazda has two front crash bags and side bags. It also comes with a load-box cover and the box sides have been raised by 60mm to make loads more secure.
VERDICT
The BT-50 lets you have your cake and eat it. It's high on practicality yet has the looks, features and performance expected of a modern vehicle and is a serious contender in the leisure bakkie stakes.