Mazda Philippines isn’t done with the current-gen BT-50 just yet. The company is updating its local pickup offering by introducing a tougher, more rugged-looking variant of the vehicle called the Pangolin. If the brand’s mission is to breathe life into the truck as the market awaits its next-gen version, we think it has succeeded.
Obviously, you don’t need a couple hundred words to tell you the Pangolin looks different from the regular BT-50. Mazda has done a bang-up job of ensuring this. Still, we’re going to go into it, anyway, as well as dive into this vehicle’s specs, features, and, of course, price. Below is everything you need to know:
Prices and variants
Only one Mazda BT-50 Pangolin variant is available, and it comes with a 3.2-liter turbodiesel and a 4x4 drivetrain. The regular version of the pickup retails for P1,550,000, but Mazda Philippines is currently offering the Pangolin with a special introductory price of just P1,400,000—a sizeable P150,000 reduction in cost.
The company is also including a five-year free service plan with 10 periodic maintenance schedules over five years (or 100,000km, whichever comes first).
Exterior
The BT-50 Pangolin features a handful of exterior add-ons that set it apart from the standard truck. The most prominent upgrade you’ll find here is probably the vehicle’s new set of 17-inch Rota matte black wheels. These boast a rugged new design that adds to the pickup’s tough demeanor, and are matched with matte-black fender flare extensions, too. Up top is a new roof rack (also in black) for additional cargo-carrying capability, while the sides get a unique decal of the animal the theme is based on.
The BT-50 Pangolin’s Rota wheels are exclusive to Mazda Philippines. It’s a custom design with a special offset.
Other than what’s mentioned above, this is the BT-50 the local market is familiar with. There’s an elegance to this truck’s face that no other offering in its segment can lay claim to. There’s a black sports bar toward the rear, and tubular step boards for easier ingress and egress as well.
The BT-50 Pangolin measures in at 5,365mm in length, 1,850mm in width, and 1,821mm in height, and rides on 237mm of ground clearance. It also features a wading depth of up to 800mm, so it’s more than capable of tackling your run-of-the-mill flooded street. It’s available in the following colors: Cool White, Titanium Flash, True Red, Jet Black, Aluminum Metallic, and Deep Crystal Blue.
Interior
Inside, you’ll be greeted by a familiar dark cabin with nice plastic surfaces, some soft-touch materials, and a simple, no-frills vibe. There’s a good amount of space, and occupants will be sitting on black leather seats that add a dash of class to the environment. The steering wheel is also covered in black leather and features mounted controls, while the A/C is managed via tactile dials with digital displays. Again, no major changes from the regular BT-50 in here.
Engine and specs
Powering the Mazda BT-50 4x4 Pangolin is a 3.2-liter turbodiesel five-cylinder engine capable of 197hp at 3,000rpm and up to 470Nm of torque at 1,750-2,500rpm, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. If those figures look familiar, it’s because this mill is exactly the same as what you would find underneath the hood of the standard BT-50.
The front suspension is an independent double-wishbone, while the rear rides on leaf springs. Stopping duties are handled by ventilated disc brakes and drum brakes in the front and rear, respectively.
Extra features
This BT-50 comes equipped with a seven-inch JVC touchscreen infotainment system that features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and courses sound through a six-speaker entertainment setup. If keeping things cool is a priority for you, you’ll be glad to know this truck comes with dual-zone automatic climate control as well. Those who have a hard time parking larger vehicles, meanwhile, will be assisted by a rearview camera and parking sensors.
Other notable features include rain-sensing wipers, power-adjustable side mirrors, cruise control, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. In terms of safety, the Pangolin has dual front airbags and, a motion detector sensor, and hill-descent control, among other features.
It’s apparent that the current BT-50 is nearing the end of its production run. And what better way to send it off than by raising awareness for the pangolin, from which this special edition pickup is named after.
“The Philippine Pangolin is an endemic and critically endangered species that deserves our attention and concern. Like the BT-50, it is a reserved, yet highly proficient, hard worker. That is why together with Katala Foundation, a non-stock, non-profit Philippine NGO that is active in protecting and conserving threatened endemic wildlife, we at Mazda Philippines will make use of the enduring nature of the BT-50 to promote awareness and inspire conservation of one the Philippines’ and the world’s most critically endangered mammals,” shared Mazda PH president and CEO Steven Tan.
If you like rugged and reliable trucks, and you like the idea of bringing awareness to a special species, then the BT-50 Pangolin could be your next pickup.
