Ahead of Malaysia, all-new 2021 Mazda BT-50 to be launched in Vietnam by end of July

Though the all-new 2021 Mazda BT-50 is expected to arrive in Malaysia later this year, it appears that Vietnamese buyers would be receiving the Isuzu D-Max-based pick-up first, and a lot sooner too.

THACO-Mazda Vietnam will be delivering the first batch of the all-new Mazda BT-50 to customers by the end of July. Imported directly from Thailand, Vietnam will be the first LHD market where the BT-50 will be sold.

Also read: All-new 2021 Mazda BT-50 launched in Thailand with 14 variants!

The Vietnamese-spec BT-50 will be available with four variants and is priced from VND 659 million to 849 million (~RM 120k to 155k). However, Vietnamese buyers only have one engine option, a 1.9-litre Isuzu Ddi BluePower turbodiesel engine (150 PS/350 Nm) paired to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Also read: Mazda BT-50: This is why Mazda chose the Isuzu D-Max over the Ford Ranger

The larger 3.0-litre Ddi VGS engine won’t be offered in the country as bigger engines would be imposed with higher taxes and a higher price against rivals. Even the Isuzu D-Max is only offered with the smaller engine in Vietnam.

Also read: More than 100% growth, the all-new Isuzu D-Max is second behind the Hilux

Marketed as a more luxury-oriented pick-up truck, the Vietnamese-spec BT-50 will come with an abundance of amenities including dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air-vents, a roof-mounted speaker system, brown leather upholstery, and a 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

Also read: Sibling rivalry: Is the 2020 Mazda BT-50 better looking than the Isuzu D-Max?

On the safety front, the Mazda BT-50 comes with 7 airbags, a blind-spot monitor (BSM), rear-crossing traffic alert (RCTA), and hill descent control (HDC).

That being said, can these features and elegant looks persuade Vietnamese buyers to choose the BT-50 over rivals, especially the country’s pick-up king, the Ford Ranger?

Also read: Ford Ranger is Vietnam’s best-selling car in March 2021, outsells Hilux nearly 4.5 times!