Utes have long ago left the farm, have moved off building sites and are often seen laden in the city with mountain bikes attached to the tray, but Mazda NZ is offering a business class to the range with the BT-50 Takami.

The new 4WD Mazda BT-50 Takami Wellside brings a strong, sporty aesthetic with impressive equipment levels and dispels the myth that utes cannot combine performance with class-leading ride and comfort.

It still delivers the performance expected of a ute but does so with the comfort and features found in Mazda’s current SUV and car range.

The term “Takami” is used in New Zealand and means “higher” or “a level above” so this ute sits above the Limited.

In the past, Takami has only been used for Mazda NZ cars, but the team saw a gap in the market for a bit of luxury.

David Hodge, Managing Director Mazda New Zealand, says “The additional features found in the BT-50 Takami enhance what is already a fantastic ute. We believe buyers want the versatility of a ute without the need to compromise on features, ride comfort and safety.  The interior cabin delivers a feeling of quality and refinement for the driver and passengers.”

Positioned above the already luxuriously appointed BT-50 Limited grade, the Takami uses a combination of black and grey exterior features to give a sporty appeal. 

Featuring dark metallic grey roof rails, dark grey side-steps, gunmetal grey signature wing, grey front bumper under garnish, black grille, gloss-black door handles and exterior mirrors, gloss-black sports bar, gloss-black fender flares, 18-inch black metallic alloy wheels and a retractable roller lid giving the BT-50 Takami a refined yet sporty profile.

The high spec cabin builds on the highly specified Limited grade which already includes heated front seats, power adjustable driver’s seat and 8-speaker audio system and adds a combination khaki coloured leather and black synthetic suede interior trim and seating.

Mazda has a reputation for continually enhancing the safety features of its vehicles.  This continues with the latest BT-50 line-up with improvements to Lane Support System (LSS) technologies, including Lane-Keep Assist System (LAS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) Lane Departure Prevention (LDW) and Emergency Lane Keep (ELK).

All BT-50 models have a 5-Star ANCAP Safety Rating (2020 tested) and feature a total of eight airbags including a driver’s knee and a driver’s far-side airbag.

A new exterior colour, Rock Grey Mica has also been added to the BT-50 range.

The BT-50 Takami powertrain is the impressive 3.0 litre turbo diesel engine – producing 140kW and 450Nm providing ample power and torque to enable powerful and responsive acceleration with a 3500kg braked towing capability.

Mazda borrows the diesel engine from Izusu and sure it can be rattly on a cool morning, but show me a diesel engine that isn’t!

The four-wheel-drive ute is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The BT-50 sits in a busy segment, with the likes of the new Ford Ranger, and Toyota Hilux leading the pack. But what makes the Takami stand out is the everyday driveability, especially in city situations. 

It’s easy to manouver into tight parking spots and handles the bustle of motorway traffic with enough grunt to help you overtake.

The lane keeping has been recalibrated by Mazda engineers to be less intrusive, and that shows.

The Takami has 4-wheel-high and 4L settings, so heading to the paddocks at Parihoa, I swapped into four-wheel-low to help with traction on a slippery grass track.

It was easy to head up the steep, dirt track to get to the top paddocks to take in the views of Muriwai beach. 

With a premium leather interior, I was wary of getting too much mud in the cabin, but I did have a chance to entertain the ‘locals’, some sheep hanging out in a cliff-side paddock, with the retractable tray cover. 

It can be locked in three places, helpful if you have a bulky load. Unfortunately for the sheep, that load didn’t include hay for them. 

Back on the tarmac, the stop-go adaptive cruise is a function that makes long commutes not only easier but also safer.

What I loved about the BT-50, in general, is that it drives like a car, and at times I forget that I had a large tray behind me! 

The safety features are also on par with luxury European brands.

And speaking of European vehicles, the Takami adds that extra level of premium quality to the interior.

It’s priced from $69,190 (plus Clean Car Programme fee of $2990).