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DASH DETAIL The driving position is good, and we also

14th May 2009, Page 37
14th May 2009
Page 37
Page 38
Page 37, 14th May 2009 — DASH DETAIL The driving position is good, and we also
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approve of the easy-to-read instrument binnacle and well-positioned column stalks. The umbrella handbrake impressed us less, however

Stacking up against the Mazda is a veritable 'who's who' of the pickup world. As well as Nissan's excellent (and expensive) Navara, there's also the sales chart-topping Mitsubishi L200, Toyota's legendary Nitta, and, of course, Ford's Ranger.

Productivity A pickup with a 3.0-litre lump may not have descended directly from the gods of economy, but with plenty of torque the Intrepid didn't do itself a disservice.

The Mazda recorded 29.9mpg for a laden fuel run, which is just down on Ford's 3.0-litre (manual) Ranger at 30.8mpg, outperformed the Nissan Navara's 29.6mpg, although it is just below Mitsubishi's 2.5-litre L200, which came in at 31.5mpg. Travelling unladen, it perked up to 33.9mpg.

In the rear of the Intrepid, you get a payload of 1,094kg and a load area of 2.2m'.

It's well designed, without excessive wheelarch intrusion, A practical load lining comes as standard on the Intrepid

to help absorb the knocks, and there are also four loadsecuring points on the load sidewalls.

Servicing intervals are set at a modest 12 months/12,500 miles, while the warranty is 36 months/60,000 miles.

Cab comfort

Having plenty of kit on board doesn't necessarily guarantee you a hospitable driving environment, but the designers behind this Mazda have succeeded in pulling off a wellplanned and modern interior.

The driving position is good, thanks in part to the generous (for a double-cab) seat travel and rake-adjustable steering wheel. The easy-to-read instrument binnacle and well-positioned column stalks also help, although we have less praise for the umbrella handbrake, which harks back to the previous generation of pickups.

There's also good news regarding the secondary controls and the storage facilities, which reflect the overall clarity of design in the BT-50.

That said, however, the Mazda Intrepid doesn't feel quite like the premium vehicle it should. The use of silver to break up the overriding use of grey plastic fails to lift a rather utilitarian look, while the automatic gear lever and 4WD switch look and feel a little cheap.

But if this cosmetic issue is a negative, it's more than countered by the sound degree of cab insulation — the Intrepid does a good overall job of separating you from the environment outside, whether you are on the motorway or thrashing about off-road.

In the rear of the Intrepid, there's allegedly enough room for three, but you wouldn't want to stay in there for too long, especially if the front occupants are a bit on the tall side.

On the road

For a pickup, the Mazda displays an impressive degree of ability when driving on the black top. Of course, it's by no means a paragon of fluidity, but it does enough in everyday driving conditions to allow a reassuring drive without you having to worry about any hidden dramas.

The key to this feeling of reassurance is suspension that avoids being over-compliant — it displays a degree of firmness that swerves the traditional pickup trait of becoming skittish when unsettled. Through the corners it feels composed enough, but as is the way with this class, it shouldn't he rushed.

We particularly liked the steering, which is well weighted with just the right amount of assistance, and helps communicate the action below.

Moving off-road, the BT-50 picks up the pace, feeling at home in the mud and uneven terrain, although the suspension is not as soft as that of some rivals.

This makes it feel more controllable on flatter surfaces, which you can cut through at speed, but that said, it still loses something in terms of absorption and travel.

The 3.0-litre engine, as expected, gives you a generous amount of power when accelerating, delivering well from low-down, but it doesn't take it into the realms of the spectacular either, feeling a little disappointing overall.

The auto shifter behaves well enough, changing with enough speed to avoid it feeling ponderous, and the extra power gets you up the more severe gradients when required, backed by a 4WD system that digs in with impressive resolve, particularly in low-ratio mode.

However, for ultimate off-road ability we can't see past Toyota's Hilux. •

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