Ford Ranger v mazda BT50

My best mate tried both.
Basically it came down to price for him.
ford...wanting to charge a arm and a leg on the options picked.
Mazda was HEAPS cheaper...he couldnt walk away soo he bought the bt-50

The Ranger is for men, the BT for girlies - that's the essential difference!

I doubt the two previous replies are much help to you.....!
Really, the only way to do this comparison thoroughly is to go on line or call in to dealerships and get the full spec sheets for each vehicle, and then take the time go through them line by line to make your comparisons.
Also, there are various comparative reviews published on line which compare the full range of models of dual cab utes, which give you the opinions of motoring writers - some more useful than others.
But really you need to drive the thing in the conditions you are planning to purchase it for - world of difference between towing a small caravan on the bitumen to towing a camper trailer across the Simpson desert.
Good luck

The two vehicles are basically mechanically identical. There are minor panel differences and Trim Levels are quite different. The BT50 has always had harsher suspension than the Ranger but I believe the new BT has been changed to be a bit more compliant like the Ranger as far as suspension is concerned.

The ford owners will tell you the Mazdas are not as good as the Ranger and the Mazda owners will tell you the ford is over priced, so Research, Research, Research!

..
But the Mazdas have those butt ugly tail lights and headlights !!
Like Ken and Barbies shaggin wagon !!

(The new Triton tail lights are also going that ugly way.)

Went for a test drive today in a Freestyle Cab, tray backed auto. Price around $ 43,000- on road with a towbar. Still waiting for a quote from Ford on a Ranger however they can only apparently sell me a manual. Would expect the Ford to be about $5000- dearer even though it is a manual. Both of these vehicles are the poor persons variety and not what your question was all about, however the substantial price difference would hit me in the eye straight up.

Would buy a Toyota but they won't do auto or (I think) a tray back in the SR extra cab with a 2.8 motor

I owned until July 2015 a PX Ranger Wildtrack, 2013 model. Sold it (didn't need the dual cab, and high km for age) and replaced with a new BT 50 XT cab chassis (MY16), this is the base model, freestyle cab. Both 3.2lltr diesel. Both are/were good vehicles.

My observations;
Wildtrack leather seats uncomfortable, BT 50 seats are great, very comfortable
Suspension, Wildtrack was harsh and I found "skipped" on bumps/corragations, was a real issue for my wife in the passenger seat. Bt50, prior to delivery replaced with ARB suspension which is really good, can't compare to the Ranger as it is so much better.
Headlights, both the Ford and BT50 standard headlights are poor, driving lights help sort that out.
Interior, the Wildtrack had more gadgets, the BT50 is more basic but fine for me
In the spec level I was looking for when purchasing the BT price was the driver in what I perceive are the same vehicle, plus when comparing freestyle cab chassis Ford/Mazda the the BT comes standard with a rear diff lock.
As mentioned before service intervals are 10k on BT vs 15k on the Ranger.

Underneath they're basically the same except the Ranger has a beefed up chassis.( according to the Ranger - BT specs I read some time ago )
Heavier grade steel and a bit more bracing,
The BT flexes a bit more than the Ranger which can be either an advantage or disadvantage depending on what your carrying.


Ron