Mazda BT-50 vs Volkswagen Amarok

The Mazda BT-50 starts from $36,400 before on-road costs, while the Volkswagen Amarok opens at $55,990. That makes the Mazda BT-50 the more affordable entry point by $19,590.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $40,040 and $61,589 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Mazda BT-50 by roughly $1,425 in fuel alone.

Both the Mazda BT-50 and Volkswagen Amarok hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 86% for the Mazda BT-50 and 86% for the Volkswagen Amarok.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Volkswagen Amarok packs more ADAS features with 3 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 1 in the Mazda BT-50.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the Mazda BT-50 and 6 in the Volkswagen Amarok.

The Mazda BT-50 features a 7-inch touchscreen, while the Volkswagen Amarok gets a 8-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Mazda BT-50 uses a Diesel producing 110kW and 350Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 10.9 seconds.

The Volkswagen Amarok responds with a Diesel making 125kW and 405Nm, paired to a auto driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds.

The Volkswagen Amarok has the clear power advantage at 125kW vs 110kW. In the real-world sprint, the Volkswagen Amarok is 2.4s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Mazda BT-50 measures 5,280mm long on a 3,100mm wheelbase, 70mm shorter than the Volkswagen Amarok at 5,350mm (3,270mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Volkswagen Amarok generally means more rear legroom.

For towing, the Volkswagen Amarok leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 3,500kg. That 0kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,995/year for the Mazda BT-50 and $2,280/year for the Volkswagen Amarok. That is a $285 annual difference in favour of the Mazda BT-50.

Estimated annual total: $1,995 (Mazda BT-50) vs $2,280 (Volkswagen Amarok). The Mazda BT-50 saves you roughly $285 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Mazda BT-50) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Volkswagen Amarok). Both match on warranty length.