Volkswagen Amarok vs Mazda BT-50

The Volkswagen Amarok starts from $55,990 before on-road costs, while the Mazda BT-50 opens at $36,400. 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 $61,589 and $40,040 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Mazda BT-50 by roughly $1,280 in fuel alone.

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

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Mazda BT-50 packs more ADAS features with 4 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 3 in the Volkswagen Amarok.

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

The Volkswagen Amarok features a 8-inch touchscreen, while the Mazda BT-50 gets a 7-inch display and 4.2-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Volkswagen Amarok uses a Diesel producing 125kW and 405Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a 4WD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds.

The Mazda BT-50 responds with a Diesel making 120kW and 400Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 10.9 seconds.

The Volkswagen Amarok has the clear power advantage at 125kW vs 120kW. 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 Volkswagen Amarok measures 5,350mm long on a 3,270mm wheelbase, 30mm longer than the Mazda BT-50 at 5,320mm (3,125mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Volkswagen Amarok generally means more rear legroom.

For towing, the Mazda BT-50 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 $2,280/year for the Volkswagen Amarok and $2,024/year for the Mazda BT-50. That is a $256 annual difference in favour of the Mazda BT-50.

Estimated annual total: $2,280 (Volkswagen Amarok) vs $2,024 (Mazda BT-50). The Mazda BT-50 saves you roughly $256 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

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