Mazda makes its second go-around with the Pangolin edition, working in cooperation with the Katala Foundation (a non-stock, non-profit organization) whose sole purpose is to protect and preserve this species ant-eater endemic to the Philippines.
Using the latest BT-50 body, the Pangolin Edition II is less menacing and more stylish than its first edition, which came out three years ago. Minus the fender flares and aluminum roof rack, it looks like your average Mazda pickup truck with aftermarket wheels; very unassuming, like the humble animal it represents. It is visually more appealing now, especially with that automaker’s Kodo design language and the wide shiny grille, but I wish they kept the roof rack.
Rota designed its 18-inch gloss black alloy wheels with Pangolin-inspired center caps. The problem is it does not stand out, which made me wish it borrowed more inspiration from the animal to forge a better visual connection. It gets an extra 10 mm offset to align with the tires and the fender flares for a more streamlined look, but the wheel well has a lot of open space up top, which makes me feel like a wider diameter set of wheels and bigger tires wouldn’t look out of place. The only tradeoff is a slightly reduced 4x4 off-road capability.
I like that it comes standard with a two-tone fashion bar (with a high-mount stop lamp) on top of the bed and a liner with a lockable cover. This way, you don’t have to buy these items and have them installed separately. It also instantly makes the bed a viable option to store or hide valuable cargo.
Other exterior features include LED headlamps (with auto On/Off feature), fog lamps, rain-sensing wipers, roof rails, and an aluminum sidestep with a body color finish.
Compared to its predecessor, its body does not make it appear like an afterthought variant. It looks like any other BT-50, albeit with extra niceties/features that set it apart. I would love it if it got a badge or an exclusive color, but that could come in its third iteration.
Inside this ‘Pangolin’ is a neat cabin composed of two basic hues: brown and black. It has a streamlined dashboard with minimal clutter, several chrome accents, some piano-black surfaces, and a nine-inch LCD touchscreen with Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. It does not use the same operating system as other Mazda models, which makes it slow to respond and takes a while to boot up CarPlay — think minutes, not seconds — whether the mobile device is connected via USB or Bluetooth.
Thank goodness the automatic climate control system uses physical levers, which makes it easier (and faster) to cool the cabin upon entry on a hot day. Below it is the transfer case rotary knob and a single USB port.
It has the same D-Max leather multi-function steering, albeit with a Mazda logo in the middle. It has cruise and audio controls and a few more buttons for the multi-information display in the instrument panel and its ADAS (advanced driver assist systems).
All seats use brown leather upholstery. The driver gets an eight-way power adjustment feature, while the passenger has a four-way manual adjustment system. The front seats could use just a bit more bolstering, but as expected, the rear seats are almost bench-type. At least it comes with a center armrest with cupholders.
There are aircon vents in the rear and an extra USB port. But these days, two are not enough. A couple more, or at least a 12-volt cigarette lighter outlet will do since most people own an adapter for that.
Covered storage spaces are many. There is the center console, the glove box, and one more above it. If you are not leaving anything valuable, the cup holders and cubby hole in front of the gear shifter will do.
The 3.0-liter engine performs as advertised. The 190-PS and 450-Nm of torque make the truck feel responsive. It does not give light steering and throttle feedback, but it is agile on the highway and even at slow speeds in city traffic. The six-speed gearbox feels late on the upshift. Earlier upshifts could improve its 12.1 km/l fuel consumption (mixed driving conditions).
It accelerates smoothly and can catch highway speed easily. Maintaining 100 km/h is not stressful to the engine as the revs stay below 2,000 RPM. Its suspension feels softer than most pickups, even when unladed. It is not as jarring coming off humps and does a good job keeping noise, vibration, and harshness out of the cabin. It could also be due to the newer, lighter wheels. Plus, the wider track makes it more stable on the road.
Mazda renewed its partnership with the Katala Foundation and lent them Pangolin Edition II vehicles for three more years to help them rescue and protect endangered species in Palawan. If you have plans to get a pickup truck, show your support for the endemic Philippine Pangolin and put this P1.858 million model on your shortlist. It is a capable and comfortable 4x4 with a soft spot for our country’s threatened animals.