Toughen up! 2024 Mazda BT-50 dual-cab ute gets upgrades for more off-road ability and rugged looks to take on Toyota HiLux Rogue and Ford Ranger Wildtrak

Mazda has given its two top-spec BT-50 utes a dose of rugged, with the SP and Thunder both soon available with a 'Pro' accessory pack that adds mechanical and styling upgrades to better take on the 'adventure' style utes of rivals.

Mazda BT-50 SP Pro and Thunder Pro packs, which are available from July 2023, both cost less than $10,000 and include suspension and lighting upgrades, making them alternative options for those who might be considering a Toyota HiLux Rogue or Ford Ranger Wildtrak.

For $7668, the SP Pro pack turns the more 'plush' of the two top-spec Mazda utes into a better off-roader with Old Man Emu Nitrocharger suspension with a 2.0-inch lift, twin-tube shock absorbers, 18-inch wheels, a Lightforce LED light bar, and 'SP Pro' decals.

The already somewhat tough Thunder variant's Pro pack, at $9046 comes with a single hoop bullbar and LED lightbar, a snorkel, as well as Old Man Emu BP-51 suspension, with nitrogen-filled dampers with a remote reservoir - and is manually adjustable.

The SP grade, which takes up the mantle as the 'sleek' headliner for the BT-50 range, starts from $68,510 before on-road costs, while the more rugged Thunder kicks off from $73,410.

Both are powered by a sizeable 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel, sourced from its development cousin the Isuzu D-Max, making 140kW and 450Nm. Each has a six-speed automatic transmission.

So far this year - to the end of May - Mazda has shifted 5864 BT-50s, placing it fourth behind the top-selling Ford Ranger's 18,725, the Toyota HiLux (16,993), and the D-Max (8810) with which the Mazda shares a platform. The Mitsubishi Triton is fifth, close behind with 5471 sales.