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When it comes to pickups that have earned their stripes on the roads, hills, and job sites of Trinidad and Tobago, few names stir up nostalgia quite like Mazda. From the classic Mazda B2000 and B2500 models to the new-generation Mazda BT-50, Mazda has consistently delivered a blend of rugged utility, long-lasting performance, and unmistakable style that Trinidadians have come to trust.

A Legacy Built on Grit: The B Series.

Ask any seasoned pickup owner in Trinidad about their first workhorse, and chances are you’ll hear stories about the Mazda B Series. These models became household names during the late 80s and 90s for good reason:

• Durability – Built tough for construction sites, quarries, farms, and family businesses, these pickups could take a beating and still keep going.
• Simple, Reliable Engineering – No fuss, no frills. The B-Series pickups were easy to maintain, which made them a favourite among mechanics and owners alike.
• Affordability – Whether new or second-hand, Mazda pickups always offered solid value for money.
• Work & Play – These trucks doubled as work vehicles during the week and family rides on the weekend.

Even today, many B2500s and B2000s are still running strong across Trinidad, a testament to Mazda’s legacy of quality and resilience.

The Mazda BT-50: Built for Today’s Demands

Enter the modern evolution of the Mazda pickup—the Mazda BT-50. While the classic B-Series trucks won hearts with their utilitarian charm, the BT-50 takes things to the next level with advanced technology, refined styling, and modern capability.

Key Features Trinidad Drivers Will Appreciate:

✅ Strong Performance
With a powerful turbo-diesel engine under the hood, the BT-50 is built to handle everything from rugged rural terrain in Mayaro to busy construction sites in San Fernando. Towing, hauling, or climbing – the BT-50 does it all with confidence.

✅ Advanced Safety
Equipped with driver-assist technologies like Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, and Autonomous Emergency Braking, the BT-50 brings peace of mind to your daily commute or highway journeys.

✅ Luxurious Yet Practical Interior
Mazda has added premium finishes, smartphone connectivity, and ergonomic design, making it one of the most comfortable pickups in its class – perfect for drivers who want work-truck strength without compromising on style or comfort.

✅ Fuel Efficient
In a market where gas prices are always a concern, the BT-50 offers impressive fuel economy for a vehicle of its size and strength – ideal for both business use and daily driving across the island.

Why Mazda Pickups Are Still a Fan Favourite in Trinidad

For decades, Mazda pickups have earned a reputation for dependability, affordability, and versatility. In Trinidad and Tobago’s diverse terrain and dynamic economy, owning a pickup that can handle both personal and professional demands is a game-changer—and Mazda has been delivering on that promise for generations.

From Point Fortin to Sangre Grande, the Mazda B2000 and B2500 remain cult favourites, while the BT-50 is winning over a new generation of drivers who demand more from their vehicles.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a business owner looking for a reliable fleet vehicle, a contractor who needs rugged capability, or a weekend adventurer seeking freedom off the beaten path, Mazda has a pickup that suits your lifestyle.

At Southern Sales & Service, we’ve been part of this Mazda legacy for decades, and we’re proud to continue offering top-tier Mazda pickups to our customers across Trinidad and Tobago.

Ready to experience the BT-50 for yourself?
Book a test drive today, and let’s find the perfect pickup for your next chapter.

The Mazda CX-5 is our most popular SUV in Trinidad & Tobago. Let’s take an opportunity to look back at its accomplishments, successes, and awards in the SUV segment over the last 10 years. It all began in 2011 when the Mazda Minagi was unveiled. The SUV was a compact crossover presenting the latest design theme and showcasing Skyactiv technologies. This was the foundation for all the Mazda’s next-gen vehicles. The graceful cheetah inspired the dynamic design, always alert to pounce.

Mazda has successfully designed an SUV with global appeal. It also offered a sporty and sleek design, different from its traditional and conservative one. In 2012, Mazda launched CX-5, which received instant praise, becoming the favourite of many reviewers and buyers. It was also bestowed with a prestigious title: “Japan’s Car of the Year 2012–2013.” It also went on to secure a place in the world car top 10 finalists in 2013. Here are a few examples of its award-winning status for the last decade.

The second-generation CX-5 was launched in 2016. It had a similar Kodo design, the interior was made from high-quality materials, and it had a beautiful exterior. This enhanced the overall desirability of the SUV. Mazda’s team of designers and engineers upgraded the car with numerous features. It had headlights that were sleek with adaptive LEDs, offering additional safety while driving at night. The car’s aesthetic gives it the first opportunity to highlight the latest Soul Red Crystal paint. Just like its predecessor, it soon began to collect various achievements and accolades, making its way to the World Car of the Year 2018 as one of the top 3 finalists. Globally, this SUV is Mazda’s bestseller, making sales of 25% alone in the UK and securing the highest spot in the Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the USA.

Apart from being a stylish car, the CX-5 has also achieved various awards for endurance that including driving through the terrain in Chile, the Arctic Circle, Vietnam, and more. The car has expensive capabilities and has proved itself repeatedly. Progressing over the years, the CX-5 compact crossover 2022 is dynamic, spacious, and stylish. It offers enhanced driving dynamics, the latest driving technologies, and increased practicality. It is extremely popular across T&T and is considered one of the best SUVs on the market.

From The Initial Concept to The Final Product

Shinari was unveiled by Mazda in 2010. The car has the concept of a sports coupe with four doors. It showcases the latest design, Soul of Motion. This styling was soon incorporated into the next SUV, the Minagi compact crossover. It also had Skyactiv technology that attracted the attention of its fans. In 2011, the Mazda CX-5 was showcased at a motor show in Frankfurt. This SUV was a combination of Skyactiv Technology and Kodo Design.

International Recognition and Awards

One of Mazda’s best-selling SUVs worldwide is the CX-5. Winning more than 100 international awards, the SUV has collected 45 accolades in the year it was launched. The CX-5 is titled “the 2021 car and driver.” The SUV has secured this position four times over the last four years. It has also had one of the top safety picks for forest safety credentials every year since its launch.

The Mazda CX-5 is one of the most popular luxury SUVs in T&T and the world. So, if you’re planning to buy your next SUV, you already know where to look!

For more than 100 years, Mazda Motor Corporation, or simply Mazda, has built its reputation as one of the world’s premier automotive manufacturers. However, the history of Mazda is much more interesting than that.

The 1920s and 1930s: The Birth of Mazda

When we try to answer the question “Where is Mazda from?” the most honest way to start is to look back at 1920s Japan at a cork making factory owned by Jujiro Matsuda. From there, the story takes a few twists and turns along the path to establishing one of the best-known names in the automobile industry.

Toyo Cork Kogyo to the Mazda-Go

In January 1920, Japanese inventor, mechanist, industrialist, and businessman Jujiro Matsuda took over the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., a cork manufacturing plant in Hiroshima, Japan, which was in financial trouble. Considering that status and the dwindling demand for artificial cork following the First World War, Matsuda decided to turn the plant’s operations toward a more profitable endeavor, tool manufacturing.

Renaming the company Toyo Kogyo Co., Ltd., to reflect its lack of cork production, Matsuda soon established new lines of production. This, in turn, led to the development of the company’s first motorized vehicle, the Mazda-Go auto rickshaw, which was named for Ahura Mazda, the god of harmony, intelligence, and wisdom. It was this initial invention that would one day lead to a new name for Matsuda’s company and set the stage for everything that was yet to come.

The 1940s and 1950s: Post-War Recovery and Reinvention

While the Mazda-Go was a revolutionary vehicle, believed to be the first auto rickshaw built in the world, a changing world soon dictated the young motor company’s focus. At the onset of World War II, Matsuda’s company did the same thing as most other Japanese manufacturers of the time and dedicated their capacity and efforts to producing weapons for the Japanese military. Notably, Mazda produced several series of the Type 99 bolt-action rifle.

By the end of the war, the Hiroshima-based plant remained intact, thanks to a hill that shielded it from the fallout of the nuclear bomb, but the community itself was devastated. The factory became a field hospital to treat the wounded. The company also developed a philosophy that still stands today — Mazda does things its own way, never gives up, and strives to achieve the exceptional.

The 1960s: Mazda’s Entry into the Automotive World

Mazda spent the majority of the 1950s investing in a commercial vehicle program, but the 1960s ushered in a new era for the budding automotive giant.

Mazda’s First Passenger Car: The R360

The beginning of the new Mazda era began in May 1960, when the company introduced its first mass-produced passenger car, the Mazda R360. The two-door, four-seat coupe rapidly gained popularity. In fact, in just a few years, the R360 helped increase the Japanese lightweight or “kei car” market share.

Innovations in Engineering

Mazda’s innovations did not stop with the cars themselves; they also wanted to evolve those cars’ performance. Inspired by the NSU Ro 80, a four-door German passenger sedan, the company dedicated significant time and effort into developing a new kind of engine for the Japanese market, the Wankel rotary engine. Along with a partnership with NSU, their success led to the development of the 1967 Cosmo Spot, which they continued to produce until 1996.

The 1970s: Expansion and Technological Advancements

As a new decade dawned, Mazda’s engineering advancements with the Wankel engine became a hallmark of the brand. By the early years of the 1970s, nearly half of all Mazda boasted this engineering feat. However, that innovation would just be the start of the expansion that the 1970s brought to the company.

Expanding Globally

Beginning as early as 1968, Mazda began its expansion outside of the Japanese market, first to Canada. Then, in 1970, Mazda formally entered the North American market and created a new vehicle, the Mazda Rotary Pickup, exclusively for American buyers.

The 1980s: Sports Cars and Global Recognition

The 1980s were significant for Mazda in many ways, first through its name. Although every vehicle the company made since the Mazda-Go bore that name, the company itself still operated as Toyo Kogyo. That officially changed in 1984 when the company transitioned to what we call it today, the Mazda Motor Corporation.

Along with this renaming, Mazda began to increase its focus on the sports car market, introducing classic models such as the MX-5 Miata. This sports car and performance-based mindset ultimately led to increased global recognition for Mazda, as the MX-5 entered the Guiness Book of World Records in 2000 as the bestselling two-seater sports car of all time.

The 1990s and 2000s: Embracing Change

As the dawn of the 21st century broke, Mazda continued to embrace change, making several notable alterations to its brand during this era. Notably, Mazda increased its popularity in the motorsports market, winning the 1991 Le Mans as well as claiming the first (and only) Japanese victory in Circuit de la Sarthe that same year with the 787 B sports car. On the commercial side of its business, Mazda continued to develop and change its offerings and step up its marketing efforts with iconic slogans such as “Passion for the Road,” “Get in. Be Moved,” and, of course, “Zoom-Zoom.”

The 2010s and Beyond: Mazda’s Commitment to Environmental Sustainability

In addition to these forward-facing feats, after 2000, Mazda became an icon for environmental commitment and sustainability, a promise it still maintains decades later. The Sustainable Zoom-Zoom concept debuted in 2007 and saw immediate success as it reduced the brand’s global consumption by approximately 30% by 2015.

Additionally, as is typical of Mazda, innovation was still an important part of that mix. A large part of the brand’s ability to enhance its sustainability efforts came from the 2010 development of its low-emission, high-performance SKYACTIV® technology, which is still at the heart of all Mazda vehicles today.

Sustaining Mazda into the Future

As Mazda entered the 2020s and looks beyond, this intense focus on sustainability remains at the forefront of its innovation. New models, such as the CX-90, combine Mazda’s signature drivability with new technology that helps reduce emissions even further, including PHEV engines. Further, Mazda has remade its environmental commitment with an eye toward complete carbon neutrality as part of its Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030 promise.