Mazda BT-50 Tech Drive: Hill Launch Assist Explained

Discover how Mazda's Hill Launch Assist prevents rollback on inclines, enhancing off-road confidence in the BT-50.

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Mazda NewsPOSTED ON 8/10/2024

Mazda BT-50 Tech Drive: Hill Launch Assist

How does hill launch assist work?

Let's you rock without roll

Ever driven an older car with a manual gearbox? Then this will be familiar.

You’re driving up a steep hill and you’ve come to a stop. You push down the clutch pedal and shove the shifter into first gear. Left hand on the handbrake and right hand on the steering wheel. And then that sinking feeling begins to fizz in your stomach.

The car’s going to roll backwards.

You g-e-n-t-l-y press the accelerator pedal with your right foot. Slowly release the handbrake. The car starts to roll backwards. You slam the brake pedal with your right foot!

That fizz in your stomach rises even further.

Mazda has the answer. It’s called Hill Start Assist. It keeps the vehicle’s brakes applied while you move your foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal when you’re setting off up a hill.

In the Mazda BT-50 it’s especially useful when driving off-road.

Watch the video below and discover how it works. Read transcript

Mazda BT-50 Tech Drive: Hill Launch Assist Watch on YouTube

A key feature that comes as standard across the Mazda BT-50 range is Hill Launch Assist. While this technology isn’t new, it’s important to highlight the benefits it offers on the Mazda BT-50.

There is no switch or command to operate the system; it is an automatic function that ensures seamless operation when needed most. In the environment here, when I approach a hill, all I need to do is come to a complete stop by applying the brakes. As a driver, it then gives me time to look at the line ahead, assess which direction I wish to take, and maneuver accordingly.

What I notice as I take my foot off the brake is that the vehicle will automatically hold the car for about two seconds. This gives me time to transition from the brake to the accelerator, reducing the jolting or jerking feel we might get if trying to juggle between brake and accelerator without Hill Launch Assist.

It’s not just off-road driving where this system is showcased. In normal suburban driving, if we find ourselves stopping on an incline, the system operates in the same way. For example, if I’m stopped at the lights with my foot on the brake, as I transition to the accelerator to take off, it will hold the vehicle for about two seconds.

Now, I’ve approached an environment I’m a little unsure of. I’ve come to a complete stop, and I’m assessing ahead to pick my line to navigate safely. Once I’m ready to go, all I need to do is release my foot off the brake. The vehicle will hold for about two seconds, allowing a seamless transition to the accelerator, again reducing the jolting or jerking we get if we try to juggle the two pedals together.

So simple: I take my foot off, one, two, and I can accelerate as normal. It’s a really smooth transition from brake to accelerator, with the vehicle holding the brakes for about two seconds and letting me move to the accelerator.

It’s a really handy feature that probably doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.

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