Verdict
At RM173,800, the BMW costs RM54,180 more than the RM119,620 Mazda, and its 156 hp/230 Nm 1.5-litre turbo gives a clear 38 hp and 77 Nm advantage. It also claims 8.6 seconds to 100 km/h and 230 km/h. The Mazda counters with a longer 2,725 mm wheelbase, a 444-litre boot and much stronger active-safety kit, including front and rear Smart City Brake Support. For most Malaysian buyers, the Mazda’s price, five-year/100,000 km free service and adaptive cruise make the rational call; choose the BMW for its extra performance and rear-seat amenities.
Pick the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe if you will pay RM54,180 more for 156 hp, 230 Nm, a 7-speed wet dual-clutch and rear air-con vents.
Pick the Mazda 3 Sedan if adaptive cruise with Highway and Traffic Jam Assist, front-and-rear autonomous braking and a five-year/100,000 km free-service package matter more than outright pace.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe RM173,800; Mazda 3 Sedan RM119,620.
- Output: BMW 156 hp and 230 Nm; Mazda 118 hp and 153 Nm.
- Wheelbase and boot: BMW 2,670 mm and 430 litres; Mazda 2,725 mm and 444 litres.
- Transmission: BMW 7-speed Steptronic wet dual-clutch; Mazda 6-speed SkyActiv-Drive conventional automatic.
- Driver assistance: BMW passive cruise and lane-departure warning; Mazda adaptive cruise with Highway and Traffic Jam Assist plus lane steering correction.
- Warranty: BMW 2 years unlimited mileage plus 3-year unlimited extension; Mazda 5 years/100,000 km with free service.
2 Series Gran Coupe
- 156 hp and 230 Nm from its 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine.
- 7-speed wet dual-clutch, with 8.6-second 0-100 km/h claim.
- Power-adjustable front seats with driver memory, rear vents and 40:20:40 rear seats.
- RM54,180 pricier than the Mazda 3 Sedan.
- No listed blind-spot monitoring or autonomous braking, where the Mazda has both.
- 430-litre boot is 14 litres smaller than the Mazda’s.
3 Sedan
- RM119,620 price and five-year/100,000 km free-service package.
- Adaptive cruise control with Highway and Traffic Jam Assist, blind-spot monitoring and front/rear SCBS.
- Longer 2,725 mm wheelbase, 444-litre boot and head-up display.
- 118 hp and 153 Nm trail the BMW by 38 hp and 77 Nm.
- No rear air-con vents, versus the BMW’s rear vents.
- Manual front passenger-seat adjustment, where the BMW powers both front seats.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM173,800 | RM119,620✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM90 | RM90 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 12-valve DOHC with Direct Fuel Injection, Turbocharger and Variable Valve Timing | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,499 cc | 1,496 cc |
| Horsepower | 156 hp✓ | 118 hp |
| Torque | 230 Nm✓ | 153 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 74.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 14 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Dual-clutch | SkyActiv-Drive |
| Gears | 7 | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Mazda |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8.6 seconds | — |
| Rated Economy | — | 5.8 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 230 km/h✓ | 200 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,546 mm | 4,660 mm |
| Width | 2,070 mm | 1,795 mm |
| Height | 1,445 mm | 1,440 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,670 mm | 2,725 mm |
| Weight | — | 1,361 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 51 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 430 litres | 444 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/45R18 | 215/45R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/45R18 | 215/45R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 | Bridgestone Turanza T005A |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Torsion Beam |
| Front Wheels | 18" Y-spoke Two-tone Alloys | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Y-spoke Two-tone Alloys | 18" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | G-Vectoring Control Plus |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Curtain Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | — | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Front Passenger and Outer Two Rear Seat | Available for two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes, Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) - Front and Rear |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Warning Only | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | Front Seats Only |
| Safety Notes | — | Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver-side Memory Function | Power Adjustable Driver's Seat, Manual Adjustable Front Passenger Seat |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear | 1 Front, 2 USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 10.7" BMW Operating System 9 with Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto | 8.8" MZD Connect Infotainment System with Commander Control Knob, Bluetooth, 8 Speakers, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Highway & Traffic Jam Assist |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Digital/Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | 7" TFT-LCD Digital Instrument Cluster Display with Analogue Dials |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 3 years | — |
| Warranty Notes | — | 5-year/100,000 km free service |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used 2 Series Gran Coupe & 3 Sedan for sale
2 Series Gran Coupe vs 3 Sedan FAQ
Is the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe or Mazda 3 Sedan better?
The Mazda 3 Sedan is the better-value choice at RM119,620, with adaptive cruise, front-and-rear autonomous braking and five years/100,000 km of free service. The BMW suits buyers prioritising its 156 hp turbo engine, 230 Nm and 8.6-second 0-100 km/h claim.
What is the price difference?
The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe costs RM173,800 and the Mazda 3 Sedan costs RM119,620, so the BMW is RM54,180 more expensive.
Which car has the better safety equipment?
The Mazda 3 Sedan has the stronger listed active-safety package: blind-spot monitoring, collision warning, front-and-rear Smart City Brake Support, lane steering correction and adaptive cruise control. The BMW has lane-departure warning and passive cruise control.