BMW i4 vs Mazda MX-5
Verdict
At almost the same money, this is really practicality versus purity: the BMW i4 is RM294,800, just RM646 above the RM294,154 Mazda MX-5, yet it gives you five seats, a 470-litre boot, 282 hp, a 70.3 kWh battery and 500 km of EV range. The Mazda counters as a much smaller two-seat convertible with a 1,998 cc petrol engine, manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive and a higher 220 km/h top speed. Its road tax is RM379 versus the BMW’s RM305. For daily Malaysian use, the BMW is easier to justify; the Mazda is the deliberate weekend choice.
Pick the BMW i4 if you want near-identical purchase money to buy five-seat usability, a 470-litre boot and 500 km of EV range.
Pick the Mazda MX-5 if you want a two-seat rear-drive convertible with a manual gearbox and a 220 km/h top speed.
Key differences
- Price: BMW i4 RM294,800; Mazda MX-5 RM294,154
- Seats: BMW i4 5; Mazda MX-5 2
- Power: BMW i4 282 hp; Mazda MX-5 181 hp
- Top speed: BMW i4 190 km/h; Mazda MX-5 220 km/h
- Boot space: BMW i4 470 L; Mazda MX-5 130 L
- Warranty: BMW i4 2 years; Mazda MX-5 5 years
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 294,800 | RM 294,154✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Convertible |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Sports Car |
| Seats | 5 | 2 |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol |
| Engine | Single motor | 1,998 cc |
| Power | 282 hp✓ | 181 hp |
| Torque | — | 205 Nm |
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Manual |
| Driven wheels | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | 6.0 s | — |
| Top speed | 190 km/h | 220 km/h✓ |
| Efficiency | ||
| Battery | 70.3 kWh | — |
| EV range | 500 km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,783 mm | 3,915 mm |
| Width | 1,852 mm | 1,735 mm |
| Height | 1,448 mm | 1,235 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,856 mm | 2,310 mm |
| Boot space | 470 L✓ | 130 L |
| Fuel tank | — | 45 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6✓ | 4 |
| Auto emergency braking | Yes | Yes |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 2 | 5✓ |
| Road tax / year | RM 305✓ | RM 379 |
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.
i4
- Five seats and a 470-litre boot
- 282 hp and 0-100 km/h in 6.0 seconds
- 70.3 kWh battery with 500 km EV range
- 190 km/h top speed trails the Mazda
- Two-year warranty is shorter
- Larger footprint at 4,783 mm long
MX-5
- Manual gearbox with rear-wheel drive
- Higher 220 km/h top speed
- Five-year warranty cover
- Only two seats
- Small 130-litre boot
- 181 hp is well below the BMW’s 282 hp
i4 vs MX-5 FAQ
Is the BMW i4 or Mazda MX-5 better?
For most buyers, the BMW i4 is better because it has five seats, 470 litres of boot space, 282 hp and 500 km EV range. The Mazda MX-5 is better if you specifically want a two-seat manual convertible.
What is the price difference?
The BMW i4 costs RM646 more: RM294,800 against RM294,154. At this level, the price gap is negligible; the real decision is between EV practicality and a petrol manual convertible.
Which one is more practical for daily use?
The BMW i4 is far more practical. It has five seats, a 470-litre boot and 500 km of EV range, while the Mazda MX-5 has two seats, a 130-litre boot and a 45-litre fuel tank.