Verdict
The BYD Atto 3 costs RM6,180 more, but brings a 201 hp, 310 Nm motor, a 60.48 kWh battery rated for 420 km and 110 kW DC charging. That is the more useful package for a Malaysian household able to charge at home, especially with rear air vents, a 360-degree camera and a powered boot. The Mazda 3 Sedan is 389 kg lighter, has a 444-litre boot and lower RM90 annual road tax. Pick it if petrol refuelling and sedan packaging suit your routine.
Pick the BYD Atto 3 if home charging, 420 km EV range, stronger 201 hp and 310 Nm performance, and SUV practicality matter more than the RM6,180 premium.
Pick the Mazda 3 Sedan if you want a lower-priced petrol sedan with a 444-litre boot, seven airbags, a head-up display and RM90 annual road tax.
Key differences
- Price: BYD Atto 3 RM125,800; Mazda 3 Sedan RM119,620.
- Power and torque: Atto 3 has a 201 hp, 310 Nm motor; Mazda 3 Sedan has a 118 hp, 153 Nm 1.5-litre engine.
- Energy use: Atto 3 has a 60.48 kWh battery and 420 km range; Mazda 3 Sedan uses petrol at 5.8 L/100 km from a 51-litre tank.
- Charging versus refuelling hardware: Atto 3 supports 7 kW AC, 110 kW DC and 3.3 kW V2L; Mazda 3 Sedan has no charging or V2L system.
- Boot space: Atto 3 434 litres; Mazda 3 Sedan 444 litres.
- Annual road tax: Atto 3 RM160; Mazda 3 Sedan RM90.
Atto 3
- 201 hp and 310 Nm electric motor with a 420 km rated range.
- 110 kW DC charging and 3.3 kW V2L.
- Rear air vents, ventilated power-adjustable front seats and a 360-degree camera.
- 389 kg heavier at 1,750 kg versus 1,361 kg.
- 434-litre boot is 10 litres smaller.
- No head-up display or navigation.
3 Sedan
- 444-litre boot and 1,361 kg kerb weight.
- Seven airbags, including a driver's knee airbag, plus front and rear Smart City Brake Support.
- Head-up display, navigation and dual-zone automatic climate control.
- 118 hp and 153 Nm are well below the Atto 3's 201 hp and 310 Nm.
- No rear air vents, panoramic sunroof or powered boot.
- Reverse camera lacks the Atto 3's 360-degree view.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM125,800 | RM119,620✓ |
| Body type | SUV | Sedan |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM160 | RM90✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 400V architecture | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | — | 1,496 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 118 hp |
| Torque | — | 153 Nm |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 74.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 14 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 201 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 310 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 60.48 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 420 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 7 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 110 kW | — |
| V2L | 3.3 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | SkyActiv-Drive |
| Gears | — | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Mazda |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.3 seconds | — |
| Rated Economy | — | 5.8 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | — | 200 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,455 mm | 4,660 mm |
| Width | 1,875 mm | 1,795 mm |
| Height | 1,615 mm | 1,440 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,720 mm | 2,725 mm |
| Weight | 1,750 kg | 1,361 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 51 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 434 litres | 444 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 235/50R18 | 215/45R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/50R18 | 215/45R18 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Continental EcoContact 6 Q | Bridgestone Turanza T005A |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | China (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Torsion Beam |
| Front Wheels | 18" Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Alloy | 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, Front and Rear Curtain | 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 for Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available for two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) - Front and Rear |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | Front Seats Only |
| Safety Notes | — | Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Auto High Beam | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power-adjustable Front Seats, Ventilated | Power Adjustable Driver's Seat, Manual Adjustable Front Passenger Seat |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | — |
| Sunroof | Panoramic, Tilt and Slide | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Rear | 1 Front, 2 USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Panoramic Glass Roof Shade | — |
| Audio | 15.6" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto with 6 Speakers | 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 and 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 | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go | Adaptive Cruise Control with Highway & Traffic Jam Assist |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 2 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | 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 | 150,000 km✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 6 years✓ | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 8-year/160,000-km Battery Warranty, 8-year/150,000-km Electric Drive Unit Warranty | 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 Atto 3 & 3 Sedan for sale
Atto 3 vs 3 Sedan FAQ
Is the BYD Atto 3 or Mazda 3 Sedan better?
The Atto 3 is better for drivers with charging access, delivering 420 km rated EV range, 201 hp, 110 kW DC charging and SUV convenience. The Mazda 3 Sedan is better for petrol convenience, a slightly larger 444-litre boot, lower road tax and a head-up display.
What is the price difference?
The BYD Atto 3 is RM6,180 dearer: RM125,800 against RM119,620 for the Mazda 3 Sedan.
Which has the better safety equipment?
The Mazda 3 Sedan has seven airbags, adding a driver's knee airbag, and front and rear Smart City Brake Support. Both have blind-spot monitoring, autonomous braking, lane-keeping steering correction, collision warning, stability control and front/rear curtain airbags.