Verdict
At RM109,800, the BYD M6 costs RM9,820 less and takes the family brief far more seriously: seven seats, a 580-litre boot and rear air vents in a body 235 mm longer than the Mazda. Its 161-hp, 310-Nm motor, 55.4-kWh battery and claimed 420-km range suit buyers ready to charge. The Mazda 3 Hatchback is the smaller five-seat alternative, but its 118-hp petrol engine, 5.9 L/100 km rating and 51-litre tank remove charging from the routine. It also brings adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and front-and-rear autonomous braking that the M6 lacks.
Pick the BYD M6 if you need seven seats, a 580-litre boot and a claimed 420-km electric range for less money.
Pick the Mazda 3 Hatchback if you want petrol refuelling plus adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and front-and-rear autonomous braking.
Key differences
- Price: BYD M6 RM109,800; Mazda 3 Hatchback RM119,620.
- Seating and boot: BYD M6 has 7 seats and 580 litres; Mazda 3 Hatchback has 5 seats and 295 litres.
- Powertrain: BYD M6 has a 161-hp, 310-Nm motor and 55.4-kWh battery; Mazda 3 Hatchback has a 118-hp, 153-Nm 1.5-litre petrol engine.
- Energy use: BYD M6 claims 420 km of EV range; Mazda 3 Hatchback is rated at 5.9 L/100 km and has a 51-litre fuel tank.
- Dimensions: BYD M6 is 4,695 mm long with a 2,800-mm wheelbase; Mazda 3 Hatchback is 4,460 mm long with a 2,725-mm wheelbase.
- Driver assistance: BYD M6 has passive cruise control and no lane-keeping assist; Mazda 3 Hatchback has adaptive cruise control with Highway & Traffic Jam…
M6
- Seven seats and a 580-litre boot.
- 161 hp, 310 Nm and claimed 420-km range.
- 360-degree camera, rear air vents and 3.3-kW V2L.
- No blind-spot monitoring or autonomous braking system.
- Passive rather than adaptive cruise control, with no lane-keeping assist.
- No front parking sensors or power-adjustable driver’s seat.
3 Hatchback
- Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and front-and-rear Smart City Brake Support.
- Power-adjustable driver’s seat, head-up display and auto wipers.
- 200 km/h top speed, 18-inch wheels and a space-saver spare tyre.
- Only five seats and a 295-litre boot versus the M6’s seven seats and 580 litres.
- No rear air-con vents.
- Costs RM9,820 more.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM109,800✓ | RM119,620 |
| Body type | MPV | Hatchback |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM120 | 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 | 161 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 310 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 55.4 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 420 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 7 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 89 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 | 10.1 seconds | — |
| Rated Economy | — | 5.9 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 180 km/h | 200 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,695 mm | 4,460 mm |
| Width | 1,810 mm | 1,795 mm |
| Height | 1,670 mm | 1,435 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,800 mm | 2,725 mm |
| Weight | 2,374 kg | 1,368 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 51 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 580 litres✓ | 295 litres |
| Front Tyre | 225/55R17 | 215/45R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/55R17 | 215/45R18 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | GitiControl P10 | Bridgestone Turanza T005A |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | China (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 17" Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 17" 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 | 7 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Seats | Available for two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes, Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) - Front and Rear |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | Front Seats Only |
| Safety Notes | — | Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | LED Projector with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | Power Adjustable Driver's Seat, Manual Adjustable Front Passenger Seat |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding Second Row, 50:50 Split-folding Third Row | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Rear | 1 Front, 2 USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 12.8” Rotating Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, 6 Speakers, Bluetooth, Navigation | 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 | 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 | — | 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 M6 & 3 Hatchback for sale
M6 vs 3 Hatchback FAQ
Is the BYD M6 or Mazda 3 Hatchback better?
The BYD M6 is better for carrying people and luggage, with seven seats and a 580-litre boot. The Mazda 3 Hatchback is better equipped for driver assistance, adding adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and front-and-rear autonomous braking.
What is the price difference?
The Mazda 3 Hatchback costs RM9,820 more than the BYD M6: RM119,620 versus RM109,800.
Which car has more passenger and luggage space?
The BYD M6 does. It has seven seats, a 580-litre boot, a 2,800-mm wheelbase and rear air vents. The Mazda 3 Hatchback has five seats, a 295-litre boot and a 2,725-mm wheelbase.