Ford Ranger vs Mazda 3 Sedan
Verdict
The Ford Ranger and Mazda 3 Sedan solve different Malaysian problems. The Ranger is the heavy-duty choice on paper: a 1,996 cc turbo-diesel with 168 hp and 405 Nm, all-wheel drive, ladder frame and an 80-litre tank. The Mazda counters as the easier road car, with a 1,496 cc petrol engine, 6-speed auto, 5.8 L/100 km rating, 444-litre boot and a shorter 4,660 mm body against the Ranger’s 5,370 mm. It also has more driver aids, including blind-spot monitoring, SCBS front and rear, and adaptive cruise control.
Pick the Ford Ranger if you need a five-seat pickup with all-wheel drive, 405 Nm diesel torque, ladder-frame construction and the longer 160,000 km warranty mileage.
Pick the Mazda 3 Sedan if you want a C-segment sedan with an automatic gearbox, 5.8 L/100 km rated economy, a 444-litre boot and more active safety kit.
Key differences
- Price: Ford Ranger RM115,888; Mazda 3 Sedan RM119,620
- Output: Ford Ranger 168 hp and 405 Nm; Mazda 3 Sedan 118 hp and 153 Nm
- Driveline and gearbox: Ford Ranger all-wheel drive with 6-speed manual; Mazda 3 Sedan front-wheel drive with 6-speed automatic
- Size and weight: Ford Ranger 5,370 mm long and 2,227 kg; Mazda 3 Sedan 4,660 mm long and 1,361 kg
- Fuel and tank: Ford Ranger diesel with 80 litres; Mazda 3 Sedan petrol with 51 litres and 5.8 L/100 km rated economy
- Parking aids: Ford Ranger has no listed sensors or reverse camera; Mazda 3 Sedan has 4 front sensors, 4 rear sensors and a reverse camera
Ranger
- Much stronger engine output: 168 hp and 405 Nm versus 118 hp and 153 Nm
- All-wheel drive and ladder-frame chassis suit pickup duties
- 80-litre fuel tank and 160,000 km warranty mileage are higher
- Far larger and heavier: 5,370 mm and 2,227 kg versus 4,660 mm and 1,361 kg
- Manual gearbox and manual key, while the Mazda gets a 6-speed auto and push-button start
- Lacks the Mazda’s listed blind-spot monitoring, autonomous braking and adaptive cruise control
3 Sedan
- Rated at 5.8 L/100 km, with RM90 annual road tax versus the Ranger’s RM438
- Gets SCBS front and rear, blind-spot monitoring, lane steering correction and adaptive cruise control
- Shorter, lighter body with front and rear parking sensors plus a reverse camera
- Far less torque and power: 153 Nm and 118 hp versus the Ranger’s 405 Nm and 168 hp
- Front-wheel-drive unibody sedan, not an all-wheel-drive ladder-frame pickup
- 51-litre tank and 100,000 km warranty mileage trail the Ranger’s 80 litres and 160,000 km
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 115,888✓ | RM 119,620 |
| Body type | Pickup | Sedan |
| Segment | Truck/4X4 | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC Commonrail Direct Injection with Single Turbocharger | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,996 cc | 1,496 cc |
| Horsepower | 168 hp✓ | 118 hp |
| Torque | 405 Nm✓ | 153 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Diesel | Petrol |
| Bore | 84.01 mm | 74.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 15.8 | 14 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Manual | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | MT88 | SkyActiv-Drive |
| Gears | 6 | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Ford | Mazda |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| Rated Economy | — | 5.8 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | — | 200 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,370 mm | 4,660 mm |
| Width | 1,918 mm | 1,795 mm |
| Height | 1,884 mm | 1,440 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,270 mm | 2,725 mm |
| Weight | 2,227 kg | 1,361 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 80 litres | 51 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | — | 444 litres |
| Front Tyre | 255/70R16 | 215/45R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/70R16 | 215/45R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Full-size 16" Steel | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Dueler H/T | Bridgestone Turanza T005A |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Thailand (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Chassis | Ladder Frame | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Leaf Springs | Torsion Beam |
| Front Wheels | 16" Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 16" Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Drum | Solid Disc |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | G-Vectoring Control Plus |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and 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 on Two Outer Rear Passenger 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 | Front Seats | Front Seats Only |
| Safety Notes | Hill Descent Control | Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Halogen Reflector | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | Power Adjustable Driver's Seat, Manual Adjustable Front Passenger Seat |
| Rear Seats | Folding Bench with Tip-up Under-seat Storage | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 1 Rear | 1 Front, 2 USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | — | 8.8" MZD Connect Infotainment System with Commander Control Knob, Bluetooth, 8 Speakers, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Driver and Front Passenger Auto Up and Down | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Manual Key | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Remote Control Activation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | — | ✓ |
| 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 |
| Parking Sensor Front | — | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | — | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | — | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Digital/Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Handbrake | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | 7" TFT-LCD Digital Instrument Cluster Display with Analogue Dials |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 160,000 km✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | 5-year/100,000 km free service |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 438 | RM 90✓ |
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.
Ranger vs 3 Sedan FAQ
Is the Ford Ranger or Mazda 3 Sedan better?
Neither is universally better. The Ford Ranger is better for pickup capability, all-wheel drive and 405 Nm torque; the Mazda 3 Sedan is better as a city-biased sedan with automatic transmission, 5.8 L/100 km and more driver aids.
What is the price difference?
The Mazda 3 Sedan costs RM119,620, which is RM3,732 more than the Ford Ranger at RM115,888.
Which is easier to drive daily?
The Mazda 3 Sedan. It is 710 mm shorter, 866 kg lighter, has a 6-speed automatic, front and rear parking sensors and a reverse camera; the Ranger is larger, heavier and manual.