Verdict
The GAC Emkoo costs RM4,180 more at RM123,800, but its 175 hp/270 Nm 1.5-litre turbo engine is a major step up from the Mazda 3 Sedan’s 118 hp/153 Nm 1.5-litre unit. It is also the more useful family car, with a 638-litre boot, 2,750 mm wheelbase and rear air-con vents. The Mazda counters with a lower RM119,620 price, 5.8 L/100 km rated economy, a 200 km/h top speed and rear Smart City Brake Support. Choose shape and space versus lower running costs and sedan driving equipment carefully.
Pick the GAC Emkoo if you need SUV access, a 638-litre boot and much stronger 175 hp/270 Nm performance.
Pick the Mazda 3 Sedan if you prioritise its RM4,180 lower price, 5.8 L/100 km rated economy and 200 km/h top speed.
Key differences
- Price: GAC Emkoo RM123,800; Mazda 3 Sedan RM119,620.
- Output: GAC Emkoo 175 hp and 270 Nm; Mazda 3 Sedan 118 hp and 153 Nm.
- Boot space: GAC Emkoo 638 litres; Mazda 3 Sedan 444 litres.
- Dimensions: GAC Emkoo 4,680 mm long and 1,670 mm tall; Mazda 3 Sedan 4,660 mm and 1,440 mm.
- Wheels: GAC Emkoo 19-inch alloys with 235/55R19 tyres; Mazda 3 Sedan 18-inch alloys with 215/45R18 tyres.
- Warranty mileage: GAC Emkoo 5 years/150,000 km; Mazda 3 Sedan 5 years/100,000 km.
Emkoo
- 175 hp and 270 Nm from its 1.5-litre turbo engine.
- 638-litre boot and 2,750 mm wheelbase.
- Panoramic glass roof, rear AC vents and 360-degree camera.
- Costs RM4,180 more and has RM120 annual road tax versus RM90.
- No rated fuel-consumption figure, against the Mazda’s 5.8 L/100 km.
- Lacks the Mazda’s driver’s knee airbag and rear Smart City Brake Support.
3 Sedan
- RM119,620 price and 5.8 L/100 km rated economy.
- 200 km/h top speed, plus paddle shifts and Tiptronic control.
- Dual-zone climate control, navigation and rear Smart City Brake Support.
- 118 hp and 153 Nm are well down on the Emkoo’s 175 hp and 270 Nm.
- 444-litre boot is 194 litres smaller than the Emkoo’s.
- No rear air-con vents, panoramic roof or 360-degree camera.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM123,800 | RM119,620✓ |
| Body type | SUV | Sedan |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM120 | RM90✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Dual Variable Valve Timing | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,497 cc | 1,496 cc |
| Horsepower | 175 hp✓ | 118 hp |
| Torque | 270 Nm✓ | 153 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 74.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 14 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 7DCT | SkyActiv-Drive |
| Gears | 7 | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Mazda |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8.8 seconds | — |
| Rated Economy | — | 5.8 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 190 km/h | 200 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,680 mm | 4,660 mm |
| Width | 1,901 mm | 1,795 mm |
| Height | 1,670 mm | 1,440 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,750 mm | 2,725 mm |
| Weight | 1,540 kg | 1,361 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 55 litres | 51 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 638 litres✓ | 444 litres |
| Front Tyre | 235/55R19 | 215/45R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/55R19 | 215/45R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Continental EcoContact 6 | Bridgestone Turanza T005A |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Torsion Beam |
| Front Wheels | 19" Two-tone Alloys | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" 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 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 2 Outer Rear 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 | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats with Ventilated Driver's Seat | Power Adjustable Driver's Seat, Manual Adjustable Front Passenger Seat |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding with Manual Recline | 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 Glass Roof | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front, 1 USB Rear | 1 Front, 2 USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Panoramic Glass Roof Shade | — |
| Audio | 10.1" Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 6-speaker Sound System | 8.8" MZD Connect Infotainment System with Commander Control Knob, Bluetooth, 8 Speakers, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Driver's Side 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 | 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 | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | 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 | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 7 Year, 180,000 km Powertrain 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 Emkoo & 3 Sedan for sale
Emkoo vs 3 Sedan FAQ
Is the GAC Emkoo or Mazda 3 Sedan better?
The GAC Emkoo is better for family space and performance, bringing 175 hp, 270 Nm and a 638-litre boot. The Mazda 3 Sedan suits buyers who want lower purchase cost, 5.8 L/100 km rated economy and sedan-specific features such as paddle shifts.
What is the price difference?
The GAC Emkoo costs RM123,800 and the Mazda 3 Sedan costs RM119,620, so the Emkoo is RM4,180 more expensive. Its annual road tax is also RM30 higher: RM120 versus RM90.
Which has the larger boot?
The GAC Emkoo has the larger boot at 638 litres, compared with 444 litres in the Mazda 3 Sedan. That is a 194-litre advantage for the SUV.