Verdict
The M8 has a 54% bigger boot, while the MX-5 is about 11% cheaper. Weigh that against the equipment each side gives you in the table below.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM328,800 | RM294,154✓ |
| Body type | MPV | Convertible |
| Segment | Executive | Sports Car |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | — | RM379 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Dual Variable Valve Timing and Plug-in Hybrid Assistance | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | — | 1,998 cc |
| Horsepower | 187 hp✓ | 181 hp |
| Torque | 300 Nm✓ | 205 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 83.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 13 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 179 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 300 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 25.57 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 106 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 6.6 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 40 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | eCVT Automatic | Manual |
| Transmission Name | 2-DHT | 6MT-LSD |
| Gears | — | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Mazda |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8.8 seconds | — |
| Top Speed | — | 220 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,212 mm | 3,915 mm |
| Width | 1,893 mm | 1,735 mm |
| Height | 1,823 mm | 1,235 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,070 mm | 2,310 mm |
| Weight | 2,420 kg | 1,119 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 56 litres | 45 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 2 |
| Seats | 7 | 2 |
| Boot Space | 280 litres✓ | 130 litres |
| Front Tyre | 225/60R18 | 205/45R17 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/60R18 | 205/45R17 |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin e-Primacy | Bridgestone Potenza S001 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | China (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Double Wishbone |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 18" Two-tone Alloys | 17" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Two-tone Alloys | 17" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front and Rear Curtain, Rear Windshield | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 2 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available on Passenger Seat |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) - Front and Rear |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Warning Only |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | Front Seats Only |
| 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 | Manual Adjustment |
| Rear Seats | Second row Individual Captain's Seats, 60:40 Split-folding Third row | — |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | — |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Glass Roof | Power-folding Retractable Hard-top |
| Power Sockets | — | 1 front, 2 USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lighting | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Second Row, 2 Third Row | 1 front |
| Sun Shade | Panoramic Glass Roof Shade and Rear Window Shades | — |
| Audio | 14.6" Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, 16-Speaker Yamaha Sound System | Mazda Connect Infotainment System with 8.8" Display, Commander Control Knob, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 9-speaker Bose Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Driver's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation with Walk-away Auto Lock |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | Power Sliding Doors | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Backlit Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Handbrake |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 8 Year, 150,000 km Warranty (Battery) | — |
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.