Verdict
Just RM180 separates these C-segment CBU cars, but they suit very different Malaysian routines. The iCaur 03 is the EV choice, with a 65.69 kWh battery, 355 km range, 181 hp and 220 Nm, plus 80 kW DC charging and 3.2 kW V2L. It also brings rear air-con vents, a panoramic roof and a 360-degree monitor. The Mazda 3 Hatchback is RM180 cheaper, has a larger 295-litre boot and reaches 200 km/h, but its 1.5-litre petrol unit makes 118 hp and 153 Nm. Its RM90 annual road tax undercuts the iCaur’s RM140.
Pick the iCaur 03 if you can charge an EV and want 355 km of stated range, stronger 181 hp/220 Nm output and substantially richer cabin equipment.
Pick the Mazda 3 Hatchback if you want petrol refuelling, a 295-litre boot, a 200 km/h top speed and lower RM90 annual road tax.
Key differences
- Price: iCaur 03 RM119,800; Mazda 3 Hatchback RM119,620.
- Power and torque: iCaur 03 motor 181 hp and 220 Nm; Mazda 3 Hatchback 118 hp and 153 Nm.
- Range/fuel use: iCaur 03 has a 65.69 kWh battery and 355 km EV range; Mazda 3 Hatchback uses petrol at 5.9 L/100 km.
- Top speed: iCaur 03 150 km/h; Mazda 3 Hatchback 200 km/h.
- Boot space: iCaur 03 264 litres; Mazda 3 Hatchback 295 litres.
- Annual road tax: iCaur 03 RM140; Mazda 3 Hatchback RM90.
03
- 65.69 kWh battery with 355 km stated range and 80 kW DC charging
- 181 hp and 220 Nm exceed the Mazda’s 118 hp and 153 Nm
- Rear AC vents, panoramic sliding roof, ventilated seats and 360-degree monitor
- 264-litre boot is 31 litres smaller than the Mazda’s 295 litres
- 150 km/h top speed trails the Mazda’s 200 km/h
- RM140 annual road tax is RM50 higher
3 Hatchback
- 295-litre boot is larger than the iCaur’s 264 litres
- 200 km/h top speed is 50 km/h higher
- Gets a head-up display, driver’s knee airbag and front-and-rear curtain airbags
- 118 hp and 153 Nm trail the iCaur’s 181 hp and 220 Nm
- No rear air-con vents or panoramic sliding roof
- Five-year/100,000 km warranty is shorter than the iCaur’s seven-year/150,000 km cover
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM119,800 | RM119,620✓ |
| Body type | SUV | Hatchback |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM140 | 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 | 181 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 220 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 65.69 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 355 km | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 80 kW | — |
| V2L | 3.2 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | SkyActiv-Drive |
| Gears | — | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Mazda |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| Rated Economy | — | 5.9 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 150 km/h | 200 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,406 mm | 4,460 mm |
| Width | 1,910 mm | 1,795 mm |
| Height | 1,715 mm | 1,435 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,715 mm | 2,725 mm |
| Weight | — | 1,368 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 51 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 264 litres | 295 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/60R18 | 215/45R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/60R18 | 215/45R18 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Chao Yang Radial RP76 | Bridgestone Turanza T005A |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | China (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 18" Alloys | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Alloys | 18" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack & Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | G-Vectoring Control Plus |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver & Front Passenger, Front Side, Curtain Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| 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 outer two 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 Projectors | LED Projector with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats with Ventilation | Power Adjustable Driver's Seat, Manual Adjustable Front Passenger Seat |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding with Ventilation | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | — |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Sliding Roof | — |
| Power Sockets | 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 | Sunroof Shade | — |
| Audio | 15.6" Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 12-speaker Infinity 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, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Start (Depress Brake Pedal) | 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 | Remote Control Operation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree 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 | 7 years✓ | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 8 Years/160000 km Battery Warranty, Drive Unit & High Voltage Components | 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 03 & 3 Hatchback for sale
03 vs 3 Hatchback FAQ
Is the iCaur 03 or Mazda 3 Hatchback better?
The iCaur 03 is better for EV driving, stronger 181 hp/220 Nm output and family-oriented equipment such as rear vents and a 360-degree monitor. The Mazda 3 Hatchback suits buyers who prefer petrol, need 31 litres more boot space and want a 200 km/h top speed.
What is the price difference?
The iCaur 03 costs RM119,800 and the Mazda 3 Hatchback costs RM119,620, so the iCaur is RM180 more expensive. Annual road tax goes the other way: RM140 for the iCaur versus RM90 for the Mazda.
How far can the iCaur 03 travel on electricity?
The iCaur 03 has a 65.69 kWh battery and a stated EV range of 355 km. It supports DC charging at up to 80 kW and can supply up to 3.2 kW through V2L.