Verdict
At RM119,800, the iCaur 03 is just RM180 above the RM119,620 Mazda 3 Sedan, yet takes a very different route. The EV has 181 hp, 220 Nm and a 355 km claimed range from its 65.69 kWh battery, plus a panoramic roof, 360-degree camera and ventilated seats. But the Mazda’s 444-litre boot beats the iCaur’s 264 litres, and its 200 km/h top speed is 50 km/h higher. Choose based on charging access and luggage needs, not the tiny price gap.
Pick the iCaur 03 if you can charge regularly and want 181 hp, 220 Nm, a 355 km EV range and more cabin equipment.
Pick the Mazda 3 Sedan if you need its 444-litre boot, 51-litre petrol tank and 200 km/h top speed.
Key differences
- Price: iCaur 03 RM119,800; Mazda 3 Sedan RM119,620.
- Output: iCaur 03 181 hp and 220 Nm; Mazda 3 Sedan 118 hp and 153 Nm.
- Range/consumption: iCaur 03 355 km from a 65.69 kWh battery; Mazda 3 Sedan 5.8 L/100 km with a 51-litre tank.
- Boot space: iCaur 03 264 litres; Mazda 3 Sedan 444 litres.
- Top speed: iCaur 03 150 km/h; Mazda 3 Sedan 200 km/h.
- Warranty: iCaur 03 seven years/150,000 km; Mazda 3 Sedan five years/100,000 km.
03
- 181 hp and 220 Nm electric motor
- 355 km range, 80 kW DC charging and 3.2 kW V2L
- Panoramic sliding roof, 360-degree monitor and ventilated front and rear seats
- 264-litre boot is 180 litres smaller
- 150 km/h top speed is 50 km/h lower
- RM140 annual road tax versus RM90
3 Sedan
- 444-litre boot and 51-litre fuel tank
- 200 km/h top speed
- Head-up display, paddle shifts and Highway & Traffic Jam Assist
- 118 hp and 153 Nm trail the iCaur’s 181 hp and 220 Nm
- Five-year/100,000 km warranty is shorter than seven years/150,000 km
- No rear air-con vents, panoramic roof or 360-degree camera
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM119,800 | RM119,620✓ |
| Body type | SUV | Sedan |
| 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 | — | 5.8 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 150 km/h | 200 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,406 mm | 4,660 mm |
| Width | 1,910 mm | 1,795 mm |
| Height | 1,715 mm | 1,440 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,715 mm | 2,725 mm |
| Weight | — | 1,361 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 51 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 264 litres | 444 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 | Torsion Beam |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 Sedan for sale
03 vs 3 Sedan FAQ
Is the iCaur 03 or Mazda 3 Sedan better?
The iCaur 03 is better for buyers with regular charging who want EV torque and more equipment. The Mazda 3 Sedan is better if a 444-litre boot, petrol refuelling and a 200 km/h top speed matter more.
What is the price difference?
The iCaur 03 costs RM180 more than the Mazda 3 Sedan. That is a negligible gap, so the decision should rest on EV charging access, boot space and preferred body style.
Which has the better warranty?
The iCaur 03 has the longer vehicle warranty at seven years or 150,000 km, versus five years or 100,000 km for the Mazda 3 Sedan. Its battery, drive unit and high-voltage components are covered for eight years or 160,000 km.