Verdict
The Mazda 3 Hatchback is the rational Malaysian buy at RM119,620, while the Volkswagen Arteon’s RM291,012 price creates a vast RM171,392 gap. That money buys serious pace: 276 hp, 350 Nm, all-wheel drive and a 5.6-second 0-100 km/h time, against the Mazda’s 118 hp and 153 Nm. The Arteon is also 402 mm longer with a 563-litre boot, but its rated consumption is 7.4 L/100 km versus 5.9 L/100 km and annual road tax is RM372 versus RM90. Pick it only if its performance and space are central to the brief.
Pick the Mazda 3 Hatchback if you want far lower purchase and road-tax costs, better rated fuel economy and a more compact 4,460-mm body with a head-up display.
Pick the Volkswagen Arteon if you need 276 hp, 350 Nm, all-wheel drive, a 563-litre boot and substantially stronger straight-line performance.
Key differences
- Price: Mazda 3 Hatchback RM119,620; Volkswagen Arteon RM291,012.
- Power and torque: Mazda 3 Hatchback 118 hp and 153 Nm; Volkswagen Arteon 276 hp and 350 Nm.
- Driveline: Mazda 3 Hatchback front-wheel drive; Volkswagen Arteon all-wheel drive.
- Rated fuel economy: Mazda 3 Hatchback 5.9 L/100 km; Volkswagen Arteon 7.4 L/100 km.
- Length and boot space: Mazda 3 Hatchback 4,460 mm and 295 litres; Volkswagen Arteon 4,862 mm and 563 litres.
- Road tax: Mazda 3 Hatchback RM90 per year; Volkswagen Arteon RM372 per year.
3 Hatchback
- RM171,392 cheaper to buy.
- Lower rated consumption at 5.9 L/100 km.
- Head-up display and adaptive cruise control with Highway & Traffic Jam Assist.
- 118 hp and 153 Nm trail the Arteon’s 276 hp and 350 Nm.
- 295-litre boot is 268 litres smaller.
- Front-wheel drive instead of all-wheel drive.
Arteon
- 276 hp, 350 Nm and a 5.6-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 563-litre boot and 2,837-mm wheelbase.
- All-wheel drive, adaptive dampers and a 360-degree camera.
- Costs RM171,392 more to buy.
- Rated consumption is 7.4 L/100 km versus 5.9 L/100 km.
- RM372 annual road tax is RM282 higher.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM119,620✓ | RM291,012 |
| Body type | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Segment | C-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM90✓ | RM372 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing | 16-Valve DOHC with Twin-Scroll Turbocharger, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 1,496 cc | 1,984 cc |
| Horsepower | 118 hp | 276 hp✓ |
| Torque | 153 Nm | 350 Nm✓ |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 74.5 mm | 82.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 14 | 9.6 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | SkyActiv-Drive | 7-speed DSG |
| Gears | 6 | 7 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Mazda | Volkswagen AG |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 5.6 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 5.9 L/100 km✓ | 7.4 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 200 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Co2 | — | 164 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,460 mm | 4,862 mm |
| Width | 1,795 mm | 1,871 mm |
| Height | 1,435 mm | 1,450 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,725 mm | 2,837 mm |
| Weight | 1,368 kg | 1,600 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 51 litres | 66 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 295 litres | 563 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 215/45R18 | 245/40R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 215/45R18 | 245/40R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Full-Size 19" Alloy |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Turanza T005A | Pirelli P Zero |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link |
| Front Wheels | 18" Alloy | 19" Montevideo Two-tone Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Alloy | 19" Montevideo Two-tone Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | G-Vectoring Control Plus | Adaptive Dampers |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars — With 7 Airbags, Stability Control and Autonomous Emergency Braking |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee | Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for two outer rear passenger seats | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) - Front and Rear | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | Front Seats Only | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) | Rear Cross Traffic Alert |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Auto High Beam | LED Projectors with Cornering Lights and Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED with Sequential Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Driver's Seat, Manual Adjustable Front Passenger Seat | 14-Way Power-adjustable with Driver's Side Memory |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 USB-C | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 2 Front USB-C, 1 Front Qi Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (3 Colours) |
| 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 | Discover Pro 9.2" Touchscreen Infotainment System with Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 12-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, 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 with Highway & Traffic Jam Assist | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Digital/Analogue | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | 7" TFT-LCD Digital Instrument Cluster Display with Analogue Dials | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 5-year/100,000 km free service | 3-year/45,000 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 3 Hatchback & Arteon for sale
3 Hatchback vs Arteon FAQ
Is the Mazda 3 Hatchback or Volkswagen Arteon better?
The Mazda 3 Hatchback is better for lower ownership costs and a compact footprint. The Volkswagen Arteon is better if performance, all-wheel drive and cargo space matter more: it has 276 hp, reaches 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds and carries 563 litres.
What is the price difference?
The Volkswagen Arteon costs RM171,392 more than the Mazda 3 Hatchback: RM291,012 against RM119,620.
Which has the bigger boot?
The Volkswagen Arteon has the larger boot at 563 litres, compared with 295 litres in the Mazda 3 Hatchback. That is a 268-litre advantage for the Arteon.