Verdict
The Mazda 3 Sedan costs RM119,620 against the Tesla Model 3’s RM149,000, so the RM29,380 gap buys a 62.5 kWh battery, 534 km EV range, 170 kW DC charging and a 279 hp/420 Nm rear motor. It also brings a much larger 594-litre boot. The Mazda counters with lower RM90 annual road tax, a five-year/100,000 km warranty with free service, a head-up display and front parking sensors. Pick the Tesla if home or workplace charging is practical; otherwise, the Mazda is the lower-commitment sedan.
The Model 3 Performance AWD (RM232,000) sits above every 3 Sedan variant here, so the verdict compares the closest-priced pairing — use the selectors above to match any two trims.
Pick the Mazda 3 Sedan if you want the lower purchase price, RM90 road tax, a spare tyre and five-year/100,000 km free service coverage.
Pick the Tesla Model 3 if you can charge regularly and want 534 km of EV range, 279 hp, 420 Nm and a 594-litre boot.
Key differences
- Price: Mazda 3 Sedan RM119,620; Tesla Model 3 RM149,000.
- Power and torque: Mazda 3 Sedan 118 hp and 153 Nm; Tesla Model 3 motor 279 hp and 420 Nm.
- Energy/range: Mazda 3 Sedan rated at 5.8 L/100 km; Tesla Model 3 has a 62.5 kWh battery and 534 km range.
- Boot space: Mazda 3 Sedan 444 litres; Tesla Model 3 594 litres.
- Annual road tax: Mazda 3 Sedan RM90; Tesla Model 3 RM280.
- Manufacturer warranty: Mazda 3 Sedan five years/100,000 km; Tesla Model 3 four years/80,000 km.
3 Sedan
- RM29,380 lower purchase price
- Five-year/100,000 km warranty with free service
- Head-up display, front parking sensors and space-saver spare tyre
- 118 hp and 153 Nm trail the Tesla’s 279 hp and 420 Nm
- 444-litre boot is 150 litres smaller
- No EV range, DC charging or V2L capability
Model 3
- 534 km EV range from a 62.5 kWh battery
- 279 hp, 420 Nm and 170 kW DC charging
- 594-litre boot, panoramic glass roof and V2L
- RM29,380 more expensive to buy
- RM280 annual road tax versus RM90
- Four-year/80,000 km vehicle warranty is shorter than the Mazda’s five-year/100,000 km cover
What the 3 Sedan has over the Model 3
What the Model 3 has over the 3 Sedan
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The Model 3 is 294 mm wider — more shoulder room, but a tighter fit in parking bays. Boot space favours the Model 3: 594 litres against 444.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM119,620✓ | RM149,000 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | C-Segment | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM90✓ | RM280 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM1,220/mo✓ | RM1,520/mo |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM3,390✓ | RM4,122 |
| Fuel or electricity / year (est.) | RM2,308 | RM1,040✓ |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM11.54 | RM5.20✓ |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM28,940 | RM27,209✓ |
| Charging (estimated) | ||
| AC charge 0–100% (est.) | — | 5.7 hours |
| DC charge 10–80% (est.) | — | 25 min |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing | 400V architecture |
| Capacity | 1,496 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 118 hp at 6,000 rpm | — |
| Torque | 153 Nm at 4,000 rpm | — |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | — |
| Fuel | Petrol | Electric |
| Bore × Stroke | 74.5 mm × 85.8 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 14 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 279 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 420 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 62.5 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 534 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 170 kW |
| V2L | — | Yes |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | SkyActiv-Drive | Single-ratio Transmission |
| Gears | 6 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Mazda | Tesla |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 6.2 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 5.8 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 200 km/h | 201 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,660 mm | 4,720 mm |
| Width | 1,795 mm | 2,089 mm |
| Height | 1,440 mm | 1,441 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,725 mm | — |
| Weight | 1,361 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 51 litres | — |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 444 litres | 594 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 215/45R18 | 255/45R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 215/45R18 | 255/45R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | — |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Turanza T005A | Bridgestone Turanza T005 EV |
| Wiper Blade (Driver) | — | 26 inch |
| Wiper Blade (Passenger) | — | 19 inch |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | China (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 18" Alloy | 18" Prismata Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Alloy | 18" Prismata Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | G-Vectoring Control Plus | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee) | 7 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee) |
| 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 Two Outer Rear Passenger 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) | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | Adaptive LED Projectors with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | — |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Driver's Seat, Manual Adjustable Front Passenger Seat | Power Adjustable Front Seats |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-Folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with HEPA Air Filter |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear Vents |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 USB-C | 1 Front, 4 Front USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| 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 | 16" Touchscreen with Navigation, Bluetooth and 7 Speakers |
| 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 (Depress Brake to Start) |
| 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 Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | — |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Dual Wireless Qi Chargers, Powershare V2L via Tesla Outlet Adapter (RM350, sold separately) on cars built from October 2026 |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km✓ | 80,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 4 years |
| Warranty Notes | 5-year/100,000 km free service | 8-year/160,000 km Battery and Drive Unit Warranty, No fixed service schedule (condition-based maintenance) |
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. Running-cost estimates assume 20,000 km/year. Fuel at RM1.99/litre (RON95, subsidised). Electricity at RM0.44/kWh (TNB domestic, home charging); public DC charging costs around RM1.30/kWh. Charging times estimated from battery capacity and peak charging rates. Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked October 2026.
Used 3 Sedan & Model 3 for sale
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3 Sedan vs Model 3 FAQ
Is the Mazda 3 Sedan or Tesla Model 3 better?
The Tesla Model 3 is better for buyers with regular charging access, delivering 279 hp, 420 Nm, 534 km range and a 594-litre boot. The Mazda 3 Sedan is the more straightforward choice if you prefer petrol refuelling, lower road tax and longer vehicle warranty coverage.
What is the price difference?
The Tesla Model 3 costs RM29,380 more than the Mazda 3 Sedan. That difference brings EV hardware including a 62.5 kWh battery, 170 kW DC charging, 534 km range and V2L.
Which sedan has more boot space?
The Tesla Model 3 has the larger boot at 594 litres, compared with 444 litres in the Mazda 3 Sedan. That is a 150-litre advantage for the Tesla.
How long does charging take?
The Model 3's 62.5 kWh battery takes about 5.7 hours for a full AC charge, and an estimated 25 minutes from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger at its 170 kW peak.