Verdict
At RM119,620, the Mazda 3 Sedan costs RM29,380 less and keeps annual road tax to RM90, versus RM280 for the Tesla Model 3. It is the simpler petrol choice, with a 1.5-litre 118 hp/153 Nm engine, 51-litre tank and 5.8 L/100 km rated economy. The Tesla answers with far stronger quoted outputs: 279 hp and 420 Nm from its rear motor, plus a 62.5 kWh battery, 534 km range and 170 kW DC charging. Its 594-litre boot also beats the Mazda’s 444 litres. For an EV-ready buyer, the extra money buys meaningful performance, range and carrying capacity; the Mazda remains the lower-cost conventional sedan.
Pick the Mazda 3 Sedan if you want the RM29,380 saving, RM90 annual road tax and a petrol sedan with a 51-litre tank.
Pick the Tesla Model 3 if you can charge an EV and want 279 hp, 534 km of claimed range and a 594-litre boot.
Key differences
- Price and road tax: Mazda 3 Sedan RM119,620 and RM90 per year; Tesla Model 3 RM149,000 and RM280 per year.
- Powertrain: Mazda 3 Sedan 1.5-litre petrol engine with 118 hp and 153 Nm; Tesla Model 3 single motor with 279 hp and 420 Nm.
- Energy use: Mazda 3 Sedan has a 51-litre fuel tank and 5.8 L/100 km rated economy; Tesla Model 3 has a 62.5 kWh battery and 534 km EV range.
- Charging: Mazda 3 Sedan uses petrol; Tesla Model 3 supports 11 kW AC and 170 kW DC charging.
- Boot space: Mazda 3 Sedan 444 litres; Tesla Model 3 594 litres.
- Width: Mazda 3 Sedan 1,795 mm; Tesla Model 3 2,089 mm.
3 Sedan
- RM29,380 cheaper to buy.
- Lower RM90 annual road tax.
- Five-year/100,000 km warranty with free service.
- 118 hp and 153 Nm trail the Tesla Model 3’s 279 hp and 420 Nm.
- 444-litre boot is 150 litres smaller.
- No rear air vents or panoramic glass roof.
Model 3
- 279 hp and 420 Nm rear motor.
- 534 km claimed range with 170 kW DC charging.
- 594-litre boot, powered boot and 40:20:40 rear seat split.
- RM29,380 higher purchase price.
- 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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | 15.4" 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 |
| 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.
Used 3 Sedan & Model 3 for sale
3 Sedan vs Model 3 FAQ
Is the Mazda 3 Sedan or Tesla Model 3 better?
The Tesla Model 3 is better for EV buyers who want 279 hp, 420 Nm, 534 km claimed range and a 594-litre boot. The Mazda 3 Sedan is the better fit for a lower RM119,620 entry price, petrol refuelling and RM90 annual road tax.
What is the price difference?
The Tesla Model 3 costs RM149,000, which is RM29,380 more than the RM119,620 Mazda 3 Sedan.
Which has more boot space and faster charging?
The Tesla Model 3 has the larger 594-litre boot against the Mazda 3 Sedan’s 444 litres. It also supports 11 kW AC and 170 kW DC charging, while the Mazda is petrol-powered.