Verdict
The Mazda CX-30 is the rational Malaysian buy at RM122,409: it is RM46,101 cheaper, uses a rated 6.4 L/100 km and carries RM439 annual road tax. The Mazda CX-5 justifies part of its RM168,510 ask with 185 hp and 257 Nm, versus 162 hp and 213 Nm, plus a 2,815-mm wheelbase, adaptive safety systems and far richer cabin equipment. But its RM830 road tax and 7.6 L/100 km rating make the running-cost gap clear. Pick the CX-5 for its added capability and equipment, not outright value.
Pick the Mazda CX-30 if you want the lower RM122,409 entry price, lower RM439 road tax and a more compact 4,395-mm SUV.
Pick the Mazda CX-5 if you need 185 hp, 257 Nm, a 2,815-mm wheelbase and Smart Brake Support with Mazda Radar Cruise Control.
Key differences
- Price: Mazda CX-30 RM122,409; Mazda CX-5 RM168,510.
- Engine output: Mazda CX-30 162 hp and 213 Nm; Mazda CX-5 185 hp and 257 Nm.
- Rated fuel economy: Mazda CX-30 6.4 L/100 km; Mazda CX-5 7.6 L/100 km.
- Dimensions: Mazda CX-30 4,395 mm long with a 2,655-mm wheelbase; Mazda CX-5 4,690 mm long with a 2,815-mm wheelbase.
- Road tax: Mazda CX-30 RM439 per year; Mazda CX-5 RM830 per year.
- Wheels: Mazda CX-30 16-inch alloys with 215/65R16 tyres; Mazda CX-5 19-inch alloys with 225/55R19 tyres.
CX-30
- RM46,101 less to buy.
- Rated at 6.4 L/100 km.
- 430-litre boot and a tilt-and-slide sunroof.
- 162 hp and 213 Nm trail the CX-5's 185 hp and 257 Nm.
- No autonomous braking, blind-spot information system or lane-keeping assist.
- Manual front seats and manual air-conditioning.
CX-5
- 185 hp and 257 Nm from the 2.5-litre engine.
- Smart Brake Support, blind-spot monitoring and Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go.
- Ventilated power front seats, rear air vents and a 360-degree camera.
- Costs RM46,101 more and annual road tax is RM391 higher.
- Rated fuel consumption is 7.6 L/100 km versus 6.4 L/100 km.
- Larger 4,690-mm length and 1,860-mm width demand more parking space than the CX-30.
What the CX-30 has over the CX-5
What the CX-5 has over the CX-30
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The CX-5's wheelbase is 160 mm longer, which usually translates to more rear legroom. The CX-5 is 65 mm wider — more shoulder room, but a tighter fit in parking bays.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM122,409✓ | RM168,510 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM439✓ | RM830 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM1,250/mo✓ | RM1,720/mo |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM3,496✓ | RM4,728 |
| Fuel / year (est.) | RM2,547✓ | RM3,025 |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM12.74✓ | RM15.12 |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM32,411✓ | RM42,915 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally Aspirated with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing | SKYACTIV-G 2.5L DOHC 16-Valve with VVT and i-Stop, Direct Injection |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 2,488 cc |
| Horsepower | 162 hp at 6,000 rpm | 185 hp✓ |
| Torque | 213 Nm at 4,000 rpm | 257 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 83.5 mm × 91.2 mm | 89.0 mm × 100.0 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 13 | 13.0:1 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | SkyActiv-Drive | 6-Speed EAT (SKYACTIV-Drive) |
| Gears | 6 | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Mazda | Mazda |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| Rated Economy | 6.4 L/100 km✓ | 7.6 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 196 km/h✓ | 187 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,395 mm | 4,690 mm |
| Width | 1,795 mm | 1,860 mm |
| Height | 1,540 mm | 1,695 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,655 mm | 2,815 mm |
| Weight | 1,441 kg | 1,654 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 51 litres | 56 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 430 litres | — |
| Front Tyre | 215/65R16 | 225/55R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 215/65R16 | 225/55R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Space Saver (T155/80 R17) |
| Factory Tyres | Yokohama BluEarth-GT AE51 | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 16" Alloy | 19" Alloys (Black Metallic) |
| Rear Wheels | 16" Alloy | 19" Alloys (Black Metallic) |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Electronic Power Assisted (EPAS) |
| Chassis Notes | G-Vectoring Control Plus | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee) | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver Knee) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 3-point All Seats, Front with Pretensioners and Load Limiters |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for Two Outer Rear Seats | 2nd Row with Top Tethers |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Smart Brake Support (Front, Rear, Turn-Across Traffic, Intersection, Front/Rear Crossing) |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Emergency Stop Signal | Adaptive LED Headlights (ALH), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA), Vehicle Exit Warning, Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK), Driver Attention Alert (DAA), Driver Monitoring (DM), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Hill Launch Assist, Auto Hold, Walk-Away Lock |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | Adaptive LED (ALH) with Signature Illumination, Auto Levelling |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination with Signature Illumination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustment | 10-way Power Driver Seat with Memory, 6-way Power Passenger Seat, Ventilated Front Seats |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding, Manual Reclining |
| Front Air-con | Manual Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear AC Vents |
| Sunroof | Front, Tilt and Slide | None |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front | 1 Front 12V, USB-C Front and Rear, 1 Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | LED Map, Overhead and Luggage Lights, Front Footlamps, Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | — |
| Audio | 8.8" MZD Connect Infotainment System with Commander Control Knob, Bluetooth, 8 Speakers, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay | 12.9" Touchscreen with Voice Recognition, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 12-Speaker BOSE Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | All Windows, One-touch Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Walk-away Auto Lock | Keyless Operation, Walk Away Lock, Auto Door Lock |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) with Stop & Go, Cruising & Traffic Support (CTS) |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered with Remote Control Activation | Power Tailgate |
| Parking Sensor Front | — | Yes |
| Parking Sensor Rear | — | Yes |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with 360-degree View Monitor |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | — | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | — | Conventional |
| 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 | Head-up Display, 360-degree View Monitor with See-Through View, Wireless Phone Charger, Power Tailgate, 10-way Power Driver Seat with Memory, 6-way Power Passenger Seat, Ventilated Front Seats, Dual-zone Auto Air Conditioning with Rear Vents, Frameless Auto-dimming Rear View Mirror, G-Vectoring Control Plus |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 5-year/100,000 km Free Service | Complimentary scheduled maintenance including parts, lubricants and labour |
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). Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked October 2026.
Used CX-30 & CX-5 for sale
Our reviews & guides
Mazda CX-30
Mazda CX-5
CX-30 vs CX-5 FAQ
Is the Mazda CX-30 or Mazda CX-5 better?
The CX-5 is better equipped and more powerful, with 185 hp, 257 Nm and extensive driver assistance. The CX-30 is the better value choice, costing RM46,101 less while returning a rated 6.4 L/100 km.
What is the price difference?
The Mazda CX-5 costs RM168,510 and the Mazda CX-30 costs RM122,409, so the difference is RM46,101. The CX-5 also has RM830 annual road tax against RM439 for the CX-30.
Which Mazda SUV is cheaper to run?
The CX-30 has the lower rated fuel consumption at 6.4 L/100 km, compared with 7.6 L/100 km for the CX-5. Its annual road tax is also lower at RM439 versus RM830.
Which one is locally assembled?
The CX-30 is assembled in Malaysia (CKD), while the CX-5 is fully imported (CBU) from Japan. Local assembly generally helps pricing and spare-parts supply, and CKD programmes usually signal a longer-term commitment to the model here.