Verdict
For a Malaysian buyer, the F Facelift is the rational spend at RM134,469, saving RM34,041 against the RM168,510 M and cutting annual road tax from RM830 to RM439. The M earns much of that gap with a 2.5-litre engine producing 185 hp and 257 Nm, versus 162 hp and 213 Nm, plus 19-inch wheels, seven airbags, adaptive LED headlamps and extensive braking assistance. It is also 140 mm longer with a 115 mm longer wheelbase. Buy used carefully: the M is better equipped, but its higher running tax remains.
Pick the F Facelift if RM34,041 saved, lower RM439 annual road tax and a 442-litre boot matter more than the M’s extra power and driver assistance.
Pick the M if you want 185 hp, 257 Nm, seven airbags, Smart Brake Support and the 12.9-inch Bose-equipped infotainment system.
Key differences
- Price: F Facelift RM134,469; M RM168,510
- Engine output: F Facelift 162 hp and 213 Nm; M 185 hp and 257 Nm
- Road tax: F Facelift RM439/year; M RM830/year
- Length and wheelbase: F Facelift 4,550 mm and 2,700 mm; M 4,690 mm and 2,815 mm
- Wheels: F Facelift 17-inch alloys with 225/65R17 tyres; M 19-inch alloys with 225/55R19 tyres
- Airbags: F Facelift six; M seven, including a driver knee airbag
KF Facelift
- RM34,041 lower purchase price
- RM391 lower annual road tax
- 442-litre boot space
- 162 hp and 213 Nm trail the M’s 185 hp and 257 Nm
- No autonomous braking, blind-spot monitoring or lane-keeping assistance
- Manual front seats and no front-seat ventilation
KM
- 2.5-litre engine makes 185 hp and 257 Nm
- Smart Brake Support, blind-spot monitoring and steering correction
- Power front seats, ventilated front seats and a 360-degree view monitor
- RM34,041 more expensive
- Annual road tax is RM830 versus RM439
- No navigation is specified, while the F Facelift has it
What the KF Facelift has over the KM
What the KM has over the KF Facelift
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The KM's wheelbase is 115 mm longer, which usually translates to more rear legroom.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM134,469✓ | RM168,510 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM439✓ | RM830 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM1,375/mo✓ | RM1,720/mo |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM3,809✓ | RM4,728 |
| Fuel / year (est.) | — | RM3,025 |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | — | RM15.12 |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | — | 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 with Manual Shift and Sport mode | 6-Speed EAT (SKYACTIV-Drive) |
| Gears | 6 | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Mazda | Mazda |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 10.4 seconds | — |
| Rated Economy | — | 7.6 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 176 km/h | 187 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,550 mm | 4,690 mm |
| Width | 1,840 mm | 1,860 mm |
| Height | 1,675 mm | 1,695 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,700 mm | 2,815 mm |
| Weight | 1,588 kg | 1,654 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 56 litres | 56 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 442 litres | — |
| Front Tyre | 225/65R17 | 225/55R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/65R17 | 225/55R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Space Saver (T155/80 R17) |
| Factory Tyres | Continental CrossContact LX Sport | — |
| Wiper Blade (Driver) | 24 inch | — |
| Wiper Blade (Passenger) | 18 inch | — |
| Wiper Blade (Rear) | 14 inch | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 17" Alloy | 19" Alloys (Black Metallic) |
| Rear Wheels | 17" Alloy | 19" Alloys (Black Metallic) |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Electronic Power Assisted (EPAS) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 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 passenger 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 | Front Seats Only | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | 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 | LED Combination | LED Combination with Signature Illumination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | 10-way Power Driver Seat with Memory, 6-way Power Passenger Seat, Ventilated Front Seats |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding, Manual Reclining |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Rear AC Vents |
| Sunroof | — | None |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 4 USB, 1 Wireless Charger | 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 | 8.0" Display Audio Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 6 Speakers | 12.9" Touchscreen with Voice Recognition, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 12-Speaker BOSE Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up & 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 | 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 | Remote Control Activation | Power Tailgate |
| Parking Sensor Front | — | Yes |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | Yes |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with 360-degree View Monitor |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | — |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Power Door | — | Conventional |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Digital/Analogue | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | 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 | — | 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.
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KF Facelift vs KM FAQ
Is the Mazda CX-5 KF Facelift or Mazda CX-5 KM better?
The M is better equipped and more powerful, with 185 hp, 257 Nm, seven airbags and Smart Brake Support. The F Facelift is the better cost-led choice, saving RM34,041 upfront and RM391 a year in road tax.
What is the price difference?
The M costs RM34,041 more than the F Facelift. That is a substantial gap, but it brings the 2.5-litre engine, 19-inch wheels, powered ventilated front seats, a 360-degree camera and additional safety systems.
Which CX-5 has more driver assistance?
The M does. It has Smart Brake Support for several scenarios, blind-spot monitoring, rear and front cross-traffic alerts, steering correction, Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go and a driver monitoring system. The F Facelift has passive cruise control and no autonomous braking.
Which one is locally assembled?
The KF Facelift is assembled in Malaysia (CKD), while the KM 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.