Verdict
The Mazda CX-5 KM asks RM168,510 against the Mazda CX-5 Mk1’s RM126,166, a RM42,344 step that brings 185 hp and 257 Nm rather than 155 hp and 200 Nm, plus seven airbags and active braking. It is also 135 mm longer on a 115 mm longer wheelbase, although its rated consumption rises from 6.0 to 7.6 L/100 km and annual road tax from RM439 to RM830. For a Malaysian buyer, the KM is the better-equipped choice; the Mk1 keeps running costs lower.
Pick the Mazda CX-5 Mk1 if lower purchase cost, RM439 annual road tax and 6.0 L/100 km rated economy matter more than modern driver-assistance kit.
Pick the Mazda CX-5 KM if you want 185 hp, 257 Nm, seven airbags and a much fuller safety and convenience suite.
Key differences
- Price: Mazda CX-5 Mk1 RM126,166; Mazda CX-5 KM RM168,510.
- Engine output: Mk1 155 hp and 200 Nm; KM 185 hp and 257 Nm.
- Rated economy: Mk1 6.0 L/100 km; KM 7.6 L/100 km.
- Annual road tax: Mk1 RM439; KM RM830.
- Length and wheelbase: Mk1 4,555 mm and 2,700 mm; KM 4,690 mm and 2,815 mm.
- Safety: Mk1 has six airbags and no autonomous braking; KM has seven airbags and Smart Brake Support.
Mk1
- 6.0 L/100 km rated fuel economy.
- RM439 annual road tax.
- 561-litre boot space.
- 155 hp and 200 Nm trail the KM’s 185 hp and 257 Nm.
- Six airbags, with no blind-spot system or autonomous braking.
- 17-inch wheels, halogen headlamps and manual front-seat adjustment.
KM
- 185 hp and 257 Nm from its 2.5-litre engine.
- Seven airbags, Smart Brake Support and blind-spot monitoring.
- Adaptive LED headlamps, ventilated front seats and a 360-degree camera.
- 7.6 L/100 km rated economy versus the Mk1’s 6.0 L/100 km.
- RM830 annual road tax versus RM439.
- 1,654 kg kerb weight versus 1,522 kg.
What the Mk1 has over the KM
What the KM has over the Mk1
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 | RM126,166✓ | RM168,510 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM439✓ | RM830 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM1,290/mo✓ | RM1,720/mo |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM3,593✓ | RM4,728 |
| Fuel / year (est.) | RM3,582 | RM3,025✓ |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM17.91 | RM15.12✓ |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM38,073✓ | RM42,915 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated with 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 | 155 hp at 6,000 rpm | 185 hp✓ |
| Torque | 200 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 L/100 km✓ | 7.6 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | — | 187 km/h✓ |
| Co2 | 139 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,555 mm | 4,690 mm |
| Width | 1,840 mm | 1,860 mm |
| Height | 1,670 mm | 1,695 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,700 mm | 2,815 mm |
| Weight | 1,522 kg | 1,654 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 56 litres | 56 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 561 litres | — |
| Front Tyre | 225/65R17 | 225/55R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/65R17 | 225/55R19 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Space Saver (T155/80 R17) |
| 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) |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | 5 stars — With 6 airbags and stability control | — |
| ANCAP | 5 stars — With 6 airbags and stability control | — |
| 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 | ✓ | ✓ |
| 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 | — | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | — | 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 | Halogen projector | Adaptive LED (ALH) with Signature Illumination, Auto Levelling |
| Taillamps | Normal Bulb | LED Combination with Signature Illumination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | — | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| 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 | 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 |
| Sunroof | — | 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 | Touch-screen with radio, CD, MP3, AUX, USB and Bluetooth, 6 speakers | 12.9" Touchscreen with Voice Recognition, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 12-Speaker BOSE Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Driver's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | All Windows, One-touch Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Start | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Remote Control Activation | 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 | — | 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 | — | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | — | 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 | 3 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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Mk1 vs KM FAQ
Is the Mazda CX-5 Mk1 or Mazda CX-5 KM better?
The Mazda CX-5 KM is better for performance, safety and equipment, with 185 hp, seven airbags and Smart Brake Support. The Mk1 makes more sense if its lower road tax and 6.0 L/100 km rated economy are the priority.
What is the price difference?
The Mazda CX-5 KM costs RM42,344 more than the Mazda CX-5 Mk1. That extra money buys the 2.5-litre engine, more safety assistance, larger wheels, powered and ventilated front seats, and a 360-degree camera.
Which Mazda CX-5 uses less fuel on paper?
The Mazda CX-5 Mk1 does, with a rated 6.0 L/100 km figure versus 7.6 L/100 km for the Mazda CX-5 KM. The trade-off is 155 hp and 200 Nm instead of 185 hp and 257 Nm.
Which one is locally assembled?
The Mk1 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.
Which has the better warranty?
The KM carries a 5-year manufacturer warranty against 3 years for the Mk1. KM: Complimentary scheduled maintenance including parts, lubricants and labour.