Bermaz Motor has begun accepting bookings for the Mazda 3 1.5L High Plus, which will be offered in both sedan and hatchback (or Liftback) body styles, both estimated at RM119,620 on-the-road without insurance. This marks the return of a 1.5L option, which was dropped when the Mazda 3 got updated back in October 2023.
As the name suggests, the 1.5L High Plus is a step above the previous 1.5L Mid, although we’re not getting a full spec sheet for now. Referring to postings by local dealers, deliveries of the new variant are expected to commence in September. It is claimed to come with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED signature lighting, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers as well as keyless entry and start (with walk-away auto lock).
Inside, there is a seven-inch instrument cluster display, paddle shifters, dual-zone climate control (with rear vents), a powered driver’s seat (with memory function), leather seat upholstery, a 10.25-inch infotainment display, wireless Apple CarPlay (and presumably wired Android Auto) support, eight-speakers and a wireless charging pad. Other mentionable features include a reverse camera, seven airbags and G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus).
A full ADAS suite is also welcomed – the previous 1.5 Mid had none – and includes features such as steering-responsive headlamps (AFS), auto high beam (HBC), blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, driver attention alert, front and rear autonomous emergency braking (Smart Brake Support), Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) and Cruising & Traffic Support (CTS).
2023 Mazda 3 2.0L High Plus Sedan
Under the bonnet, the 1.5L High Plus carries over the 1.5L Mid’s Skyactiv-G 1.5 litre naturally-aspirated inline-four petrol engine making 118 hp and 153 Nm of torque. Also familiar is the Skyactiv-Drive six-speed automatic transmission that sends drive to the front wheels.
The October 2023 update brought with it a number of notable improvements to non-Ignite Edition variants, including USB-C ports instead of USB-A, the aforementioned 10.25-inch infotainment display, wireless charging pad, wireless Apple CarPlay support, (MRCC) with stop and go function as well as CTS.
If the spec sheet local dealers are advertising is true, the 1.5L High Plus seems to be a good deal if you’re in the market for a Mazda 3 – fully-imported (CBU) from Japan – and want the High Plus’ features, but can make do without the 2.0 litre NA four-pot petrol engine with 162 hp and 213 Nm.
The most affordable 2.0L variant of the Mazda 3 currently available is the 2.0L High, which is only offered as a sedan priced at RM156,059. As such, the 1.5L High Plus is RM36,439 cheaper and gets more kit than the 2.0L High, with the only (if you care) downside being the smaller-displacement engine.
Click to enlarge
The 1.5L High Plus looks to be comparable, in terms of equipment, to the 2.0L High Plus, which is also available in two body styles. The latter retails for RM166,059, which is RM46,439 more than the 1.5L High Plus, but again, it gets the 2.0 litre engine. Also worth pointing out the estimated price is less than the 1.5 Mid, which was launched way back in July 2019 at RM139,620.
As with most Mazda models, the 1.5L High Plus comes with a five-year, 100,000-km warranty and free maintenance package. Also included is Activ-e window tint, and buyers will get to choose from seven colours: Machine Grey, Soul Red Crystal. Polymetal Grey, Deep Crystal Blue, Snowflake White Pearl, Jet Black and Platinum Quartz.
We’ll have more information when the 1.5L High Plus is officially launched. For now, you can register your interest and share your thoughts on whether the new variant is worth it in the comments below.
With the launch of the 2023 update for the Mazda 3 range in Malaysia, the C-segment model has had its range of variants trimmed, with the Mid variants across both sedan and hatchback bodystyles cut from the range and with those, the 1.5 litre powertrain has also been dropped from the Mazda 3, which is fully imported (CBU) for all variants.
Here then, is the 2023 Mazda 3 2.0L High Plus Sedan, the top sedan variant for Malaysia. Powering this is the Skyactiv-G 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated inline-four petrol engine rated to produce 162 hp at 6,000 rpm and 213 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm, which is now the only engine available across all four variants of the Mazda 3 on sale. As before, this drives the front wheels through a Skyactiv-Drive six-speed automatic transmission.
The exterior of the High Plus variant is signified by the signature illumination on the headlamps and tail lamps, LED daytime running lights, 18-inch alloy wheels which are finished in silver on the sedan, 215/45 tyres, and four front parking sensors.
Inside, the 2.0L High Plus variant of the Mazda 3 Sedan brings black leather upholstery, and includes the addition of a Qi wireless charging pad, support for wireless Apple CarPlay, Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) with stop-and-go function, as well as Cruising & Traffic Support. Also new for the 2023 Mazda 3 are the USB-C ports which replace the USB-A set, and a 10.25-inch infotainment display.
Going for the High Plus variant of the Mazda 3 Sedan also brings the Mazda i-Activsense suite of safety systems, and this includes Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), High Beam Control (HBC), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Lane Keep Assist System (LAS), Driver Attention Alert (DAA), Smart Brake Support (SBS – front and rear), Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) and Cruising & Traffic Support (CTS).
Each new 2023 Mazda 3 is supported by a five-year, 100,000 km manufacturer’s warranty and a free maintenance package. Seven exterior colours are available, and these are Soul Red Crystal, Machine Grey, Polymetal Grey, Platinum Quartz, Deep Crystal Blue, Jet Black and Snowflake White Pearl. Check out our live image gallery of the 2023 Mazda 3 2.0L High Plus Sedan, here.
Bermaz Motor today announced an update for the Mazda 3, which now comes with a revised kit list and a downsized variant line-up. As before, the C-segment model will be offered in both sedan and hatchback (also referred to as the Liftback) guises, and comes fully imported (CBU) from Japan.
In total, there are now four variants for customers to choose from, including the High and High Plus if you want the Mazda 3 as a sedan. Should you prefer the hatchback look, your options are the High Plus and Ignite Edition. Prices have gone up as we reported previously and are listed as follows (figures are on-the-road without insurance):
2023 Mazda 3 2.0L High Sedan – RM156,059 (+RM5,000)
2023 Mazda 3 2.0L High Plus Sedan/Hatchback – RM166,059 (+RM5,000)
It should be noted that the Mid variant that was previously available for both body styles has been dropped from the line-up. This also means that customers who want a Mazda 3 with a 1.5 litre engine no longer have such an option as this was only offered with the now-removed base variant.
As such, the only engine available for the Mazda 3 now is the Skyactiv-G 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated inline-four petrol engine that serves up 162 hp at 6,000 rpm and 213 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. This is fitted to all four variants and drives the front wheels via a Skyactiv-Drive six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode.
Two reasons to go with the sedan body style despite the identical powertrain setup are a higher top speed (216 km/h versus the hatchback’s 210 km/h) and slightly better NEDC-rated fuel consumption (6.2 l/100 km versus 6.3 l/100 km). The powertrain also comes with start/stop idling technology as well as G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus).
Since this is an IPM (an internal code denoting a refresh or minor year model updates), the design of the Mazda 3 remains pretty much the same as before. As for the notable equipment revisions, they are as follows:
Qi wireless charging pad added (from High Plus onwards)
Wireless Apple CarPlay support added (from High Plus onwards)
Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) now comes with stop and go function (from High Plus onwards)
Cruising & Traffic Support (CTS) added (from High Plus onwards; already introduced on the previous Ignite Edition last year)
12-speaker Bose sound system added (Ignite Edition only)
In terms of individual kit, the 2.0L High Sedan comes with 16-inch alloy wheels (with 205/60 profile tyres), automatic LED headlamps, bulb-type DRLs, LED taillights, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry and engine start, four rear parking sensors, an electronic parking brake (with auto hold), a seven-inch instrument cluster display, a windshield-projected head-up display, dual-zone climate control (with rear vents), a 10-way powered driver’s seat with memory function and black leather seat upholstery.
There’s also the aforementioned 10.25-inch infotainment screen that comes with support for wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as well as an eight-speaker audio system. Seven airbags come standard with the new base option, along with a reverse camera and usual array of passive systems: ABS, EBD, brake assist, DSC, traction control, emergency stop signal, hill start assist, auto door lock (with walk away function), ISOFIX child seat anchors and all-seat seatbelt reminder.
Going up to the High Plus – available as sedan or hatchback – the kit list improves with the addition of signature illumination for the headlamps and taillights, LED DRLs, 18-inch alloys (silver on the sedan and grey on the hatchback, 215/45 profile tyres, four front parking sensors, wireless Apple CarPlay support and a wireless charging pad.
This variant also adds the Mazda i-Activsense suite of systems, which include Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), High Beam Control (HBC), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Lane Keep Assist System (LAS), Driver Attention Alert (DAA), Smart Brake Support (SBS – front and rear), Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) and Cruising & Traffic Support (CTS).
2023 Mazda 3 price list and spec sheet; click to enlarge
Lastly, the hatchback-only Ignite Edition further improves upon the High Plus by gaining black 18-inch alloys and side mirrors, a 360-degree camera, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, burgundy leather upholstery and driver monitoring for the DAA system.
A five-year, 100,000-km manufacturer warranty and free maintenance package is included with each Mazda 3 purchased. Seven colours are now available for all variants, namely Soul Red Crystal, Machine Grey, Polymetal Grey, Platinum Quartz, Deep Crystal Blue, Jet Black and Snowflake White Pearl.
What do you think of the changes made to the Mazda 3? Would you pick it over close rivals like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
There’s just so much to talk about the new Mazda 3. About the car itself, there’s the usual specifications and features, but the main talking points are the fourth-generation car’s looks and price. It’s a CBU import from Japan, and the five variants over two bodystyles (sedan and hatchback) and three trim levels are priced from RM139,620 to RM160,059.
That’s a lot of money – D-segment sedan money for a much smaller 1.5L NA-powered car, in fact. It stands no chance against traditional C-segment rivals and even SUVs when it comes to value for money. But that’s not Mazda’s point. The Hiroshima-based carmaker has always been a little left field, and so is this Mazda 3, which the company wants us to consider as a “premium” product.
Premium. Does this mean that we should evaluate the 3 with the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and BMW 1 Series in mind? But the 1.5L models start the race with a huge output deficit (over 50 hp, over 60 Nm) against the Honda Civic, which doesn’t have any premium aspirations – does premium not include performance? The Mazda’s interior is very nice, even the 1.5L’s, and I love the minimalist Audi-style feel, but there are parts that feel low rent, parts that VW won’t sanction for a Golf, for instance.
See what we said about there being lots to talk about? There’s more, and you’ll see Jonathan Lee raise these points of contention in our video review of the Mazda 3, sampled here in 1.5L Hatchback and 2.0L High Plus Sedan forms.
Not everything about the Mazda 3 divides opinion, though. All of us agree that it’s a stirring drive, especially the 1.5L hatchback, which surprisingly has a rather different character than the 2.0L sedan. Also strikingly obvious is the improvement in refinement and isolation, a weak point in the previous gen. And of course, it looks great – most would be drawn to the bold hatch, but the sedan benefits from better proportions and looks less stubby now.
For most car buyers, the Mazda 3 will be a non-starter due to its price tag – it just doesn’t make sense next to the many options around the RM150k mark. But we reckon that there will be enough buyers convinced by the Mazda’s unique blend of driver and design appeal to shell out the considerable sum. Irrational, but that’s what people do for premium brands. Perhaps Mazda isn’t too crazy after all, eh?
Since the Malaysian launch of the 2019 Mazda 3, the fourth-generation sedan and hatchback models received mixed responses from the public, largely due to pricing – from RM140k to RM160k – and the 1.5 litre SkyActiv-G base engine offering.
Well, Mazda’s immediate reaction to that is to field the entire C-segment line-up at the Sepang International Circuit for two driving exercises. The first is a high-speed run around the 5.5-km track, which gave us the opportunity to sample both the 1.5 litre and 2.0 litre variants, as their new respective SkyActiv chassis.
Due to time constraints, our assessment of the vehicles were only limited to their performance (outright acceleration, gear shift characteristics, and braking), handling, and the improved G-Vectoring Control Plus. To find out how the cars fared, be sure to watch our first drive video above.
To recap, the 2019 Mazda 3 is fully imported from Japan. Three variants are available, starting with the 1.5, 2.0 High, and 2.0 High Plus, priced at RM139,620, RM150,059 and RM160,059 respectively. Included in the price is a five-year/100,000 km warranty, five-year/100,000 free maintenance package, as well as SkyTint security window tint.
At long last, the all-new, fourth-generation Mazda 3 has finally made its launch debut in Malaysia, with three variants (1.5, 2.0 High and 2.0 High Plus) and two body styles (sedan and hatchback) available. The C-segment model comes fully imported (CBU) from Japan, competes against nameplates like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla Altis, Hyundai Elantra and Volkswagen Golf, just to name a few.
At first glance, the visual differences between the two body styles are easily apparent, as the sedan gets a pin-style grille with chrome surrounds, while the hatchback adopts a honeycomb-like design with black trim instead. In profile, the sculpted sides play with light and shadow to create reflections that are unique to each model, with another cue being the prominent C-pillar and shorter rump on the hatchback as compared to the sedan.
While the exterior of both body styles are distinctive in their own right, the interior is identical, with a cabin that cuts down on “visual noise,” and has a driver-centric approach that also sees improvements to practicality. The infotainment display is much larger this time around, and it is powered by the latest version of the Mazda Connect system, although it does lose touch functionality to reduce cognitive distraction.
Below it, the air vents and climate system switchgear are positioned on a horizontal plane that leads into a restyled instrument binnacle that contains a digital instrument cluster display alongside analogue dials. There’s a new steering wheel design here, and the driver also gets two dedicated air vents.
Also revamped is the centre console, where the two cupholders are brought further forward aft to a small cubby space. The centre armrest is also much larger this time around, and features a “karakuri” opening mechanism to reveal additional storage. Even the Commander Control switchgear is new, and is designed to be more intuitive to operate.
For our market, we get two naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engines from Mazda’s SkyActiv-G range, with the first being a 1.5 litre unit that makes 118 hp at 6,000 rpm and 153 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The other option is a 2.0 litre powerplant serving up 162 hp at 6,000 rpm and 213 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. Regardless of which mill you pick, both are paired with a SkyActiv-Drive six-speed automatic transmission, with drive going to the front wheels.
The base variant, which is offered as a sedan and hatchback, is priced at RM139,620 on-the-road without insurance, and comes with the 1.5 litre engine. In terms of equipment, you get automatic LED projector headlamps with bulb-type daytime running lights, LED taillights and 16-inch alloy wheels on the outside.
As for the interior, there’s single-zone manual air-conditioning, a seven-inch TFT-LCD digital instrument cluster display, an 8.8-inch central display linked to a Mazda Connect infotainment system with eight speakers, fabric upholstery, windscreen-projected head-up display, a soft-touch dash and door cards, plus manually operated front seats.
Further up the range is the 2.0 High variant that retails at RM150,059, but is available only in sedan form. Paying the premium over the base model nets you the larger-capacity 2.0 litre motor, along with more goodies in the kit list. Improvements over the base model include the addition of keyless entry, leather upholstery, a sunroof, frameless rearview mirror, 10-way powered driver seat with two-setting memory function, and dual-zone climate control with rear air vents.
At the very top is the 2.0 High Plus, which can be ordered in both body styles, and goes for RM160,059. This variant gets all the items found on the 2.0 High, with upgrades being larger 18-inch wheels in place of the 16-inch units, as well as adaptive LED headlamp.
You’ll also get four front parking sensors, along with a full complement of Mazda i-Activsense safety and driver assistance systems. These include Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), High Beam Control (HBC), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Lane Keep Assist System (LAS), Driver Attention Alert (DAA), Smart Brake Support (SBS – front and rear) and Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC), the last item being the first time Bermaz has offered the driver assistance feature on a Mazda model.
Speaking of safety, all variants come as standard with traction control, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBA), emergency brake assist (EBA), hill launch assist (HLA), G-Vectoring Control Plus, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and seven airbags (front, side, curtain and a new addition being for the driver’s knee).
In terms of colour options, the get seven colours to choose from – Soul Red Crystal, Machine Grey, Snowflake White Pearl, Deep Crystal Blue, Sonic Silver, Jet Black and Polymetal Grey, although it should be noted that the last option is only offered for the hatchback.
We’ve already had a chance to get up close with the new Mazda 3, and you can check out our first look video here (or below). There’s also a detailed look at some of the technological highlights of the car, as well as our first impressions of the model for further reading. So, what do you think of the new Mazda 3? Share your thoughts on the model in the comments section below.
Here’s a variant-by-variant breakdown for your convenience. For detailed specifications of the new Mazda 3, head on over to CarBase.my.
Mazda 3 1.5L Sedan, 1.5L Hatchback – RM139,620 Comes standard with:
SkyActiv-G 1.5 litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine (118 hp and 153 Nm) with i-Stop idling technology
SkyActiv-Drive six-speed automatic transmission with manual mode
Automatic LED projector headlamps
LED rear taillights
16-inch alloy wheels with 205/60 profile tyres
Four rear parking sensors
Reverse camera
Leather-wrapped dashboard
Single-zone manual air-conditioning
Fabric seats
Manually operated front seats with thigh support adjustment
Tilt and telescopic multifunction steering wheel
Seven-inch TFT-LCD full-colour digital instrument cluster display
8.8-inch primary display
Mazda Connect infotainment system with Commander Control, eight speakers, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support
Full-colour, windscreen-projected head-up display
Seven airbags (front, side, curtain and driver’s knee)
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), traction control, ABS, EBD with brake assist
Hill Launch Assist (HLA)
Rear corner Isofix child seat anchors with top tethers
G-Vectoring Control Plus
Click to enlarge
Mazda 3 2.0 High Sedan – RM150,059 Adds on:
SkyActiv-G 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine (162 hp and 213 Nm) with i-Stop idling technology
Paddle shifters
Electric powered sunroof
Frameless rearview mirror
Keyless entry
Leather seats
10-way powered driver seat with two-setting memory function
Dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air vents
Mazda 3 2.0 High Plus Sedan, 2.0 High Plus Hatchback – RM160,059 Adds on:
Adaptive LED projector headlamps with LED daytime running light signature
18-inch alloy wheels with 215/45 profile tyres
Four front parking sensors
Mazda i-Activsense safety and driver asssistance systems – Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Lane Keep Assist System (LAS), Driver Attention Alert (DAA), Smart Brake Support (SBS – front and rear), High Beam Control (HBC) and Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC)
We’ve spoken a great deal about the latest Mazda 3 in our previous post(s), and now it’s time to share our first impressions of the model, which will be launched in Malaysia in about a month’s time. The new car is a big deal for Mazda, as it is the first in the company’s next-generation product line-up that also includes the CX-30.
As you’ve gathered from our most recent technical breakdown piece, a lot of effort has been made to remedy an issue that is commonly associated with the outgoing model: NVH. That’s not all, as the company still needs to maintain its reputation for designing cars that are visually striking in terms of both exterior and interior design – the latter now with more practical considerations.
These measures are necessary as the company aims to further distinguish itself as a more upmarket brand compared to other carmakers such as Honda and Toyota, which command a significantly greater market share; look at the Japanese car sales figures for 2018 and you’ll see Mazda in sixth place (220,743 units), behind first-placed Toyota (1,508,647 units) and Honda (747,226 units) in second place.
So, does the Mazda 3 deliver on the company’s promises? Well, we had the opportunity to sample the direct rival to the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla Altis at the Mine Circuit in Japan, one of several proving grounds that Mazda uses to test its vehicles. More after the jump.
