Verdict
At RM119,620, the Mazda 3 Sedan undercuts the Toyota Corolla’s RM144,800 price by RM25,180, while annual road tax is RM90 against RM279. The Mazda is 30 mm longer and rides on a 25 mm longer wheelbase, yet the Corolla gives back 26 litres more boot space at 470 litres and rear air vents. The Toyota’s 1.8-litre produces 137 hp and 172 Nm, but the Mazda counters with front and rear Smart City Brake Support, blind-spot monitoring, a head-up display and 5.8 L/100 km rated economy. For most Malaysian buyers, the Mazda is the sharper-value choice.
Pick the Mazda 3 Sedan if you want to save RM25,180 while getting front and rear autonomous braking, blind-spot monitoring and 5.8 L/100 km rated economy.
Pick the Toyota Corolla if you need the larger 470-litre boot, rear air vents, 137 hp and 172 Nm, plus a 360-degree camera.
Key differences
- Price: Mazda 3 Sedan RM119,620; Toyota Corolla RM144,800.
- Output: Mazda 3 Sedan 118 hp and 153 Nm; Toyota Corolla 137 hp and 172 Nm.
- Boot space: Mazda 3 Sedan 444 litres; Toyota Corolla 470 litres.
- Wheelbase: Mazda 3 Sedan 2,725 mm; Toyota Corolla 2,700 mm.
- Road tax: Mazda 3 Sedan RM90/year; Toyota Corolla RM279/year.
- Rear suspension: Mazda 3 Sedan torsion beam; Toyota Corolla double wishbone.
3 Sedan
- RM25,180 lower purchase price and RM189 lower annual road tax.
- Front and rear Smart City Brake Support, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping steering correction.
- Head-up display, navigation, eight speakers and two USB-C ports.
- 444-litre boot is 26 litres smaller than the Corolla’s 470 litres.
- 118 hp and 153 Nm trail the Corolla’s 137 hp and 172 Nm.
- No rear air vents or 360-degree camera.
Corolla
- 137 hp and 172 Nm from the 1.8-litre petrol engine.
- 470-litre boot, rear air vents and a full-size 17-inch alloy spare wheel.
- 360-degree camera, auto high beam and a double-wishbone rear suspension.
- Costs RM25,180 more and annual road tax is RM279 versus RM90.
- No listed autonomous braking, blind-spot monitoring, collision warning or lane-keeping assistance.
- No rated fuel-consumption figure, head-up display or navigation.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM119,620✓ | RM144,800 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM90✓ | RM279 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing | 16-valve DOHC, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,496 cc | 1,798 cc |
| Horsepower | 118 hp at 6,000 rpm | 137 hp at 6,400 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 153 Nm at 4,000 rpm | 172 Nm at 4,000 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 74.5 mm × 85.8 mm | 80.5 mm × 88.3 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 14 | 10 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | SkyActiv-Drive | 7 Speed Sequential Shiftmatic CVT |
| Gears | 6 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Mazda | Aisin |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| Rated Economy | 5.8 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 200 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,660 mm | 4,630 mm |
| Width | 1,795 mm | 1,780 mm |
| Height | 1,440 mm | 1,435 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,725 mm | 2,700 mm |
| Weight | 1,361 kg | 1,365 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 51 litres | 50 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 444 litres | 470 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 215/45R18 | 225/45R17 |
| Rear Tyre | 215/45R18 | 225/45R17 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Full-size 17" Alloy |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Turanza T005A | Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Thailand (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam | Double Wishbone |
| Front Wheels | 18" Alloy | 17" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Alloy | 17" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | G-Vectoring Control Plus | — |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars |
| ANCAP | — | 5 stars |
| ASEAN NCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee) | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Driver's Knee, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| 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 | 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 | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | No |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | Front Seats Only | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | Bi-LED Projector with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Driver's Seat, Manual Adjustable Front Passenger Seat | 8-way Power Adjustable Driver's Seat, Manual Adjustable Passenger Seat |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding with Centre Armrest |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear Vents |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 USB-C | 1 Front |
| 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 | 9.0" Infotainment Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 6 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 Push Button 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 with Steering Assist and Stop and Go |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 2 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, With 360 Degree Camera |
| 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 | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 5-year/100,000 km free service | — |
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 & Corolla for sale
3 Sedan vs Corolla FAQ
Is the Mazda 3 Sedan or Toyota Corolla better?
The Mazda 3 Sedan is the better buy for equipment and cost: it saves RM25,180 and adds autonomous braking, blind-spot monitoring and navigation. Choose the Toyota Corolla for its stronger 137 hp engine, 470-litre boot, rear vents and 360-degree camera.
What is the price difference?
The Toyota Corolla costs RM25,180 more than the Mazda 3 Sedan: RM144,800 versus RM119,620. Its annual road tax is also RM189 higher, at RM279 versus RM90.
Which has the better practical cabin?
The Toyota Corolla has the more useful rear-seat and luggage specification, with rear air vents and a 470-litre boot. The Mazda 3 Sedan has a 444-litre boot, but its wheelbase is 2,725 mm, 25 mm longer than the Corolla’s.
