Verdict
At RM119,620, the Mazda 3 Hatchback BP is RM6,656 cheaper yet adds front-and-rear Smart City Brake Support, steering lane correction and adaptive cruise control with Highway & Traffic Jam Assist. That makes it the sharper everyday buy. But the outgoing Mazda 3 Hatchback BM Facelift answers with a 2.0-litre engine producing 162 hp and 210 Nm, against the BP’s 118 hp and 153 Nm, plus a 308-litre boot. For a Malaysian used-car buyer, the BM’s RM379 annual road tax versus RM90 also needs to be part of the calculation.
Pick the Mazda 3 Hatchback BM Facelift if 162 hp, 210 Nm and its 308-litre boot matter more to you than lower running costs and newer driver assistance.
Pick the Mazda 3 Hatchback BP if you want the lower RM90 road tax, adaptive cruise control and front-and-rear autonomous braking.
Key differences
- Price: Mazda 3 Hatchback BM Facelift RM126,276; Mazda 3 Hatchback BP RM119,620.
- Engine output: BM Facelift 162 hp and 210 Nm; BP 118 hp and 153 Nm.
- Road tax: BM Facelift RM379 per year; BP RM90 per year.
- Wheelbase and boot: BM Facelift 2,700 mm and 308 litres; BP 2,725 mm and 295 litres.
- Airbags and lane assist: BM Facelift six airbags with warning-only lane keeping; BP seven airbags with steering correction.
- Climate control and cruise control: BM Facelift single-zone automatic air-con with passive cruise; BP dual-zone automatic air-con with adaptive cruise and…
BM Facelift
- 162 hp and 210 Nm from the 2.0-litre engine.
- Larger 308-litre boot.
- Adaptive LED projector headlamps and front foglamps.
- RM6,656 more expensive and RM289 more annual road tax.
- Six airbags, warning-only lane keeping and front-only Smart City Brake System.
- Single-zone climate control and passive cruise control.
BP
- Lower RM119,620 price and RM90 annual road tax.
- Seven airbags, front-and-rear Smart City Brake Support and lane steering correction.
- Adaptive cruise control, dual-zone climate control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
- Its 1.5-litre engine produces 118 hp and 153 Nm, down 44 hp and 57 Nm.
- 295-litre boot is 13 litres smaller.
- No front foglamps.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM126,276 | RM119,620✓ |
| Body type | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM379 | RM90✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 1,496 cc |
| Horsepower | 162 hp at 6,000 rpm✓ | 118 hp at 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 210 Nm at 4,000 rpm✓ | 153 Nm at 4,000 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 83.5 mm × 91.2 mm | 74.5 mm × 85.8 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 14 | 14 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | SkyActiv-Drive | SkyActiv-Drive |
| Gears | 6 | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Mazda | Mazda |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| Rated Economy | —✓ | 5.9 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | — | 200 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,460 mm | 4,460 mm |
| Width | 1,795 mm | 1,795 mm |
| Height | 1,450 mm | 1,435 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,700 mm | 2,725 mm |
| Weight | 1,344 kg | 1,368 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 51 litres | 51 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 308 litres✓ | 295 litres |
| Front Tyre | 215/45R18 | 215/45R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 215/45R18 | 215/45R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Toyo Proxes T1 Sport | Bridgestone Turanza T005A |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 18" Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | G-Vectoring Control | G-Vectoring Control Plus |
| 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's Knee) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| 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 for two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Smart City Brake System (4-80 km/h) | Yes, Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) - Front and Rear |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Warning Only | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | Front Seats Only | Front Seats Only |
| Safety Notes | Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) | Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED Projector with high beam assist | 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 | Power Adjustable Driver's Seat, Manual Adjustable Front Passenger Seat |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front | 1 Front, 2 USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 7" Touch-screen with Commander Control, navigation, CD, Bluetooth, AUX and USB, 6 speakers | 8.8" MZD Connect Infotainment System with Commander Control Knob, Bluetooth, 8 Speakers, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Driver's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Highway & Traffic Jam Assist |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | — | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Digital/Analogue | Digital/Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Central rev counter with digital speedometer | 7" TFT-LCD Digital Instrument Cluster Display with Analogue Dials |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 3-year/60,000 km free service | 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 cars for sale
BM Facelift vs BP FAQ
Is the Mazda 3 Hatchback BM Facelift or Mazda 3 Hatchback BP better?
The Mazda 3 Hatchback BP is the better all-round buy: it costs less, has lower road tax, seven airbags, front-and-rear autonomous braking and adaptive cruise control. Choose the BM Facelift if its 162 hp 2.0-litre engine and larger boot are the priority.
What is the price difference?
The Mazda 3 Hatchback BP is RM6,656 cheaper than the Mazda 3 Hatchback BM Facelift. Its annual road tax is also RM289 lower, at RM90 versus RM379.
Which Mazda 3 hatchback has the stronger engine?
The Mazda 3 Hatchback BM Facelift does. Its 1,998 cc engine makes 162 hp and 210 Nm, while the BP’s 1,496 cc engine produces 118 hp and 153 Nm.
