Verdict
For Malaysian hatchback buyers, the Mazda 3 Hatchback is the rational pick at RM119,620, saving RM49,268. It brings seven airbags, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping steering correction and adaptive cruise control. Its 295-litre boot is restrictive, though. The Nissan Leaf costs RM168,888 but answers with a 40.0-kWh battery, 270 km EV range, a 148 hp/320 Nm motor and a much larger 435-litre boot. Choose it when charging access and electric driving matter more than the shorter three-year vehicle warranty and thinner driver-assistance kit.
The Leaf EV (RM168,888) sits above every 3 Hatchback variant here, so the verdict compares the closest-priced pairing — use the selectors above to match any two trims.
Pick the Mazda 3 Hatchback if you want the lower purchase price, stronger safety assistance and a five-year/100,000 km warranty.
Pick the Nissan Leaf if you can use its 270 km electric range and need the 435-litre boot.
Key differences
- Price: Mazda 3 Hatchback RM119,620; Nissan Leaf RM168,888.
- Power: Mazda 3 Hatchback 118 hp petrol engine; Nissan Leaf 148 hp motor.
- Torque: Mazda 3 Hatchback 153 Nm; Nissan Leaf 320 Nm.
- Top speed: Mazda 3 Hatchback 200 km/h; Nissan Leaf 155 km/h.
- Boot space: Mazda 3 Hatchback 295 litres; Nissan Leaf 435 litres.
- Manufacturer warranty: Mazda 3 Hatchback 5 years/100,000 km; Nissan Leaf 3 years/100,000 km.
3 Hatchback
- RM49,268 lower purchase price.
- Seven airbags, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping steering correction.
- Adaptive cruise control with Highway & Traffic Jam Assist.
- 295-litre boot versus the Leaf's 435 litres.
- No Around View Monitor.
- 118 hp and 153 Nm trail the Leaf's 148 hp and 320 Nm.
Leaf
- 40.0-kWh battery with 270 km EV range.
- 148 hp and 320 Nm from its electric motor.
- 435-litre boot and Around View Monitor.
- RM49,268 more expensive.
- Three-year/100,000 km vehicle warranty versus five years/100,000 km.
- No blind-spot monitoring or lane-keeping assist, and only passive cruise control.
What the 3 Hatchback has over the Leaf
What the Leaf has over the 3 Hatchback
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
Boot space favours the Leaf: 435 litres against 295.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM119,620✓ | RM168,888 |
| Body type | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM90✓ | RM100 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM1,220/mo✓ | RM1,725/mo |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM3,390✓ | RM4,639 |
| Fuel or electricity / year (est.) | RM2,348 | RM1,316✓ |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM11.74 | RM6.58✓ |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM29,139✓ | RM30,277 |
| Charging (estimated) | ||
| AC charge 0–100% (est.) | — | 6.1 hours |
| DC charge 10–80% (est.) | — | 55 min |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing | 400V architecture |
| Capacity | 1,496 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 118 hp at 6,000 rpm | — |
| Torque | 153 Nm at 4,000 rpm | — |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | — |
| Fuel | Petrol | Electric |
| Bore × Stroke | 74.5 mm × 85.8 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 14 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 148 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 320 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 40.0 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 270 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 6.6 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 50.0 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | SkyActiv-Drive | Constant Ratio Gearbox for EV |
| Gears | 6 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Mazda | Nissan |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 7.9 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 5.9 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 200 km/h✓ | 155 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,460 mm | 4,480 mm |
| Width | 1,795 mm | 1,790 mm |
| Height | 1,435 mm | 1,540 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,725 mm | 2,690 mm |
| Weight | 1,368 kg | 1,544 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 51 litres | — |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 295 litres | 435 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 215/45R18 | 215/50R17 |
| Rear Tyre | 215/45R18 | 215/50R17 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Turanza T005A | Dunlop Enasave EC300 |
| Wiper Blade (Driver) | 26 inch | 26 inch |
| Wiper Blade (Passenger) | 17 inch | 16 inch |
| Wiper Blade (Rear) | 14 inch | 14 inch |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Torsion Beam |
| 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 | e-Pedal, Intelligent Ride Control, Intelligent Trace Control |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars — With 6 Airbags and Autonomous Emergency Braking |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee) | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| 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 on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) - Front and Rear | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | No |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | Front Seats Only | Front Seats Only |
| Safety Notes | Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Auto High Beam | LED Projector |
| 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 | Manual Adjustment |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 USB-C | 1 Front |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front |
| Audio | 8.8" MZD Connect Infotainment System with Commander Control Knob, Bluetooth, 8 Speakers, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay | 5" Display Radio/CD Player with USB, Bluetooth, AUX-in and 4 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Driver's Side 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 | Adaptive Cruise Control with Highway & Traffic Jam Assist | Passive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Manual Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | — |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with Around View Monitor (AVM) |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Digital/Analogue | Digital/Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | 7" TFT-LCD Digital Instrument Cluster Display with Analogue Dials | 6.6 kW Wallbox, 7" Information Display, Climate Control Timer |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 3 years |
| Warranty Notes | 5-year/100,000 km free service | 3-year/60,000 km Free Service, 8-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty, Complimentary Usage of Nissan SUV, MPV or Pick-up for 23 Days per Year |
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). Electricity at RM0.44/kWh (TNB domestic, home charging); public DC charging costs around RM1.30/kWh. Charging times estimated from battery capacity and peak charging rates. Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked November 2026.
Used 3 Hatchback & Leaf for sale
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3 Hatchback vs Leaf FAQ
Is the Mazda 3 Hatchback or Nissan Leaf better?
The Mazda 3 Hatchback is better for a lower upfront cost, a longer vehicle warranty and more driver assistance. The Nissan Leaf is better if its 270 km EV range, 320 Nm motor torque and 435-litre boot suit your use.
What is the price difference?
The Nissan Leaf costs RM49,268 more than the Mazda 3 Hatchback.
Which one has more luggage space?
The Nissan Leaf has the larger boot at 435 litres, which is 140 litres more than the Mazda 3 Hatchback's 295 litres.
How long does charging take?
The Leaf's 40.0 kWh battery takes about 6.1 hours for a full AC charge, and an estimated 55 minutes from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger at its 50 kW peak.