Verdict
The Mazda 3 Sedan BP costs RM13,515 more than the Mazda 3 Sedan BM, but its 1.5 litre engine gives away 44 hp and 57 Nm. For a Malaysian buyer, that trade-off buys RM90 annual road tax instead of RM379, a 444-litre boot, seven airbags and a proper active-safety suite including front and rear autonomous braking. The BM remains the keen driver’s numbers choice with 162 hp and 210 Nm, plus a multi-link rear suspension. The BP is the better-equipped newer car, not the faster one.
Pick the M if 162 hp, 210 Nm and the multi-link rear suspension matter more than newer driver assistance and equipment.
Pick the P if you want seven airbags, front and rear autonomous braking, adaptive cruise control and five years of warranty cover.
Key differences
- Price: M RM106,105; P RM119,620.
- Engine output: M 162 hp and 210 Nm from 1,998 cc; P 118 hp and 153 Nm from 1,496 cc.
- Road tax: M RM379 per year; P RM90 per year.
- Boot space: M 408 litres; P 444 litres.
- Rear suspension: M multi-link; P torsion beam.
- Warranty: M 3 years/100,000 km; P 5 years/100,000 km.
BM
- 162 hp and 210 Nm from its 2.0 litre engine.
- Multi-link rear suspension.
- RM13,515 lower purchase price.
- Six airbags versus the P’s seven.
- No blind-spot monitoring, autonomous braking or adaptive cruise control.
- 408-litre boot is 36 litres smaller.
BP
- Seven airbags plus front and rear Smart City Brake Support.
- Adaptive cruise control, lane steering correction and blind-spot monitoring.
- 444-litre boot and five-year/100,000 km warranty.
- 118 hp and 153 Nm, down 44 hp and 57 Nm on the M.
- RM13,515 more expensive.
- Torsion-beam rear suspension instead of the M’s multi-link layout.
What the BM has over the BP
What the BP has over the BM
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 BP: 444 litres against 408.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM106,105✓ | RM119,620 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM379 | RM90✓ |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM1,085/mo✓ | RM1,220/mo |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM3,072✓ | RM3,390 |
| Fuel / year (est.) | RM2,826 | RM2,308✓ |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM14.13 | RM11.54✓ |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM31,383 | RM28,940✓ |
| 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 | —✓ | 5.8 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | — | 200 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,580 mm | 4,660 mm |
| Width | 1,795 mm | 1,795 mm |
| Height | 1,450 mm | 1,440 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,700 mm | 2,725 mm |
| Weight | 1,292 kg | 1,361 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 51 litres | 51 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 408 litres | 444 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 205/60R16 | 215/45R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 205/60R16 | 215/45R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Toyo NanoEnergy R38 | Bridgestone Turanza T005A |
| Wiper Blade (Driver) | — | 26 inch |
| Wiper Blade (Passenger) | — | 17 inch |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Torsion Beam |
| Front Wheels | 16" Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 16" Alloy | 18" 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 — 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 Support (SCBS) - Front and Rear |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | Front Seats Only |
| Safety Notes | Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) | Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Halogen Projector | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Normal Bulb | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | — | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustment | Power Adjustable Driver's Seat, Manual Adjustable Front Passenger Seat |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Manual Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| 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, 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 | — | 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 | Handbrake | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Central speedometer with digital rev counter | 7" TFT-LCD Digital Instrument Cluster Display with Analogue Dials |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 3 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. 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 November 2026.
Used cars for sale
BM vs BP FAQ
Is the Mazda 3 Sedan BM or Mazda 3 Sedan BP better?
The P is better equipped and gets more active safety hardware, a larger boot and a five-year warranty. The M is better if performance is the priority: its 2.0 litre engine produces 162 hp and 210 Nm, against 118 hp and 153 Nm.
What is the price difference?
The Mazda 3 Sedan BP costs RM119,620, which is RM13,515 more than the Mazda 3 Sedan BM at RM106,105. The P also has lower annual road tax: RM90 versus RM379.
Which Mazda 3 Sedan has more luggage space?
The P has the larger boot at 444 litres, 36 litres ahead of the M’s 408 litres. Both are five-seat sedans with 60:40 split-folding rear seats.
Which one is locally assembled?
The BM is assembled in Malaysia (CKD), while the BP 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.