Verdict
The RM42,344 gap buys the KM a 2.5-litre 185 hp/257 Nm petrol four against the Mk1’s 2.0-litre 155 hp/200 Nm, a longer 2,815-mm wheelbase and far more driver assistance. That is tangible daily-use kit, from the 360-degree camera to powered, ventilated front seats. The trade-off for Malaysian running costs is 7.6 L/100 km rated consumption and RM830 annual road tax, against 6.0 L/100 km and RM439. Buy the KM for its safety and cabin hardware; the Mk1 remains the rational lower-cost used choice.
Pick the Mk1 if you prioritise 6.0 L/100 km rated economy and RM439 annual road tax over extra power and active safety systems.
Pick the KM if you want 185 hp, 257 Nm, autonomous braking, a 360-degree camera and a five-year warranty.
Key differences
- Price: Mk1 RM126,166; KM RM168,510.
- Engine output: Mk1 155 hp and 200 Nm; KM 185 hp and 257 Nm.
- Rated fuel economy: Mk1 6.0 L/100 km; KM 7.6 L/100 km.
- Wheelbase: Mk1 2,700 mm; KM 2,815 mm.
- Airbags: Mk1 6; KM 7.
- Manufacturer warranty: Mk1 3 years/100,000 km; KM 5 years/100,000 km.
Mk1
- Lower 6.0 L/100 km rated fuel use.
- Lower RM439 annual road tax.
- Gets front and rear foglamps.
- 155 hp and 200 Nm trail the KM’s 185 hp and 257 Nm.
- No autonomous braking, lane-keeping steering correction or blind-spot information system.
- Manual front-seat adjustment and no rear air-con vents.
KM
- 185 hp and 257 Nm from the 2.5-litre petrol engine.
- Smart Brake Support, steering correction and blind-spot monitoring.
- Ventilated powered front seats, 360-degree camera and power tailgate.
- Rated at 7.6 L/100 km versus the Mk1’s 6.0 L/100 km.
- RM830 annual road tax versus RM439.
- At 1,654 kg, it is 132 kg heavier than the Mk1.
What the Mk1 has over the KM
What the KM has over the Mk1
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The KM's wheelbase is 115 mm longer, which usually translates to more rear legroom.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM126,166✓ | RM168,510 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM439✓ | RM830 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM1,290/mo✓ | RM1,720/mo |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM3,593✓ | RM4,728 |
| Fuel / year (est.) | RM3,582 | RM3,025✓ |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM17.91 | RM15.12✓ |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM38,073✓ | RM42,915 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing | SKYACTIV-G 2.5L DOHC 16-Valve with VVT and i-Stop, Direct Injection |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 2,488 cc |
| Horsepower | 155 hp at 6,000 rpm | 185 hp✓ |
| Torque | 200 Nm at 4,000 rpm | 257 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 83.5 mm × 91.2 mm | 89.0 mm × 100.0 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 13 | 13.0:1 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | SkyActiv-Drive | 6-Speed EAT (SKYACTIV-Drive) |
| Gears | 6 | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Mazda | Mazda |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| Rated Economy | 6 L/100 km✓ | 7.6 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | — | 187 km/h✓ |
| Co2 | 139 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,555 mm | 4,690 mm |
| Width | 1,840 mm | 1,860 mm |
| Height | 1,670 mm | 1,695 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,700 mm | 2,815 mm |
| Weight | 1,522 kg | 1,654 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 56 litres | 56 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 561 litres | — |
| Front Tyre | 225/65R17 | 225/55R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/65R17 | 225/55R19 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Space Saver (T155/80 R17) |
| Wiper Blade (Driver) | — | 24 inch |
| Wiper Blade (Passenger) | — | 18 inch |
| Wiper Blade (Rear) | — | 14 inch |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 17" Alloy | 19" Alloys (Black Metallic) |
| Rear Wheels | 17" Alloy | 19" Alloys (Black Metallic) |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Electronic Power Assisted (EPAS) |
| 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 Knee) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 three-point | 3-point All Seats, Front with Pretensioners and Load Limiters |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for two outer rear passenger seats | 2nd Row with Top Tethers |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Smart Brake Support (Front, Rear, Turn-Across Traffic, Intersection, Front/Rear Crossing) |
| Lane-keeping Assist | — | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | — | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Adaptive LED Headlights (ALH), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA), Vehicle Exit Warning, Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK), Driver Attention Alert (DAA), Driver Monitoring (DM), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Hill Launch Assist, Auto Hold, Walk-Away Lock |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Halogen projector | Adaptive LED (ALH) with Signature Illumination, Auto Levelling |
| Taillamps | Normal Bulb | LED Combination with Signature Illumination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | — | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustment | 10-way Power Driver Seat with Memory, 6-way Power Passenger Seat, Ventilated Front Seats |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding, Manual Reclining |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear AC Vents |
| Sunroof | — | None |
| Power Sockets | 1 front | 1 Front 12V, USB-C Front and Rear, 1 Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | LED Map, Overhead and Luggage Lights, Front Footlamps, Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 front, 2 rear | — |
| Audio | Touch-screen with radio, CD, MP3, AUX, USB and Bluetooth, 6 speakers | 12.9" Touchscreen with Voice Recognition, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 12-Speaker BOSE Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Driver's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | All Windows, One-touch Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Start | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Remote Control Activation | Keyless Operation, Walk Away Lock, Auto Door Lock |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) with Stop & Go, Cruising & Traffic Support (CTS) |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Power Tailgate |
| Parking Sensor Front | — | Yes |
| Parking Sensor Rear | — | Yes |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with 360-degree View Monitor |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Power Door | — | Conventional |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | — | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | — | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | Head-up Display, 360-degree View Monitor with See-Through View, Wireless Phone Charger, Power Tailgate, 10-way Power Driver Seat with Memory, 6-way Power Passenger Seat, Ventilated Front Seats, Dual-zone Auto Air Conditioning with Rear Vents, Frameless Auto-dimming Rear View Mirror, G-Vectoring Control Plus |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 3 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Notes | — | Complimentary scheduled maintenance including parts, lubricants and labour |
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.
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Mk1 vs KM FAQ
Is the Mazda CX-5 Mk1 or Mazda CX-5 KM better?
The KM is better equipped, more powerful and safer on its specification, with 185 hp, seven airbags and autonomous braking. The Mk1 is the better choice when lower fuel consumption and annual road tax matter more.
What is the price difference?
The KM costs RM42,344 more than the Mk1. It adds 30 hp, 57 Nm, a 115-mm longer wheelbase, more safety assistance and two extra years of manufacturer warranty.
Which Mazda CX-5 has lower running costs?
The Mk1 has the lower quoted running costs: 6.0 L/100 km rated economy and RM439 yearly road tax, compared with the KM’s 7.6 L/100 km and RM830.
Which one is locally assembled?
The Mk1 is assembled in Malaysia (CKD), while the KM 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.