The moment that a lot of folks have been waiting for is here – Bermaz Motor Sdn Bhd has finally launched the new 2026 Mazda 3 1.5L High Plus in Malaysia.
The new 1.5L High Plus variant of the Mazda 3 is priced from RM 119,620 (on-the-road, without insurance), marking a RM 37,000 reduction in price compared to the 2.0L variants. That being said, that price gap is considerably smaller when the Mazda 3 1.5L is compared to the Mazda 2 – the latter retails for RM 111,562.
Overview
The 2026 Mazda 3 1.5L is the new entry-level variant of the Mazda 3 family. Taking up from where the old Mazda 3 1.5L Mid left off, offering a more well-rounded package than before.
Admirably, Bermaz has managed to offer the Mazda 3 1.5L High Plus (with more equipment) at a lower price tag than the Mid (retailed for RM 138,660 back then).
This C-segment model is available as both a sedan and hatchback – the latter marketed as Liftback by Mazda.
The 2026 Mazda 3 1.5L High Plus is fully imported (CBU) from Japan, similar to the larger 2.0L variants.
Exterior
There’s little to differentiate the Mazda 3 1.5L High Plus from its 2.0L siblings. Similar to its 2.0L siblings, the 1.5L also gets LED headlights with Mazda Signature DRLs, as well as LED tail lights.
What sets the Mazda 3 1.5L apart from the 2.0L siblings are the wheel colours and trim pieces: the Liftback gets 18-inch wheels finished in dark grey, while the sedan gets silver 18-inch alloy wheels. The trim pieces are gloss black on the Liftback and chrome on the sedan.
Other exterior bits include front and rear parking sensors and keyless entry with push start button. The Mazda 3 1.5L High Plus does not get the sunroof that the 2.0L variants get.
Colour options include Ceramic Metallic, Jet Black, Machine Grey, Platinum Quartz, Polymetal Grey, and Soul Red Crystal. Deep Crystal Blue and Snowflake White are exclusive to the 2.0L variants of the Mazda 3.
Interior
The interior of the 2026 Mazda 3 1.5L is also similar to the 2.0L siblings, down to the Burgundy leather upholstery on the Liftback (similar to the Ignite Edition). The sedan gets the same black leather seats as the rest of its stablemates.
Curiously, the Mazda 3 1.5L with the Burgundy leather upholstery gets said leather treatment on the seats, dashboard, and door trim, while the 2.0L Ignite Edition only gets Burgundy seats; the dashboard and door trims are finished in regular black leather.
There’s also the 10.25-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, eight speakers, paddle shifters, and a 10-way powered driver seat with memory function.
Powertrain
Powering the 2026 Mazda 3 1.5L is a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that outputs 118 PS and 153 Nm, hooked up to Mazda’s six-speed automatic transmission.
Equipment
Standard equipment of the 2026 Mazda 3 1.5L High Plus includes:
- Automatic LED headlights with Signature Illumination and Auto Levelling
- LED tail lights with Signature Illumination
- LED daytime running lights
- 18-inch alloy wheels (Silver on sedan, grey on Liftback)
- 10-way power-adjustable driver seat with memory function
- Leather upholstery (Black on sedan, Burgundy on Liftback)
- 7.0-inch colour TFT LCD multi-info display
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Heads-up display
- Paddle shifters
- Dual-zone automatic air-conditioning
- Rear air vents
- 10.25-inch infotainment system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
- 8 speaker sound system
- 2 USB-C ports
- G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus)
- Wireless charger
- 7 airbags
- ABS, DSC, EBD, BA, TCS, ESS, HLA
- Adaptive Front-Lighting System (AFS)
- High Beam Control (HBC)
- Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
- Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)
- Lane-keep Assist System (LAS)
- Drive Attention Alert (DAA)
- Smart Brake Support (Front and Rear)
- Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go
- Cruising & Traffic Support (CTS)
For those curious, the top-spec Mazda 3 2.0 Ignite Edition offers:
- Black alloy wheels
- 12-speaker Bose sound system
- 360-degree camera
- Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA)
- Driver Attention Alert (DAA) with Driver Monitoring
- Sunroof
Safety and Technology
The High Plus designation means that the new Mazda 3 1.5L is well equipped, even in the safety department.
The Mazda i-ActiveSense ADAS suite is fitted as standard, offering:
- Adaptive Front-Lighting System (AFS)
- Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
- Cruising & Traffic Support (CTS)
- Driver Attention Alert (DAA)
- High Beam Control (HBC)
- Lane-Keep Assist System (LAS)
- Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)
- Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC)
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Smart Brake Support (Front and Rear)
Warranty and Aftersales
Units sold by Bermaz are backed by:
- 5-year / 100,000 km manufacturer warranty
- 5-year / 100,000 km free maintenance, including labour, parts, and lubricants
2026 Mazda 3 1.5L Photo Gallery
