Mazda Biante

Mazda Biante Overview

Originally intended only for the Japanese market in 2008, the Mazda Biante made its first international debut in Indonesia back in 2013, becoming the first country outside Japan to market the MPV before its subsequent introduction to the Malaysian market later in the same year.

Competitively priced from RM 140,515 when new, the Japanese MPV is primarily aimed for younger families with small children. Competition in the segment includes the Nissan Serena, Kia Grand Carnival and the Hyundai Grand Starex. Alternative options include the more premium Toyota Alphard and the Toyota Vellfire.

Mazda Biante Eksterior

Mazda’s Nagare (wind and flow) design language is evident in the clean and fluid design of the front bumper, featuring leaf-shaped fog lamp housing and chrome trim for added sophistication Blacked out D-pillars gives the MPV that floating roof effect and help mask the hefty size viewing from the side. The MPV also features dual powered sliding door, making access into and out of the car that much more convenient. 

Large front and rear quarter windows combined with the low window line accentuate the expansive window glasses and the tall roof line. For a family MPV, the Mazda Biante is not the biggest around. Marginally shorter and lower than the Nissan Serena and it is lighter too weighing in at 1,664 kg. At maximum seating capacity, the boot space available is 254 litres.

Mazda Biante Interior

The versatile interior offers plenty of seating configuration, featuring ‘living mode’ for that limousine-style leg room for the second-row seats, ‘semi-living mode’ for maximum ferrying capacity and ‘rear luggage mode’ with foldable third row seats for maximum cargo capacity.

Beige fabric upholstery and beige colour door panels may not be up to everyone’s taste, but it certainly brightens up the cabin. It is business as usual up front with two-tone design for the dashboard featuring textured beige and black plastics with beige colour steering wheel.

All round visibility is excellent thanks to high seating position and low window line. And just like the Nissan Serena, the two-tiered dashboard design sees the instrument panel in the central position and deep into the dashboard, giving the driver a driving position that feels like the central command station.

Mazda Biante Features

Other creature comfort includes fully automatic air-conditioning with second and third row vents, Nanoe Ion generator with anti-allergic filter, keyless entry with turn knob starter switch, front/rear parking sensors, paddle shifters and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system connected to a 4-speaker audio system.

In term of safety, the MPV’s highly rigid triple H structure is designed to suppress damage in the event of a collision. Also included are the dual front airbag, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Traction Control System (TCS), 4W-ABS with EBD and second row ISOFIX anchor points.

Mazda Biante Powertrain Performance

While conventional Start/Stop system relies on starter motor to restart the engine, Mazda’s i-stop system restarts the engine through combustion (fuel is directly injected into the cylinder and reignited to generate downward piston force). Result is a quick and quiet engine restart.

The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission with Sky-Activ Drive. Paddle shifters is available on the steering wheel for manual override. According to Mazda, Sky-Activ Drive promises the direct and connected feel of a manual transmission with fast and smooth gear shifts.

Mazda Biante Fuel Consumption

Mazda Biante Ride Comfort

Despite its tall roof and narrow body, the 8-seater people carrier tackles corner with great composure compared to the Nissan that comes with a torsion beam rear suspension. The high centre of gravity is less pronounced here but slight body roll in the corner is inevitable.

Mazda Biante Conclusion

However, compared alongside the more modern Nissan Serena, the Mazda Biante instantly feels inferior in terms of design and features. That said, with price starting from just slightly above the RM 140,000 mark, the Mazda Biante is as affordable as the Nissan but rides considerably better and comes with a commendable SkyActiv powertrain.