Verdict
At RM392,800, the BMW 3 Series M undercuts the RM459,000 Lotus Emeya by RM66,200, but its annual road tax is RM2,125 against the Lotus’s RM1,440. The Lotus is the quicker and harder-hitting car: 603 hp, 710 Nm and 4.15 seconds to 100 km/h play the BMW’s 387 hp, 500 Nm and 4.4 seconds. Its 102 kWh battery also brings a quoted 610 km range and 420 kW DC charging. The BMW counters with a 59-litre petrol tank, folding rear seats, sunroof and automated parking; that is the more straightforward fit if charging does not suit your routine.
3 Series M
Pick the BMW 3 Series M if you want to spend RM66,200 less, retain a 59-litre petrol tank and get folding rear seats, a sunroof and auto parking.
Emeya
Pick the Lotus Emeya if you want 603 hp, 710 Nm, a 610 km EV range, 420 kW DC charging and a five-year manufacturer warranty.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 3 Series M RM392,800; Lotus Emeya RM459,000.
- Power and torque: BMW 3 Series M 387 hp and 500 Nm; Lotus Emeya 603 hp and 710 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW 3 Series M 4.4 seconds; Lotus Emeya 4.15 seconds; both top out at 250 km/h.
- Energy and annual road tax: BMW 3 Series M has a 59-litre petrol tank and costs RM2,125 per year; Lotus Emeya has a 102 kWh battery, 610 km range and costs…
- Length and wheelbase: BMW 3 Series M 4,714 mm and 2,851 mm; Lotus Emeya 5,139 mm and 3,069 mm.
- Warranty and boot: BMW 3 Series M gets two years with unlimited mileage and a 480-litre boot; Lotus Emeya gets five years/150,000 km and a 509-litre boot.
3 Series M
- RM66,200 lower purchase price
- 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats and sunroof
- Auto parking with reversing assist
- Less power and torque: 387 hp and 500 Nm versus 603 hp and 710 Nm
- Slower to 100 km/h at 4.4 seconds versus 4.15 seconds
- Higher annual road tax and shorter standard manufacturer warranty
Emeya
- 603 hp, 710 Nm and a 4.15-second 0-100 km/h time
- 102 kWh battery, 610 km range and 420 kW DC charging
- Five-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty plus eight-year/200,000 km battery warranty
- Costs RM66,200 more
- Rear seats are fixed rather than split-folding
- No auto parking or sunroof
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM392,800✓ | RM459,000 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Grand Tourer |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,125 | RM1,440✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 32-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 800V architecture |
| Capacity | 2,998 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 387 hp at 5,800 rpm | — |
| Torque | 500 Nm at 1,900 rpm | — |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 6 | — |
| Fuel | Petrol | Electric |
| Bore × Stroke | 82 mm × 94.6 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.2 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 2 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 603 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 710 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 102 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 610 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 22 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 420 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Sport | — |
| Gears | 8 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | — |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.4 seconds | 4.15 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,714 mm | 5,139 mm |
| Width | 1,827 mm | 2,241 mm |
| Height | 1,440 mm | 1,459 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,851 mm | 3,069 mm |
| Weight | 1,800 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | — |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres | 509 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/40R19 | 255/45R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/35R19 | 285/40R20 |
| Factory Tyres | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 Run-flat | Pirelli P-Zero |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | China (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black | 20" 5-spoke Aero Grey Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black | 20" 5-spoke Aero Grey Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive M Suspension, Variable Sport Steering, M Sport Differential | Continuous Dampening Control with Air Suspension |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 8 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Curtain Airbags, Front Center Airbag and Driver's Knee Airbag) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Electronic for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available on two rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with High beam Assistant | Projector LED with Dynamic Indicators |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED with Dynamic Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function and Bolster Adjustment | Power Adjustable Front Seats |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-Folding | Fixed |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Yes | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Centre Armrest, 1 Rear, 1 Boot | — |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Sunroof Shade | — |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 16-Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 15.1" Touchscreen with Lotus Hyper OS, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 15-speaker KEF Reference Audio |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Automatic with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Operation (Depress Brake Pedal) |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock | Keyless Entry |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation with Contactless Boot Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Monitor | Yes, with Surround View |
| Auto Parking | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking, with Reversing Assist | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | — | No |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Tyre Pressure Monitoring System | Tyre puncture repair kit |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 150,000 km |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 3 years | — |
| Warranty Notes | — | 8-year/200,000 km Battery Warranty |
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.
Used 3 Series M & Emeya for sale
3 Series M vs Emeya FAQ
Is the BMW 3 Series M or Lotus Emeya better?
The Lotus Emeya is better for outright output, acceleration, EV range and warranty cover. The BMW 3 Series M is the better choice if lower purchase cost, petrol refuelling, a sunroof, folding rear seats and auto parking matter more.
What is the price difference?
The Lotus Emeya costs RM66,200 more than the BMW 3 Series M.
Which is quicker and cheaper to tax each year?
The Lotus Emeya reaches 100 km/h in 4.15 seconds, against 4.4 seconds for the BMW 3 Series M, and its annual road tax is RM1,440 versus RM2,125.
