Verdict
The 3 Series M is 46% more powerful, while the 3 Series M is about 10% cheaper. Weigh that against the equipment each side gives you in the table below.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM392,800✓ | RM435,000 |
| Body type | Sedan | MPV |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Commercial |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,125 | RM436✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 32-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 16-valve DOHC with Direct Fuel Injection, Turbocharger and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 2,998 cc | 1,991 cc |
| Horsepower | 387 hp at 5,800 rpm✓ | 208 hp at 5,500 rpm |
| Torque | 500 Nm at 1,900 rpm✓ | 350 Nm at 1,300 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 6 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 82 mm × 94.6 mm | 83 mm × 92 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.2 | 9.8 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Sport | 9G-TRONIC |
| Gears | 8 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Mercedes-Benz (Daimler AG) |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.4 seconds | — |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,714 mm | 5,370 mm |
| Width | 1,827 mm | 1,928 mm |
| Height | 1,440 mm | 1,958 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,851 mm | 3,430 mm |
| Weight | 1,800 kg | 3,100 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | 70 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 10 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres | — |
| Front Tyre | 225/40R19 | 225/55R17 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/35R19 | 225/55R17 |
| Factory Tyres | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 Run-flat | Dunlop Econodrive |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Spain (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | MacPherson Struts |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbones |
| Front Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black | 17" 5-twin-spoke Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black | 17" 5-twin-spoke Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive M Suspension, Variable Sport Steering, M Sport Differential | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 10 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available for Rear Passenger Seats in 2nd and 3rd Row |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, Active Brake Assist |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Attention Assist |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with High beam Assistant | LED Projectors with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| 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 with Memory Function, Heated |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-Folding | 60:40 Split-folding and Sliding 2nd Row, Captain Seats 3rd Row, Folding and Sliding 4th Row Bench |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Yes | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Centre Armrest, 1 Rear, 1 Boot | 1 Front, 2 Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Sunroof Shade | — |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 16-Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 7" Touchscreen Audio 30 with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Manual Key |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock | Remote Control Activation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Manual Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Monitor | Yes |
| Auto Parking | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking, with Reversing Assist | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | — |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | — |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Electroluminescent Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Foot-operated |
| Convenience Notes | Tyre Pressure Monitoring System | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | 3 years✓ | 2 years |
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.
