Verdict
The BMW 3 Series costs RM267,800 to the X5’s RM470,800, so the RM203,000 gap is substantial before the X5’s RM1,637 annual road tax versus RM379. The sedan is 226 mm shorter and 650 kg lighter, which matters in Malaysian car parks, yet still seats five and has a 480-litre boot. Pick the X5 only if its 650-litre boot, all-wheel drive, air suspension and much stronger 308 hp/540 Nm petrol hybrid/REV powertrain justify the outlay. It reaches 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds; the 3 Series takes 7.4 seconds.
3 Series
Pick the BMW 3 Series if you want the far lower purchase price and road tax in a 1,590-kg rear-wheel-drive sedan.
X5
Pick the BMW X5 if you need a 650-litre boot, all-wheel drive, air suspension and 308 hp.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 3 Series RM267,800; BMW X5 RM470,800.
- Road tax per year: BMW 3 Series RM379; BMW X5 RM1,637.
- Power and torque: BMW 3 Series 184 hp and 300 Nm; BMW X5 308 hp and 540 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW 3 Series 7.4 seconds; BMW X5 5.4 seconds.
- Boot space: BMW 3 Series 480 litres; BMW X5 650 litres.
- Dimensions and weight: BMW 3 Series 4,709 mm long and 1,590 kg; BMW X5 4,935 mm long and 2,240 kg.
3 Series
- RM203,000 less to buy.
- 650 kg lighter with a 4,709-mm body.
- 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system.
- 184 hp and 300 Nm trail the X5’s 308 hp and 540 Nm.
- 480-litre boot is 170 litres smaller than the X5’s.
- Rear-wheel drive instead of all-wheel drive.
X5
- 308 hp, 540 Nm and a 5.4-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 650-litre boot and five seats.
- Air suspension with adaptive dampers and all-wheel drive.
- RM203,000 more expensive to buy.
- RM1,637 annual road tax versus RM379.
- 4,935 mm long and 2,240 kg, against the 3 Series’ 4,709 mm and 1,590 kg.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM267,800✓ | RM470,800 |
| Body type | Sedan | SUV |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM379✓ | RM1,637 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC direct injection with twin-scroll turbocharger, variable valve timing | 24-valve DOHC, Turbochaged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 2,998 cc |
| Horsepower | 184 hp at 5,000 rpm | 308 hp at 5,000 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 300 Nm at 1,350 rpm | 540 Nm at 1,750 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 6 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore × Stroke | 82 mm × 94.6 mm | 82 mm × 94.6 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 11 | 11 |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Sport | Eight-speed Steptronic |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | ZF |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.4 seconds | 5.4 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 235 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,709 mm | 4,935 mm |
| Width | 1,827 mm | 2,004 mm |
| Height | 1,435 mm | 1,765 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,851 mm | 2,975 mm |
| Weight | 1,590 kg | 2,240 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | 83 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres | 650 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/45R18 | 275/40R21 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/45R18 | 315/35R21 |
| Spare Tyre | — | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Hankook Ventus s1 Evo 3 | Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR Run-flats |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 18" V-spoke Style 780 Bicolour Alloys | 21" Style 915M Light Alloy Wheels |
| Rear Wheels | 18" V-spoke Style 780 Bicolour Alloys | 21" Style 915M Light Alloy Wheels |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Air Suspension with Adaptive Dampers |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 8 (Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection (5 km/h to 80 km/h) | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with High beam Assistant | Adaptive LED headlights 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 | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-Folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic Sliding Sunroof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Centre Armrest, 1 Rear, 1 Boot | 1 Front, 1 USB-A, 1 USB-C Front, 4 USB-C Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Powered Sunroof Shade, Manual Rear Window Shades |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Sound System | 14.9" Touchscreen BMW Live Cockpit Professional with Voice Control, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Wireless Android Auto and 17-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System (525W) |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| 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 | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | 3 years | 3 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.
Used 3 Series & X5 for sale
3 Series vs X5 FAQ
Is the BMW 3 Series or BMW X5 better?
The X5 is better for performance, luggage capacity and all-wheel drive, with 308 hp, a 650-litre boot and air suspension. The 3 Series is the smarter choice if lower purchase cost, RM379 road tax and a smaller 4,709-mm body matter more.
What is the price difference?
The BMW X5 costs RM203,000 more than the BMW 3 Series. Its annual road tax is also RM1,258 higher.
Which BMW is quicker from 0-100 km/h?
The BMW X5 is quicker, reaching 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds. The BMW 3 Series takes 7.4 seconds, a 2.0-second gap.
