Verdict
At RM898,800, the BMW M3 Touring costs RM263,000 more than the RM635,800 BMW X7, but it is the far quicker machine: 523 hp, 650 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds versus 375 hp, 520 Nm and 5.8 seconds. The X7 makes the stronger Malaysian family case with seven seats, a 3,105-mm wheelbase, air suspension and an 83-litre tank. Its 0.96-kWh hybrid battery and 12-hp motor support a quoted 9.5 L/100 km economy figure. Choose the M3 for pace and its larger 500-litre boot; choose the X7 for people space and lower annual road tax.
M3 Touring
Pick the BMW M3 Touring if 3.6-second 0-100 km/h pace, 523 hp and a 500-litre boot matter more than seven-seat capacity.
X7
Pick the BMW X7 if you need seven seats, air suspension and an RM1,637 annual road tax bill.
Key differences
- Price: BMW M3 Touring RM898,800; BMW X7 RM635,800.
- Performance: M3 Touring 523 hp, 650 Nm and 3.6 seconds 0-100 km/h; X7 375 hp, 520 Nm and 5.8 seconds.
- Seating and boot: M3 Touring has 5 seats and 500 litres; X7 has 7 seats and 326 litres.
- Size and weight: M3 Touring is 4,801 mm long and 1,925 kg; X7 is 5,151 mm long and 2,320 kg.
- Fuel tank and road tax: M3 Touring has 59 litres and RM2,113/year; X7 has 83 litres and RM1,637/year.
- Suspension: M3 Touring uses Adaptive M Suspension; X7 gets front and rear air suspension with Executive Drive Pro.
M3 Touring
- 523 hp and 650 Nm with a 3.6-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 500-litre boot is 174 litres larger.
- Steering-correction lane-keeping assist.
- RM263,000 more expensive.
- Five seats versus the X7's seven.
- No air suspension, heated/ventilated front seats or panoramic sunroof.
X7
- Seven seats and a 3,105-mm wheelbase.
- Front and rear air suspension plus Executive Drive Pro.
- Heated and ventilated front seats, Sky Lounge panoramic sunroof and soft-close doors.
- 5.8-second 0-100 km/h time trails the M3 Touring by 2.2 seconds.
- 326-litre boot is 174 litres smaller.
- At 2,320 kg, it is 395 kg heavier.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM898,800 | RM635,800✓ |
| Body type | Wagon | SUV |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,113 | RM1,637✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC with Twin Turbochargers, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 24-valve DOHC Direct Injection with Twin-scroll Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 2,993 cc | 2,998 cc |
| Horsepower | 523 hp at 6,250 rpm✓ | 375 hp at 5,500 rpm |
| Torque | 650 Nm at 2,750 rpm✓ | 520 Nm at 1,500 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 6 | Inline 6 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore × Stroke | — | 82 mm × 94.6 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 11 |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 12 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 200 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 0.96 kWh |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-Speed Steptronic Sport Transmission | 8 Speed Automatic with Steptronic |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | ZF |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 3.6 seconds✓ | 5.8 seconds |
| Rated Economy | — | 9.5 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Co2 | — | 217 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,801 mm | 5,151 mm |
| Width | 1,903 mm | 2,000 mm |
| Height | 1,446 mm | 1,805 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,857 mm | 3,105 mm |
| Weight | 1,925 kg | 2,320 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | 83 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 500 litres✓ | 326 litres |
| Front Tyre | 275/35R19 | 275/40R22 |
| Rear Tyre | 295/30R20 | 315/35R22 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S | Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR Run-flats |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 19" Double Spoke Style 825 M Bicolour | 22" V-Spoke Style 756 Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Double Spoke Style 825 M Bicolour | 22" V-Spoke Style 756 Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive M Suspension, M Sport Differential | Executive Drive Pro (Active Roll Stabilisation) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Electric for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available on Two Outer Rear Second Row Passenger Seats and Third Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, Automatic Braking |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Warning Only |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | For All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED Projectors with High Beam Assist | Adaptive Laser Projectors with High Beam Assist |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Side Memory Function | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function, Heated and Ventilated |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | Power Adjustable Middle Row 40:20:40 Split-Folding, Third Row 50:50 Split Folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Triple-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide, Sky Lounge with 6 Colours |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear | 1 Front, 1 Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights with Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Powered Rear Door Window Shades |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 16-Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, iDrive Touch Controller, 16-speaker 600W Harman Kardon Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control with Active Lane Keeping Assistant and Stop & Go Function |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Powered boot, Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | Yes, with Surround View Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | — | Soft Close Function, All Doors |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | Wireless Qi Charger, BMW ConnectedDrive, Concierge Service, BMW Live Cockpit Professional |
| 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 M3 Touring & X7 for sale
M3 Touring vs X7 FAQ
Is the BMW M3 Touring or BMW X7 better?
The M3 Touring is better for outright performance, reaching 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds with 523 hp. The X7 is better for carrying people, with seven seats, a longer 3,105-mm wheelbase and air suspension.
What is the price difference?
The BMW M3 Touring costs RM263,000 more than the BMW X7.
Which has lower running costs on paper?
The X7 has the lower annual road tax at RM1,637 against RM2,113 for the M3 Touring, and it has a quoted economy figure of 9.5 L/100 km. No rated economy figure is stated for the M3 Touring.
