Verdict
The RM450,912 gap buys the BMW M3’s 503 hp 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline-six, 650 Nm and a 3.5-second 0-100 km/h time, against the Lexus NX’s 184 hp 2.5-litre hybrid petrol engine, two motors and 7.7 seconds. That is a vast performance divide, though the M3 also carries RM2,113 annual road tax and a 230 g/km CO2 rating. For daily Malaysian use, the NX counters with five doors, a 520-litre boot and a five-year warranty; its 200 km/h top speed is still well below the BMW’s 250 km/h.
M3
Pick the BMW M3 if 503 hp, 650 Nm, a 3.5-second 0-100 km/h sprint and adaptive M suspension matter more than the RM450,912 price gap.
NX
Pick the Lexus NX if you want the lower RM395,888 entry price, SUV body, 520-litre boot and five-year manufacturer warranty.
Key differences
- Price: BMW M3 RM846,800; Lexus NX RM395,888.
- Engine output: BMW M3 503 hp and 650 Nm; Lexus NX 184 hp and 221 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW M3 3.5 seconds; Lexus NX 7.7 seconds.
- Top speed: BMW M3 250 km/h; Lexus NX 200 km/h.
- Boot space: BMW M3 480 litres; Lexus NX 520 litres.
- Manufacturer warranty: BMW M3 two years; Lexus NX five years.
M3
- 503 hp and 650 Nm from a twin-turbo 3.0-litre inline-six.
- 3.5-second 0-100 km/h time and 250 km/h top speed.
- Adaptive M suspension, Active M Differential and selectable 4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD modes.
- RM450,912 more expensive.
- RM2,113 annual road tax versus RM830.
- 480-litre boot and two-year warranty trail the NX’s 520 litres and five years.
NX
- RM395,888 price and RM830 annual road tax.
- 520-litre boot, five doors and 7 airbags.
- Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, steering lane correction and a panoramic-view camera.
- 184 hp and 221 Nm are far below the M3’s 503 hp and 650 Nm.
- 7.7-second 0-100 km/h time is 4.2 seconds slower.
- 200 km/h top speed is 50 km/h lower.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM846,800 | RM395,888✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | SUV |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,113 | RM830✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC with Twin Turbochargers, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 16-valve DOHC, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing and hybrid assistance |
| Capacity | 2,993 cc | 2,487 cc |
| Horsepower | 503 hp at 6,250 rpm✓ | 184 hp at 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 650 Nm at 2,750 rpm✓ | 221 Nm at 4,300 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 6 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore × Stroke | 84 mm × 90 mm | 87.5 mm × 103.4 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 9.3 | 14 |
| Number of Motors | — | 2 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 133 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 208 Nm |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-speed M Steptronic Transmission with Drivelogic | 8-Speed Direct Shift |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Aisin |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 3.5 seconds✓ | 7.7 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 10.1 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h✓ | 200 km/h |
| Co2 | 230 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,794 mm | 4,660 mm |
| Width | 1,903 mm | 1,865 mm |
| Height | 1,433 mm | 1,670 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,857 mm | 2,690 mm |
| Weight | 1,855 kg | 1,765 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | 55 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres | 520 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 275/35R19 | 235/50R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 285/30R20 | 235/50R20 |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Pilot Super Sport Run-flat | Bridgestone Alenza 001 Run-flats |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbone |
| Front Wheels | 19" Double-spoke Style 826 M Two-tone Forged Alloy | 20" Dark Grey Metallic with Bright Machined Finish Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Double-spoke Style 826 M Two-tone Forged Alloy | 20" Dark Grey Metallic with Bright Machined Finish Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive M Suspension, Active M Differential, 4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD Modes | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Front 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 for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection (5 km/h to 80 km/h) | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Warning Only | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Attentiveness Assistant, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Collision Prevention, Active Protection | Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), TPMS |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Laser Projectors with Auto High Beam | 3 LED Projectors |
| 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 Memory Function | 8-way Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function, Ventilated |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System with Lexus Climate Concierge |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Rear Vents |
| Sunroof | Front, Tilt and Slide | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Boot, 2 Front USB-C, 2 Rear USB-C | 1 Front, 1 Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (11 Colours) | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (64 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | BMW Live Cockpit Professional with 10.25" Touchscreen, iDrive Controller, Voice Control, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Wireless Android Auto and 12-speaker 360W Harman Kardon Sound System | 14" Lexus Premium Audio Touchscreen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and 10 Speakers |
| 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 Start |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Smartphone Key and Proximity Auto Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation with Contactless Opening | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with Panoramic View Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking, with Reversing Assist | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Qi Wireless Charger, BMW ConnectedDrive, Concierge Service | Qi Wireless Charger, Smart Card Key |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 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 & NX for sale
M3 vs NX FAQ
Is the BMW M3 or Lexus NX better?
The BMW M3 is better for outright performance, with 503 hp, 650 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds. The Lexus NX is the more practical and lower-cost choice, with five doors, a 520-litre boot, adaptive cruise control and a five-year warranty.
What is the price difference?
The BMW M3 costs RM450,912 more than the Lexus NX: RM846,800 versus RM395,888. Its annual road tax is also higher, at RM2,113 compared with RM830.
Which has more luggage space?
The Lexus NX has the larger boot at 520 litres, 40 litres more than the BMW M3’s 480 litres. The NX also has five doors, while the M3 is a four-door sedan.
