Verdict
The Audi Q5 Sportback costs RM421,990 against RM388,800 for the BMW 3 Series M, yet the BMW brings a 2,998 cc six-cylinder with 387 hp and 500 Nm, versus the Audi’s 1,984 cc 268 hp and 400 Nm. It also has a claimed 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time. The Audi counters with SUV practicality: five doors, a 515-litre boot and a 68-litre tank. Its RM434 annual road tax is far easier to absorb than the BMW’s RM2,125, but the BMW is the sharper performance buy.
Q5 Sportback
Pick the Audi Q5 Sportback if you need the five-door SUV body, 515-litre boot and much lower RM434 annual road tax.
3 Series M
Pick the BMW 3 Series M if you want 387 hp, 500 Nm, a 4.4-second 0-100 km/h claim and M-specific adaptive suspension hardware for less money.
Key differences
- Price: Audi Q5 Sportback RM421,990; BMW 3 Series M RM388,800.
- Engine output: Audi 1,984 cc, 268 hp and 400 Nm; BMW 2,998 cc, 387 hp and 500 Nm.
- Performance: Audi 0-100 km/h not stated; BMW claims 4.4 seconds and a 250 km/h top speed.
- Practicality: Audi has five doors and a 515-litre boot; BMW has four doors and a 480-litre boot.
- Wheelbase: Audi 2,528 mm; BMW 2,851 mm.
- Annual road tax: Audi RM434; BMW RM2,125.
Q5 Sportback
- 515-litre boot and five-door SUV body.
- 68-litre fuel tank, versus 59 litres.
- Matrix LED headlamps, OLED tail lights and ventilated front seats.
- 268 hp and 400 Nm trail the BMW’s 387 hp and 500 Nm.
- No sunroof or automatic parking function.
- Shorter 2,528 mm wheelbase than the BMW’s 2,851 mm.
3 Series M
- 387 hp, 500 Nm and a claimed 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time.
- Adaptive M Suspension, Variable Sport Steering and M Sport Differential.
- Sunroof and automatic parallel and perpendicular parking with Reversing Assist.
- RM2,125 annual road tax versus the Audi’s RM434.
- 480-litre boot is 35 litres smaller than the Audi’s.
- Four-door sedan body versus the Audi’s five-door SUV layout.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 421,990 | RM 388,800✓ |
| Body type | SUV | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, supercharged with variable valve timing | 32-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 1,984 cc | 2,998 cc |
| Horsepower | 268 hp | 387 hp✓ |
| Torque | 400 Nm | 500 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 82 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.2 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 7-speed S-tronic | Steptronic Sport |
| Gears | 7 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | ZF |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 4.4 seconds |
| Top Speed | — | 250 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,717 mm | 4,714 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,827 mm |
| Height | 1,641 mm | 1,440 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,528 mm | 2,851 mm |
| Weight | — | 1,800 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 68 litres | 59 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 515 litres✓ | 480 litres |
| Front Tyre | 255/45R20 | 225/40R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/45R20 | 255/35R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 Run-flat |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Mexico (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 20" Audi Sport 5 Twin-spoke Alloys | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Audi Sport 5 Twin-spoke Alloys | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Discs | Ventilated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Ventilated Discs | Ventilated Disc |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | S Sport Suspension | Adaptive M Suspension, Variable Sport Steering, M Sport Differential |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Centre Airbag | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Electric for rear doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Seats | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Matrix LED Projectors | LED Projectors with High beam Assistant |
| Taillamps | Full OLED Tail lights | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function, Ventilated | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function and Bolster Adjustment |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-Folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Rear AC Vents |
| Sunroof | — | Yes |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear | 1 Front, 1 Centre Armrest, 1 Rear, 1 Boot |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | 14.5" Touchscreen with Android Automotive OS, 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen Sound System | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 16-Speaker 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 with Digital Key | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered with Contactless Operation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Surround View Camera | Yes, 360-degree Monitor |
| 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 | — | Tyre Pressure Monitoring System |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | — | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | — | 5 years |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 434✓ | RM 2,125 |
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 Q5 Sportback & 3 Series M for sale
Q5 Sportback vs 3 Series M FAQ
Is the Audi Q5 Sportback or BMW 3 Series M better?
The BMW 3 Series M is better for outright performance, with 387 hp, 500 Nm and a claimed 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time. Choose the Audi Q5 Sportback for a five-door SUV body, 515-litre boot and far lower annual road tax.
What is the price difference?
The Audi Q5 Sportback costs RM33,190 more than the BMW 3 Series M.
Which has lower running tax in Malaysia?
The Audi Q5 Sportback has the lower annual road tax at RM434. The BMW 3 Series M is RM2,125 per year, a RM1,691 annual difference.