Verdict
The BMW 3 Series M costs RM388,800, RM7,426 less than the Land Rover Discovery Sport, yet its 387 hp and 500 Nm make its 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time far quicker than the SUV’s 237 hp, 340 Nm and 8.2 seconds. It also brings adaptive cruise control, autonomous braking and a 360-degree monitor. The Discovery Sport fights back with seven seats, a 70-litre tank and Terrain Response modes, plus a five-year warranty with free maintenance. But Malaysian buyers must budget RM2,125 yearly road tax for the BMW, RM1,685 more than the Land Rover.
Pick the BMW 3 Series M if you want 387 hp, 500 Nm, 4.4-second acceleration and a fuller driver-assistance suite in a five-seat sedan.
Pick the Land Rover Discovery Sport if you need seven seats, Terrain Response settings and five-year/80,000 km free maintenance.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 3 Series M RM388,800; Land Rover Discovery Sport RM396,226
- Performance: BMW 3 Series M 387 hp, 500 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds; Land Rover Discovery Sport 237 hp, 340 Nm and 8.2 seconds
- Seating: BMW 3 Series M five seats; Land Rover Discovery Sport seven seats
- Warranty: BMW 3 Series M two years with unlimited mileage; Land Rover Discovery Sport five years/300,000 km plus five-year/80,000 km free maintenance
- Road tax: BMW 3 Series M RM2,125 per year; Land Rover Discovery Sport RM440 per year
- Fuel tank: BMW 3 Series M 59 litres; Land Rover Discovery Sport 70 litres
3 Series M
- 387 hp and 500 Nm with 4.4-second 0-100 km/h acceleration
- Adaptive cruise control, autonomous braking and lane-keeping steering correction
- 360-degree monitor, head-up display and 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio
- Five seats versus the Discovery Sport’s seven
- RM2,125 annual road tax versus RM440
- Two-year warranty versus five years and free maintenance
Discovery Sport
- Seven-seat layout with sliding, reclining and split-folding middle-row seats
- Terrain Response with Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud and Ruts, and Sand modes
- Five-year/300,000 km warranty and five-year/80,000 km free maintenance
- 237 hp and 340 Nm trail the BMW’s 387 hp and 500 Nm
- 8.2-second 0-100 km/h time is 3.8 seconds slower
- No autonomous braking, lane-keeping assist, navigation or head-up display
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 388,800✓ | RM 396,226 |
| Body type | Sedan | SUV |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 32-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 16-valve DOHC direct injection with turbocharger, variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 2,998 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 387 hp✓ | 237 hp |
| Torque | 500 Nm✓ | 340 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | — |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 82 mm | 87.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.2 | 10.1 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Sport | Auto 9-Speed ZF EP2 |
| Gears | 8 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | ZF |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.4 seconds✓ | 8.2 seconds |
| Rated Economy | — | 8.3 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h✓ | 199 km/h |
| Co2 | — | 197 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,714 mm | 4,599 mm |
| Width | 1,827 mm | 2,173 mm |
| Height | 1,440 mm | 1,724 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,851 mm | 2,741 mm |
| Weight | 1,800 kg | 1,841 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | 70 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres✓ | 479 litres |
| Front Tyre | 225/40R19 | 235/60R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/35R19 | 235/60R18 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 Run-flat | Pirelli Scorpion Verde |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | United Kingdom (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black | 18" Alloy |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Solid Disc |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive M Suspension, Variable Sport Steering, M Sport Differential | Terrain Response System (General, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud and Ruts, and Sand) |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars |
| ANCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | 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 | Electric for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | — |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available for two outer middle row seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | No |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with High beam Assistant | Bi-Xenon Projector |
| 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 and Bolster Adjustment | 8-way Power Adjustable |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-Folding | Manual reclining and sliding middle row with 60:40 Split-folding, Last Row 50:50 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Rear Vents with Blower Control |
| Sunroof | Yes | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Centre Armrest, 1 Rear, 1 Boot | 1 Front, 1 Middle Row, 1 Last Row |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row |
| Sun Shade | Sunroof Shade | — |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 16-Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 8.0" Touchscreen system with 190 watt, 10-speaker Land Rover Audio 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 Start |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Powered boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Monitor | Yes |
| 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 | Electroluminescent Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Tyre Pressure Monitoring System | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 300,000 km |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited✓ | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 5 years✓ | — |
| Warranty Notes | — | 5-year/80,000 free maintenance |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 2,125 | RM 440✓ |
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.
3 Series M vs Discovery Sport FAQ
Is the BMW 3 Series M or Land Rover Discovery Sport better?
The BMW 3 Series M is the better choice for outright performance and driver assistance, with 387 hp and a 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time. Choose the Discovery Sport when seven seats, Terrain Response and its longer warranty matter more.
What is the price difference?
The Land Rover Discovery Sport costs RM7,426 more than the BMW 3 Series M: RM396,226 versus RM388,800.
Which one is cheaper to tax and maintain?
The Discovery Sport has lower annual road tax at RM440 versus RM2,125 for the BMW, and includes five-year/80,000 km free maintenance. Its manufacturer warranty also runs five years/300,000 km, against two years with unlimited mileage for the BMW.