Verdict
Only RM3,088 separates them, but they serve very different Malaysian buyers. The BMW 3 Series M is the clear driver’s choice: 387 hp and 500 Nm cut the 0-100 km/h time to 4.4 seconds, against the Lexus NX’s 7.7 seconds. The NX answers with SUV access, five doors and a 520-litre boot, 40 litres more than the BMW. Its RM830 annual road tax is also far easier to swallow than RM2,125, while its five-year unlimited-mileage warranty beats the BMW’s two-year cover. Pick pace and chassis hardware, or day-to-day SUV practicality.
Pick the BMW 3 Series M if 4.4-second 0-100 km/h pace, 500 Nm and its Adaptive M Suspension matter more than SUV space and lower running taxes.
Pick the Lexus NX if you want five doors, a 520-litre boot, RM830 road tax and five years of unlimited-mileage warranty.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 3 Series M RM392,800; Lexus NX RM395,888.
- Performance: BMW 3 Series M 387 hp, 500 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds; Lexus NX 184 hp, 221 Nm and 7.7 seconds.
- Road tax: BMW 3 Series M RM2,125 per year; Lexus NX RM830 per year.
- Boot space: BMW 3 Series M 480 litres; Lexus NX 520 litres.
- Warranty: BMW 3 Series M two years, unlimited mileage; Lexus NX five years, unlimited mileage.
- Body and doors: BMW 3 Series M is a four-door sedan; Lexus NX is a five-door SUV.
3 Series M
- 387 hp and 500 Nm with a 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time.
- Adaptive M Suspension, Variable Sport Steering and M Sport Differential.
- Sunroof, 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio and automatic parking with reversing assist.
- RM2,125 annual road tax versus the Lexus NX’s RM830.
- 480-litre boot is 40 litres smaller than the Lexus NX’s.
- Two-year unlimited-mileage warranty versus five years for the Lexus NX.
NX
- 520-litre boot and five-door SUV body.
- Five-year unlimited-mileage warranty and RM830 annual road tax.
- Ventilated front seats, powered hands-free boot and front knee airbag.
- 7.7-second 0-100 km/h time trails the BMW 3 Series M’s 4.4 seconds.
- 184 hp and 221 Nm fall well short of the BMW 3 Series M’s 387 hp and 500 Nm.
- No sunroof or automatic parking, both fitted to the BMW 3 Series M.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM392,800✓ | RM395,888 |
| Body type | Sedan | SUV |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,125 | RM830✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 32-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 16-valve DOHC, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing and hybrid assistance |
| Capacity | 2,998 cc | 2,487 cc |
| Horsepower | 387 hp✓ | 184 hp |
| Torque | 500 Nm✓ | 221 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | 82 mm | 87.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.2 | 14 |
| Number of Motors | — | 2 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 133 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 208 Nm |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Sport | 8-Speed Direct Shift |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Aisin |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.4 seconds✓ | 7.7 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h✓ | 200 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,714 mm | 4,660 mm |
| Width | 1,827 mm | 1,865 mm |
| Height | 1,440 mm | 1,670 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,851 mm | 2,690 mm |
| Weight | 1,800 kg | 1,765 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | 55 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres | 520 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/40R19 | 235/50R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/35R19 | 235/50R20 |
| Factory Tyres | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 Run-flat | Bridgestone Alenza 001 Run-flats |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbone |
| Front Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black | 20" Dark Grey Metallic with Bright Machined Finish Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black | 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, Variable Sport Steering, M Sport Differential | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | 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 | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), TPMS |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with High beam Assistant | 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 and Bolster Adjustment | 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 | Rear AC Vents | Rear Vents |
| Sunroof | Yes | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Centre Armrest, 1 Rear, 1 Boot | 1 Front, 1 Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (64 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Sunroof Shade | — |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 16-Speaker 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 Proximity Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Monitor | 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 | Tyre Pressure Monitoring System | Qi Wireless Charger, Smart Card Key |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 5 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 M & NX for sale
3 Series M vs NX FAQ
Is the BMW 3 Series M or Lexus NX better?
The BMW 3 Series M is better for outright performance and driver-focused chassis equipment, with 387 hp, 500 Nm and a 4.4-second sprint. The Lexus NX is better for carrying people and luggage, lower annual road tax and longer warranty cover.
What is the price difference?
The Lexus NX costs RM395,888, which is RM3,088 more than the BMW 3 Series M at RM392,800.
Which is more practical for a family?
The Lexus NX is the more practical choice: it has five doors, SUV height and a 520-litre boot. The BMW 3 Series M is a four-door sedan with a 480-litre boot, although both seat five.