Verdict
These cross-shopped compact executives take sharply different routes. The BMW 3 Series M is 0.9 seconds quicker to 100 km/h at 4.4 seconds and weighs 325 kg less, while its adaptive M suspension, variable sport steering and M Sport differential give it the more driver-focused hardware. The Lexus RZ answers with a 71.4 kWh battery, 440 km EV range, 522-litre boot and five-year warranty. For Malaysian running costs, the RZ's RM335 annual road tax is far easier to swallow than RM2,125.
3 Series M
Pick the BMW 3 Series M if you want the quicker 4.4-second 0-100 km/h sedan and its adaptive M chassis hardware.
RZ
Pick the Lexus RZ if you want a five-door EV with 440 km range, a larger 522-litre boot and much lower annual road tax.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 3 Series M RM388,800; Lexus RZ RM429,888
- Powertrain: BMW 3.0-litre turbo petrol, 387 hp and 500 Nm; Lexus RZ twin motors, 308 hp and 71.4 kWh battery
- Performance: BMW 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and 250 km/h; Lexus RZ 5.3 seconds and 160 km/h
- Range/energy: BMW 59-litre petrol tank; Lexus RZ 440 km EV range with 11 kW AC and 150 kW DC charging
- Practicality: BMW 480-litre boot and four doors; Lexus RZ 522-litre boot and five doors
- Road tax: BMW RM2,125 per year; Lexus RZ RM335 per year
3 Series M
- 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds
- 387 hp and 500 Nm from the 3.0-litre turbo petrol engine
- Adaptive M suspension, variable sport steering and M Sport differential
- RM2,125 annual road tax versus RM335
- 480-litre boot is 42 litres smaller
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus five years
RZ
- 440 km EV range from a 71.4 kWh battery
- 522-litre boot and five doors
- Five-year unlimited-mileage warranty plus eight-year EV battery cover
- 0-100 km/h takes 5.3 seconds versus 4.4 seconds
- 308 hp trails the BMW's 387 hp
- 2,125 kg kerb weight is 325 kg heavier
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 388,800✓ | RM 429,888 |
| 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 | — |
| Capacity | 2,998 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 387 hp | — |
| Torque | 500 Nm | — |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | — |
| Timing Type | Chain | — |
| Fuel | Petrol | Electric |
| Bore | 82 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.2 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 2 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 308 hp |
| Battery Type | — | Lithium-Ion |
| Battery Capacity | — | 71.4 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 440 km |
| Charger Type (AC) | — | Type 2 |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Charger Type (DC) | — | CCS |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 150 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Sport | — |
| Gears | 8 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | — |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.4 seconds✓ | 5.3 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h✓ | 160 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,714 mm | 4,805 mm |
| Width | 1,827 mm | 1,895 mm |
| Height | 1,440 mm | 1,635 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,851 mm | 2,850 mm |
| Weight | 1,800 kg | 2,125 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | — |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres | 522 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/40R19 | 235/50R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/35R19 | 235/50R20 |
| Factory Tyres | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 Run-flat | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Japan (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbones |
| Front Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black | 20" Aluminium in Black and Bright Machined Finish |
| Rear Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black | 20" Aluminium in Black and Bright Machined Finish |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated 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 | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee |
| 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 |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with High beam Assistant | Bi-LED Projector with Adaptive High Beam and Sequential Indicators |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED with Sequential Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function and Bolster Adjustment | 10-way Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-Folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Lexus Climate Concierge |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Sunroof | Yes | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Centre Armrest, 1 Rear, 1 Boot | 1 Front, 3 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C 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" EMV Touchscreen with Bluetooth, Navigation, Voice Recognition, Wired Android Auto, Wireless Apple CarPlay and 12-speaker Lexus Premium 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 Start |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation (with Smart Card Key) |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist and 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 | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Monitor | Yes, with Surround View Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking, with Reversing Assist | Yes |
| 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 | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 5 years | — |
| Warranty Notes | — | 8-year, unlimited mileage warranty on EV battery |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 2,125 | RM 335✓ |
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 & RZ for sale
3 Series M vs RZ FAQ
Is the BMW 3 Series M or Lexus RZ better?
The BMW is better for outright performance and driver-focused chassis equipment, reaching 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds. The Lexus is better for EV running costs, load space and warranty cover, with 440 km range and a 522-litre boot.
What is the price difference?
The Lexus RZ costs RM41,088 more than the BMW 3 Series M. The gap brings twin-motor EV drive, a 71.4 kWh battery, 440 km range, a larger boot and a longer manufacturer warranty.
Which is cheaper to tax each year?
The Lexus RZ is far cheaper to tax at RM335 a year, compared with RM2,125 for the BMW 3 Series M. That is an annual difference of RM1,790.