Verdict
At RM388,800, the BMW 3 Series M costs RM30,088 less yet brings 387 hp, 500 Nm and a 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time, against the Volvo XC90’s 249 hp, 350 Nm and 7.7 seconds. It also has a larger quoted 480-litre boot. But the XC90 is the family tool: seven seats, three rows and a 2,984-mm wheelbase versus five seats and 2,851 mm in the BMW. Malaysian buyers carrying adults and children regularly will use the Volvo’s space; keen drivers will notice the BMW’s 3.3-second sprint advantage every day.
3 Series M
Pick the BMW 3 Series M if you want 387 hp performance, a 480-litre boot and RM2,125 annual road tax in a five-seat sedan.
XC90
Pick the Volvo XC90 if you need seven seats, a third row and a five-year manufacturer warranty.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 3 Series M RM388,800; Volvo XC90 RM418,888.
- Performance: BMW 3 Series M 387 hp, 500 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds; Volvo XC90 249 hp, 350 Nm and 7.7 seconds.
- Seating and doors: BMW 3 Series M has five seats and four doors; Volvo XC90 has seven seats and five doors.
- Size: BMW 3 Series M is 4,714 mm long and 1,440 mm tall; Volvo XC90 is 4,950 mm long and 1,776 mm tall.
- Boot space: BMW 3 Series M 480 litres; Volvo XC90 451 litres.
- Manufacturer warranty: BMW 3 Series M two years; Volvo XC90 five years.
3 Series M
- 387 hp and 500 Nm with a 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 480-litre boot is 29 litres larger.
- Adaptive M Suspension, Variable Sport Steering and M Sport Differential.
- Five seats versus the XC90’s seven.
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus five years.
- No rear dual-zone climate control; the XC90 has it.
XC90
- Seven seats with 50:50 third-row folding.
- Air suspension front and rear.
- Five-year manufacturer warranty plus an eight-year/160,000-km hybrid battery warranty.
- RM30,088 more expensive.
- 249 hp, 350 Nm and a 7.7-second 0-100 km/h time trail the BMW.
- 451-litre boot is 29 litres smaller.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 388,800✓ | RM 418,888 |
| Body type | Sedan | SUV |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 32-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 16-valve DOHC with Direct Fuel Injection, Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with MHEV Assistance |
| Capacity | 2,998 cc | 1,969 cc |
| Horsepower | 387 hp✓ | 249 hp |
| Torque | 500 Nm✓ | 350 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | 82 mm | 82 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.2 | 10.3 |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 14 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 40 Nm |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Sport | 8-Speed Automatic Transmission with Geartronic |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Volvo |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.4 seconds✓ | 7.7 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h✓ | 180 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,714 mm | 4,950 mm |
| Width | 1,827 mm | 1,958 mm |
| Height | 1,440 mm | 1,776 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,851 mm | 2,984 mm |
| Weight | 1,800 kg | 2,350 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | 71 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres✓ | 451 litres |
| Front Tyre | 225/40R19 | 275/45R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/35R19 | 275/45R20 |
| Spare Tyre | — | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 Run-flat | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black | 20" 5-spoke Black Diamond Cut Black Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black | 20" 5-spoke Black Diamond Cut Black Alloy |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Discs |
| Rear Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Discs |
| 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, Driver's Knee, 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 on 2 Outer Rear Seats, with Integrated Boosters |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, with Full Auto Brake, Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with High beam Assistant | Dynamic LED Projectors with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| 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 | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Ventilation |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-Folding | Second row 40:20:40 Split Folding with integrated booster child seat for the outer seats, Third Row 50:50 |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Yes | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Centre Armrest, 1 Rear, 1 Boot | — |
| 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 | Manual Rear Door Window Shades, Powered Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 16-Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 11.2" Central Display with Android Automotive OS, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Connectivity, Bowers & Wilkins High Fidelity 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 Knob Twist |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Powered Boot, Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | — |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Monitor | Yes, with 360 Surround 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 | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 5 years | — |
| Warranty Notes | — | 8-year/160,000 km Hybrid Battery Warranty |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 2,125 | RM 428✓ |
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 & XC90 for sale
3 Series M vs XC90 FAQ
Is the BMW 3 Series M or Volvo XC90 better?
The BMW 3 Series M is better for outright performance, with 387 hp and a 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time. The Volvo XC90 is better for family carrying, with seven seats, five doors and a third row.
What is the price difference?
The Volvo XC90 costs RM30,088 more than the BMW 3 Series M.
Which is better for seven passengers?
The Volvo XC90 is the only choice here for seven passengers. It has seven three-point seat belts, a 50:50-folding third row and integrated booster child seats for the outer second-row seats; the BMW 3 Series M has five seats.