Verdict
At RM265,800, the BMW 3 Series costs RM233,200 less and remains the easier-sized 4,709 mm rear-wheel-drive sedan for a Malaysian buyer who wants petrol power and an eight-speed automatic. The Lotus Eletre is a very different proposition: a 5,103 mm electric SUV with 603 hp, 710 Nm, all-wheel drive and a quoted 600 km range. It is far quicker at 4.5 seconds to 100 km/h versus 7.4 seconds, carries 688 litres versus 480 litres, and gets a five-year/150,000 km warranty plus eight-year/200,000 km battery cover. Its RM1,440 annual road tax is much higher than the BMW’s RM379.
Pick the BMW 3 Series if you want the RM233,200 saving, a more compact sedan and a 59-litre petrol tank with an eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic.
Pick the Lotus Eletre if you need a five-seat electric SUV with 603 hp, 710 Nm, 600 km of range and 688 litres of boot space.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 3 Series RM265,800; Lotus Eletre RM499,000.
- Performance: BMW 3 Series 184 hp, 300 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 7.4 seconds; Lotus Eletre 603 hp, 710 Nm and 4.5 seconds.
- Powertrain: BMW 3 Series has a 1,998 cc turbo petrol engine and rear-wheel drive; Lotus Eletre has two electric motors and all-wheel drive.
- Size: BMW 3 Series is 4,709 mm long and 1,827 mm wide; Lotus Eletre is 5,103 mm long and 2,135 mm wide.
- Boot space: BMW 3 Series 480 litres; Lotus Eletre 688 litres.
- Warranty and road tax: BMW 3 Series has two-year unlimited-mileage cover and RM379 yearly road tax; Lotus Eletre has five-year/150,000 km cover and RM1,440…
3 Series
- RM233,200 lower purchase price.
- More compact 4,709 mm sedan footprint.
- Auto parking with reversing assist.
- Slower 7.4-second 0-100 km/h time versus 4.5 seconds.
- 480-litre boot trails the Eletre’s 688 litres.
- Two-year manufacturer warranty is shorter than five years.
Eletre
- 603 hp and 710 Nm from two motors.
- 600 km EV range with 22 kW AC and 350 kW DC charging support.
- 688-litre boot and adaptive cruise control.
- RM499,000 price is RM233,200 higher.
- 2,490 kg weight versus the BMW’s 1,590 kg.
- RM1,440 annual road tax versus RM379.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 265,800✓ | RM 499,000 |
| Body type | Sedan | SUV |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC direct injection with twin-scroll turbocharger, variable valve timing | — |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 184 hp | — |
| Torque | 300 Nm | — |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | — |
| Timing Type | Chain | — |
| Fuel | Petrol | Electric |
| Bore | 82 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 11 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 2 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 603 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 710 Nm |
| Battery Type | — | Lithium-ion |
| Battery Capacity | — | 112 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 600 km |
| Charger Type (AC) | — | Type 2 |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 22 kW |
| Charger Type (DC) | — | CCS |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 350 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Sport | — |
| Gears | 8 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | — |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.4 seconds | 4.5 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 235 km/h | 258 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,709 mm | 5,103 mm |
| Width | 1,827 mm | 2,135 mm |
| Height | 1,435 mm | 1,630 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,851 mm | 3,019 mm |
| Weight | 1,590 kg | 2,490 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | — |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres | 688 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/45R18 | 255/50R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/45R18 | 285/40R20 |
| Factory Tyres | Hankook Ventus s1 Evo 3 | Michelin Pilot Sport EV |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | China (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-link |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 18" V-spoke Style 780 Bicolour Alloys | 20" 5-spoke Aero Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" V-spoke Style 780 Bicolour Alloys | 20" 5-spoke Aero 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) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Curtain Airbags, Front Center Airbags and Front Knee Airbags |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | — |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Electronic for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available on two rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection (5 km/h to 80 km/h) | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with High beam Assistant | Projector LED with Dynamic Indicators |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED with Dynamic Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function | Power Adjustable Front Seats |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-Folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Centre Armrest, 1 Rear, 1 Boot | 2 USB-C front, 2 USB-C rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Sound System | 15.1" Touchscreen with Lotus Hyper OS, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 15-speaker KEF Reference Audio |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Automatic with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Operation (Depress Brake Pedal) |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock | Remote Control Activation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation with Contactless Boot Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with Surround View |
| 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 |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 150,000 km |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 5 years | — |
| Warranty Notes | — | 8-year/200,000 km Battery Warranty |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 379✓ | RM 1,440 |
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.
Used 3 Series & Eletre for sale
3 Series vs Eletre FAQ
Is the BMW 3 Series or Lotus Eletre better?
The Lotus Eletre is better for outright pace, EV range and luggage capacity, with 603 hp, 600 km and a 688-litre boot. The BMW 3 Series is the better fit if a RM265,800 purchase price and a smaller sedan matter more.
What is the price difference?
The Lotus Eletre costs RM499,000 and the BMW 3 Series costs RM265,800, so the difference is RM233,200.
Which has the stronger warranty cover?
The Lotus Eletre has the stronger stated cover: five years or 150,000 km, plus an eight-year/200,000 km battery warranty. The BMW 3 Series has a two-year unlimited-mileage manufacturer warranty and a five-year unlimited-mileage extended warranty.