Verdict
The BMW 3 Series costs RM265,800 against the Volkswagen Touareg’s RM384,972; the RM119,172 gap buys a larger 2,995 cc V6, all-wheel drive and air suspension in the Volkswagen. Its 335 hp and 450 Nm also cut the 0-100 km/h time to 6.0 seconds, versus 7.4 seconds. But the BMW’s 480-litre boot is adequate for five and its RM379 annual road tax is far easier to live with than RM1,632. Choose the Touareg for space and muscle, the 3 Series for the lower-running-cost sedan route.
Pick the BMW 3 Series if you want the RM119,172 saving, lower RM379 annual road tax, a head-up display and automatic parking in a 4,709 mm sedan.
Pick the Volkswagen Touareg if you need an 810-litre boot, all-wheel drive, air suspension and 335 hp performance.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 3 Series RM265,800; Volkswagen Touareg RM384,972.
- Engine output: BMW 3 Series 1,998 cc, 184 hp and 300 Nm; Volkswagen Touareg 2,995 cc, 335 hp and 450 Nm.
- Driveline and body: BMW 3 Series rear-wheel-drive sedan; Volkswagen Touareg all-wheel-drive SUV.
- Performance: BMW 3 Series reaches 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds and tops out at 235 km/h; Volkswagen Touareg does 6.0 seconds and 250 km/h.
- Boot space: BMW 3 Series 480 litres; Volkswagen Touareg 810 litres.
- Ownership cover: BMW 3 Series has a two-year unlimited-mileage warranty and RM379 annual road tax; Volkswagen Touareg has a five-year unlimited-mileage…
3 Series
- RM119,172 less to buy and RM1,253 less in annual road tax.
- Head-up display and automatic parallel or perpendicular parking with reversing assist.
- Smaller 4,709 mm body and 1,590 kg kerb weight.
- 480-litre boot is 330 litres smaller than the Touareg’s.
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus five years.
- 184 hp, 300 Nm and rear-wheel drive trail the Touareg’s 335 hp, 450 Nm and all-wheel drive.
Touareg
- 335 hp, 450 Nm and a 6.0-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 810-litre boot, 40:20:40 folding rear seats and a powered contactless-opening boot.
- Air suspension, HD Matrix LED headlamps, night vision and a 360-degree camera.
- RM119,172 higher purchase price.
- RM1,632 annual road tax, compared with RM379 for the BMW.
- No head-up display or automatic parking, both fitted to the BMW.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 265,800✓ | RM 384,972 |
| Body type | Sedan | SUV |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC direct injection with twin-scroll turbocharger, variable valve timing | 24-valve DOHC with Twin-scroll Turbocharger, Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 2,995 cc |
| Horsepower | 184 hp | 335 hp✓ |
| Torque | 300 Nm | 450 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | V |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 82 mm | 84.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 11 | 10.8 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Sport | 8-speed Automatic |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | — |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.4 seconds | 6 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 235 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,709 mm | 4,878 mm |
| Width | 1,827 mm | 1,984 mm |
| Height | 1,435 mm | 1,702 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,851 mm | 2,984 mm |
| Weight | 1,590 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | 90 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres | 810 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/45R18 | 285/45R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/45R18 | 285/45R20 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Hankook Ventus s1 Evo 3 | Bridgestone Alenza 001 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 18" V-spoke Style 780 Bicolour Alloys | 20" Braga Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 18" V-spoke Style 780 Bicolour Alloys | 20" Braga Alloys |
| 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 | — | Air Suspension |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| 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 for two outer 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 |
| Night Vision | — | Yes |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with High beam Assistant | HD Matrix LED Headlights |
| 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 | 12-Way Power-Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function |
| 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 | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 3 USB Front, 2 USB Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Manual rear window blinds |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Sound System | 15" Innovision Cockpit with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Dynaudio Consequence Sound System (730-Watts) |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with 360-degree 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 |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 5 years | — |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 379✓ | RM 1,632 |
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 & Touareg for sale
3 Series vs Touareg FAQ
Is the BMW 3 Series or Volkswagen Touareg better?
The Touareg is better for five-up luggage capacity, all-wheel-drive traction and outright performance, with 810 litres, 335 hp and 450 Nm. The 3 Series is the better financial choice, costing RM119,172 less with far lower annual road tax.
What is the price difference?
The Volkswagen Touareg costs RM119,172 more than the BMW 3 Series. That difference brings a 2,995 cc V6, all-wheel drive, air suspension, 20-inch wheels and a much larger 810-litre boot.
Which has more luggage space and the better warranty?
The Volkswagen Touareg has the larger 810-litre boot, versus 480 litres in the BMW 3 Series, and a five-year unlimited-mileage manufacturer warranty. The BMW has a two-year unlimited-mileage warranty.