BMW 3 Series vs Volvo S60
Verdict
At RM265,800 against RM315,888, the BMW 3 Series is the simpler buy: a 184 hp, 300 Nm rear-drive petrol sedan with a larger 480-litre boot and lower entry price. The Volvo S60 asks RM50,088 more, but its all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid setup gets 314 hp and 400 Nm, cuts 0-100 km/h to 4.5 seconds, and adds an 18.8 kWh battery with 90 km EV range. Both are CKD five-seat compact executive sedans with six airbags and AEB. The Volvo is much faster, but its 391-litre boot is the trade-off.
Pick the BMW 3 Series if you want the lower price, bigger boot and a conventional rear-drive petrol sedan.
Pick the Volvo S60 if you want plug-in hybrid running, all-wheel drive and the 4.5-second 0-100 km/h punch.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 3 Series RM265,800; Volvo S60 RM315,888
- Power and torque: BMW 3 Series 184 hp/300 Nm; Volvo S60 314 hp/400 Nm
- Drive and acceleration: BMW 3 Series rear-wheel drive, 0-100 km/h in 7.4 s; Volvo S60 all-wheel drive, 4.5 s
- Battery and EV range: BMW 3 Series none; Volvo S60 18.8 kWh and 90 km
- Boot space: BMW 3 Series 480 L; Volvo S60 391 L
- Warranty: BMW 3 Series 2 years; Volvo S60 5 years
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 265,800✓ | RM 315,888 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid |
| Engine | 1,998 cc | 1,969 cc |
| Power | 184 hp | 314 hp✓ |
| Torque | 300 Nm | 400 Nm✓ |
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Driven wheels | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | 7.4 s | 4.5 s✓ |
| Top speed | 235 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Efficiency | ||
| Fuel economy | — | 2.0 L/100km |
| Battery | — | 18.8 kWh |
| EV range | — | 90 km |
| CO₂ | — | 46 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,709 mm | 4,761 mm |
| Width | 1,827 mm | 1,850 mm |
| Height | 1,435 mm | 1,431 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,851 mm | 2,872 mm |
| Boot space | 480 L✓ | 391 L |
| Fuel tank | 59 L | 60 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 | 6 |
| Auto emergency braking | Yes | Yes |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 2 | 5✓ |
| Road tax / year | RM 379 | RM 365✓ |
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.
3 Series
- RM50,088 cheaper to buy
- 480-litre boot is 89 litres larger
- Rear-wheel drive petrol layout
- 184 hp and 300 Nm trail the Volvo
- No battery or EV range
- 2-year warranty versus 5 years
S60
- 314 hp and 400 Nm
- 4.5-second 0-100 km/h time
- 18.8 kWh battery with 90 km EV range
- RM50,088 dearer
- 391-litre boot is 89 litres smaller
- Longer and wider footprint: 4,761 mm by 1,850 mm
3 Series vs S60 FAQ
Is the BMW 3 Series or Volvo S60 better?
The Volvo S60 is better for performance and electrified driving, with 314 hp, AWD and 90 km EV range. The BMW 3 Series is better for price and boot space, costing RM50,088 less and carrying 480 litres.
What is the price difference?
The Volvo S60 costs RM50,088 more than the BMW 3 Series. That gap buys the plug-in hybrid system, all-wheel drive, far quicker acceleration and a longer 5-year warranty.
Which is quicker, the BMW 3 Series or Volvo S60?
The Volvo S60 is clearly quicker. It does 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, compared with 7.4 seconds for the BMW 3 Series, and its top speed is 250 km/h versus 235 km/h.