Verdict
Only RM6,172 separates the RM378,800 BMW iX3 from the RM384,972 Volkswagen Touareg, but they suit different Malaysian use cases. The iX3 brings 463 hp, 645 Nm, a claimed 726 km range and 400 kW DC charging, while annual road tax is RM765. Its 520-litre boot is much smaller, however. The Touareg counters with an 810-litre boot, 250 km/h top speed, air suspension and a five-year warranty; it also has a 90-litre petrol tank and RM1,632 annual road tax. Choose charging access and acceleration, or the roomier petrol SUV.
iX3
Pick the BMW iX3 if you can charge regularly and want 463 hp, a claimed 726 km EV range and lower RM765 annual road tax.
Touareg
Pick the Volkswagen Touareg if you need its 810-litre boot, air suspension and five-year manufacturer warranty.
Key differences
- Price: BMW iX3 RM378,800; Volkswagen Touareg RM384,972.
- Power and acceleration: BMW iX3 463 hp and 4.9 seconds; Volkswagen Touareg 335 hp and 6.0 seconds.
- Top speed: BMW iX3 210 km/h; Volkswagen Touareg 250 km/h.
- Boot space: BMW iX3 520 litres; Volkswagen Touareg 810 litres.
- Annual road tax: BMW iX3 RM765; Volkswagen Touareg RM1,632.
- Manufacturer warranty: BMW iX3 two years; Volkswagen Touareg five years.
iX3
- 463 hp and 645 Nm from two motors
- Claimed 726 km range with 400 kW DC charging
- Head-up display and remote-control parking assistant
- 520-litre boot versus the Touareg's 810 litres
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus five years
- 210 km/h top speed versus 250 km/h
Touareg
- 810-litre boot
- Air suspension and night vision
- Five-year unlimited-mileage manufacturer warranty
- 6.0-second 0-100 km/h time versus the iX3's 4.9 seconds
- RM1,632 annual road tax versus RM765
- No automatic parking system, unlike the iX3's Parking Assistant Professional
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM378,800✓ | RM384,972 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM765✓ | RM1,632 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 6th-generation BMW eDrive, 800V architecture | 24-valve DOHC with Twin-scroll Turbocharger, Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | — | 2,995 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 335 hp |
| Torque | — | 450 Nm |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 84.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.8 |
| Number of Motors | 2 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 463 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 645 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 113.4 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 726 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 22 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 400 kW | — |
| V2L | 3.7 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | 8-speed Automatic |
| Gears | — | 8 |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.9 seconds✓ | 6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 210 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,782 mm | 4,878 mm |
| Width | 1,895 mm | 1,984 mm |
| Height | 1,635 mm | 1,702 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,897 mm | 2,984 mm |
| Weight | 2,285 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | — | 90 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 520 litres | 810 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 255/35R22 | 285/45R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 275/35R22 | 285/45R20 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | — | Bridgestone Alenza 001 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Hungary (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 22" Alloys (9J) | 20" Braga Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 22" Alloys (9.5J) | 20" Braga Alloys |
| Steering | Rack & Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Air Suspension |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver & Front Passenger, Front Side and Rear Curtain Airbags, Front Centre Airbag | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Electronic for Rear Doors | Electronic for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available for two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Night Vision | — | Yes |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED, 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 | M Sport Seats, Power Adjustable with Driver Memory | 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 | 3-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Panoramic, with Climate Comfort Glazing | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Wireless Charger, 1 Front, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 3 USB Front, 2 USB Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Ambient Light | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Manual rear window blinds |
| Audio | Harman Kardon 13 Speakers (430W); 17.9" Central Display + 43.3" Panoramic Vision, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Wireless Charging | 15" Innovision Cockpit with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Dynaudio Consequence Sound System (730-Watts) |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless (Comfort Access) | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | Yes | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | Yes | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes, Parking Assistant Professional with Remote Control Parking | — |
| 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 | Flexible Fast Charger (Mode 2) included; Drive Recorder and Remote Theft Recorder; Intelligent Personal Assistant | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Notes | RM399,800 with 5-year extended warranty and service package | — |
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 iX3 & Touareg for sale
iX3 vs Touareg FAQ
Is the BMW iX3 or Volkswagen Touareg better?
The BMW iX3 is the better choice for EV driving, faster 4.9-second acceleration and lower road tax. Choose the Volkswagen Touareg for its 810-litre boot, air suspension and five-year warranty.
What is the price difference?
The BMW iX3 costs RM378,800 and the Volkswagen Touareg costs RM384,972, so the BMW is RM6,172 cheaper.
Which has more luggage room?
The Volkswagen Touareg has the larger boot at 810 litres, beating the BMW iX3's 520 litres by 290 litres.