Verdict
The BMW M3 costs RM271,800 more, but its 503 hp, 650 Nm, all-wheel drive and 3.5-second 0-100 km/h time make it the clear performance choice. The Porsche Macan Electric is the more rational Malaysian daily: its 100-kWh battery is rated for 641 km, DC charging reaches 270 kW and annual road tax is RM455 against RM2,113. Its 540-litre boot also beats the M3’s 480 litres. Choose the M3 for its 2.2-second acceleration advantage and 250 km/h top speed; choose the Macan Electric for SUV practicality and its eight-year/160,000-km battery warranty.
Pick the BMW M3 if a 3.5-second 0-100 km/h sprint, 503 hp and all-wheel drive matter more than purchase cost, road tax and cargo room.
Pick the Porsche Macan Electric if you want 641 km of rated EV range, 270 kW DC charging, lower annual road tax and a larger five-door body.
Key differences
- Price: BMW M3 RM846,800; Porsche Macan Electric RM575,000.
- Performance: BMW M3 503 hp, 650 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds; Porsche Macan Electric 355 hp, 563 Nm and 5.7 seconds.
- Driveline: BMW M3 all-wheel drive; Porsche Macan Electric rear-wheel drive.
- Top speed: BMW M3 250 km/h; Porsche Macan Electric 220 km/h.
- Annual road tax: BMW M3 RM2,113; Porsche Macan Electric RM455.
- Boot space: BMW M3 480 litres; Porsche Macan Electric 540 litres.
M3
- 503 hp, 650 Nm and 3.5-second 0-100 km/h pace.
- All-wheel drive with Adaptive M Suspension and an Active M Differential.
- 250 km/h top speed and a front tilt-and-slide sunroof.
- RM271,800 dearer to buy and RM1,658 costlier in annual road tax.
- 480-litre boot is 60 litres smaller.
- Two-year manufacturer warranty is shorter than the Porsche’s eight-year cover.
Macan Electric
- 100-kWh battery with 641 km rated range and 270 kW DC charging.
- 540-litre boot, five doors and a taller 1,622 mm SUV body.
- Adaptive cruise control, steering lane-keeping assistance and a 360-degree camera.
- 5.7-second 0-100 km/h time trails the M3 by 2.2 seconds.
- Rear-wheel drive versus the M3’s all-wheel-drive system.
- 220 km/h top speed is 30 km/h lower.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM846,800 | RM575,000✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | SUV |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,113 | RM455✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC with Twin Turbochargers, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | PPE platform, 800V architecture |
| Capacity | 2,993 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 503 hp | — |
| Torque | 650 Nm | — |
| Fuel | Petrol | Electric |
| Bore | 84 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 9.3 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 355 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 563 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 100 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 641 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 270 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-speed M Steptronic Transmission with Drivelogic | — |
| Gears | 8 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | — |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 3.5 seconds✓ | 5.7 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 10.1 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h✓ | 220 km/h |
| Co2 | 230 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,794 mm | 4,784 mm |
| Width | 1,903 mm | 1,938 mm |
| Height | 1,433 mm | 1,622 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,857 mm | 2,893 mm |
| Weight | 1,855 kg | 2,295 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | — |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres | 540 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 275/35R19 | 235/55R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 285/30R20 | 285/45R20 |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Pilot Super Sport Run-flat | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | — |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | — |
| Front Wheels | 19" Double-spoke Style 826 M Two-tone Forged Alloy | 20" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Double-spoke Style 826 M Two-tone Forged Alloy | 20" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive M Suspension, Active M Differential, 4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD Modes | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front & Rear Curtain, Rear Side Airbags & Front Center Airbag |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Two Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection (5 km/h to 80 km/h) | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Warning Only | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Attentiveness Assistant, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Collision Prevention, Active Protection | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Laser Projectors with Auto High Beam | LED Projector with Adaptive 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 | 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 System |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Front, Tilt and Slide | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Boot, 2 Front USB-C, 2 Rear USB-C | 1 Front, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear, 1 Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (11 Colours) | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Rear Window Shades |
| Audio | BMW Live Cockpit Professional with 10.25" Touchscreen, iDrive Controller, Voice Control, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Wireless Android Auto and 12-speaker 360W Harman Kardon Sound System | 10.9" Infotainment Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 14-speaker Bose Sound System (710-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 Smartphone Key and Proximity Auto 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 with Contactless Opening | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking, with Reversing Assist | Yes |
| 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 | Qi Wireless Charger, BMW ConnectedDrive, Concierge Service | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 160,000 km |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 8 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 5 years | — |
| Warranty Notes | — | 8-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty |
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 M3 & Macan Electric for sale
M3 vs Macan Electric FAQ
Is the BMW M3 or Porsche Macan Electric better?
The BMW M3 is better for outright pace, with 503 hp and 3.5 seconds to 100 km/h. The Porsche Macan Electric is better for daily practicality, with 641 km rated range, a 540-litre boot and far lower annual road tax.
What is the price difference?
The BMW M3 costs RM271,800 more than the Porsche Macan Electric.
Which is cheaper to tax and has the longer warranty?
The Porsche Macan Electric has RM455 annual road tax, compared with RM2,113 for the BMW M3. It also has an eight-year/160,000-km manufacturer warranty, including its battery warranty, while the M3 has a two-year unlimited-mileage warranty.