Verdict
For a Malaysian buyer, the RM325,800 X3 is the rational choice: it carries 570 litres against the X4’s 525 litres, includes adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera, yet costs RM81,000 less than the RM406,800 X4. The X4 earns its premium with 249 hp, 350 Nm and a 6.3-second 0-100 km/h time, against 188 hp, 310 Nm and 8.5 seconds for the X3. It also gets adaptive suspension, 21-inch wheels and a panoramic sunroof. Buy the X4 for pace and its richer specification, not extra utility.
Pick the BMW X3 if you want the larger 570-litre boot, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera for RM81,000 less.
Pick the BMW X4 if you want 249 hp, a 6.3-second 0-100 km/h time, adaptive suspension and a panoramic sunroof.
Key differences
- Price: BMW X3 RM325,800; BMW X4 RM406,800.
- Power and torque: BMW X3 188 hp and 310 Nm; BMW X4 249 hp and 350 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h and top speed: BMW X3 8.5 seconds and 215 km/h; BMW X4 6.3 seconds and 240 km/h.
- Boot space: BMW X3 570 litres; BMW X4 525 litres.
- Wheels: BMW X3 19-inch alloys with 245/50R19 tyres front and rear; BMW X4 21-inch alloys with 245/40R21 front and 275/35R21 rear.
- Height: BMW X3 1,660 mm; BMW X4 1,621 mm.
X3
- RM81,000 lower purchase price.
- 570-litre boot, 45 litres larger than the X4’s.
- Adaptive cruise control and 360-degree view monitor.
- 188 hp and 310 Nm trail the X4’s 249 hp and 350 Nm.
- 8.5-second 0-100 km/h time is 2.2 seconds behind the X4.
- No adaptive suspension, panoramic sunroof or 21-inch wheels.
X4
- 249 hp, 350 Nm and 6.3-second 0-100 km/h performance.
- Adaptive suspension and 21-inch Style 726 M wheels.
- Panoramic tilt-and-slide sunroof and 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio.
- RM81,000 more expensive than the X3.
- 525-litre boot is 45 litres smaller than the X3’s.
- Passive cruise control and a reverse camera replace the X3’s adaptive cruise control and 360-degree view monitor.
What the X3 has over the X4
What the X4 has over the X3
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
Boot space favours the X3: 570 litres against 525.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM325,800✓ | RM406,800 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM439 | RM439 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM3,325/mo✓ | RM4,155/mo |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM8,784✓ | RM10,890 |
| Fuel / year (est.) | — | RM3,383 |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | — | RM16.92 |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | — | RM73,561 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC direct injection with twin-scroll turbocharger, variable valve timing and mild hybrid assistance | 16-valve DOHC with Twin-Scroll Turbocharger, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 1,998 cc |
| Horsepower | 188 hp at 4,400 rpm | 249 hp at 5,200 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 310 Nm at 1,500 rpm | 350 Nm at 1,450 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | — | 82 mm × 94.6 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.2 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-speed Steptronic | 8 Speed Steptronic Sport Automatic |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | ZF |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8.5 seconds | 6.3 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | — | 8.5 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 215 km/h | 240 km/h✓ |
| Co2 | — | 192 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,755 mm | 4,751 mm |
| Width | 1,920 mm | 1,918 mm |
| Height | 1,660 mm | 1,621 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,865 mm | 2,864 mm |
| Weight | — | 1,890 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 65 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 570 litres✓ | 525 litres |
| Front Tyre | 245/50R19 | 245/40R21 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/50R19 | 275/35R21 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Continental EcoContact 6 Q | Pirelli P Zero Run-flat |
| Wiper Blade (Driver) | 24 inch | — |
| Wiper Blade (Passenger) | 19 inch | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19" Y-spoke M Alloys | 21" Style 726 M 2-tone Multi-spoke Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Y-spoke M Alloys | 21" Style 726 M 2-tone Multi-spoke Alloy |
| Steering | Rack & Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Adaptive Suspension |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Curtain Airbags) | 6 (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 | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection (5 km/h to 60 km/h) |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Collision Prevention |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | Adaptive LED Projector with Automatic High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function and Bolster Adjustment |
| 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 | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear | 1 Boot, 1 Front USB, 1 Front USB-C, 2 Rear USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lighting (6 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 6 Speaker | 12.3" Touchscreen BMW Operating System 7.0 with iDrive Touch Controller, Voice Control and 16-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System (464 Watts) |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes |
| Auto Parking | Yes | Yes, Parallel and Perpendicular |
| 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 | — | Auto-dimming Mirrors |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | 3 years | 3 years |
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. Running-cost estimates assume 20,000 km/year. Fuel at RM1.99/litre (RON95, subsidised). Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked November 2026.
Used X3 & X4 for sale
Our reviews & guides
BMW X3
X3 vs X4 FAQ
Is the BMW X3 or BMW X4 better?
The X3 is better for space and price, with a 570-litre boot, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera. The X4 is better if performance matters: 249 hp and 6.3 seconds to 100 km/h beat the X3’s 188 hp and 8.5 seconds.
What is the price difference?
The BMW X4 costs RM81,000 more than the BMW X3. That gap brings 61 hp, 40 Nm, adaptive suspension, 21-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof and Harman Kardon audio, but not more boot space or adaptive cruise control.
Which BMW is quicker, the X3 or X4?
The BMW X4 is decisively quicker, reaching 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds versus 8.5 seconds for the X3. Its 249 hp and 350 Nm also exceed the X3’s 188 hp and 310 Nm.
