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In the Malaysian SUV market, many buyers compare Proton X70 and Subaru Crosstrek when choosing a car. These two models are quite close in price and positioning. Today, we will make a detailed comparison from multiple aspects to help you save time on research.
Proton X70 OTR price in Malaysia is RM 106,800 - 122,300, with a total of 3 versions, including 1.5L Standard 2WD (RM 106,800), 1.5L Executive 2WD (RM 115,800), 1.5L Premium 2WD (RM 122,300), etc.
Subaru Crosstrek OTR price in Malaysia is RM 145,000 - 160,000, with a total of 1 version, including 2.0L e-Boxer (RM 150,000), etc.
From a price perspective, the starting price of Proton X70 is indeed RM 38,200 cheaper than Subaru Crosstrek. If your budget is limited, Proton's entry-level version can already meet daily needs. But be aware, the few thousand dollars cheaper may involve trade-offs in features, it depends on your specific needs.
Proton X70 equipped with 1.5L Turbo, horsepower 140 hp. Official fuel consumption 7.0 L/100km.
Subaru Crosstrek equipped with 1.5L Turbo, horsepower 140 hp. Official fuel consumption 7.0 L/100km.
Both cars use the same powertrain, the driving experience feels basically the same daily. Fuel consumption is also similar, no need to worry too much about this point.
Proton X70 safety rating is 5★ (ASEAN NCAP), active safety systems include ADAS (ACC, AEB, LKA, LDA, BSM, RCTA).
Subaru Crosstrek safety rating is 5★ (Euro NCAP), active safety systems include EyeSight.
Regarding safety features, both cars have received good ratings. However, there are some differences in function between Proton X70's ADAS (ACC, AEB, LKA, LDA, BSM, RCTA) and Subaru Crosstrek's EyeSight. If you value active safety more, you can compare the function lists of both carefully.
Proton X70 warranty 5 years/150,000km, maintenance interval every 10,000km or 6 months.
Subaru Crosstrek warranty 3 years/100,000km, maintenance interval every 10,000km or 6 months.
Proton X70 and Subaru Crosstrek are both mainstream choices in the Malaysian market, suitable for family use and daily commuting. If you value brand reputation and resale price more, you can prioritize the one with better reputation; if you care more about cost-performance and features, choose the one with richer configuration. In the end, it is suggested to test drive both, experiencing it personally is the most important.
Overall, Proton X70 and Subaru Crosstrek are both very good models in the Malaysian market. Which one to choose depends mainly on your personal needs and budget. We suggest doing your homework, comparing quotes from multiple car dealers, and then test driving to make the final decision. Buying a car is a big deal, spending time on research will definitely not be wrong.
喺馬來西亞嘅 SUV 市場，好多買家喺揀車嘅時候都會拿寶騰 X90 同本田 CR-V 嚟做比較。呢兩款車喺價碼同定位上都幾接近嘅，今日我哋就從多個方面做一次詳細嘅比較，幫你慳做功課嘅時間。
寶騰 X90 喺馬來西亞嘅 OTR 售價係 RM 106,800 - 122,800，一總共有 4 個版本，包括 2026 1.5T Prime X（RM 122,800）、2026 1.5T Prime（RM 116,800）、2026 1.5T Lite（RM 106,800）等。
本田 CR-V 喺馬來西亞嘅 OTR 售價係 RM 178,200 - 195,900，一總共有 4 個版本，包括 2026 e:HEV 2.0L 2WD RS（RM 195,900）、2026 1.5T 4WD V（RM 181,900）、2026 e:HEV 2.0L 2WD E（RM 178,200）等。
從價錢嚟睇，寶騰 X90 嘅起步價確實比本田 CR-V 平咗 RM 71,400。如果你預算有限，寶騰嘅入門版已經可以滿足日常需求。但都要留意，平嗰幾千蚊，可能喺配備上會有取舍，具體要睇你嘅需求。
寶騰 X90 搭載 1.5L Turbo，馬力 140 hp。官方油耗 7.0 L/100km。
本田 CR-V 搭載 2.0L 4-cyl，馬力 170 hp。官方油耗 8.0 L/100km。
動力方面，本田 CR-V 嘅 2.0L 4-cyl 比寶騰 X90 嘅 1.5L Turbo 多咗 30 匹馬力。不過日常喺市區開，兩款車嘅動力都夠用，唔會覺得唔夠力。
寶騰 X90 車身長 4400 mm，尾箱 400 L。
本田 CR-V 車身長 4500 mm，尾箱 450 L。
空間方面，本田 CR-V 嘅車身比寶騰 X90 長咗 100 mm，乘坐空間更有優勢。不過寶騰 X90 喺市區停車會靈活少少，各有各嘅取舍。
寶騰 X90 採用 FWD 驅動方式。
本田 CR-V 採用 FWD 驅動方式。
兩款車嘅驅動方式一樣，都係 FWD，日常駕駛感受唔會有太大分別。
寶騰 X90 同本田 CR-V 都係馬來西亞市場嘅主流選擇，適合家庭使用、日常通勤。如果你更看重品牌口碑同二手價，可以優先考慮口碑更好嗰一款；如果你更在意性價比同配備，那就揀配置更豐富嗰款。最後都係建議兩款都去試駕，親身體驗先係最重要。
總括嚟講，寶騰 X90 同本田 CR-V 都係馬來西亞市場幾唔錯嘅車型。揀邊輛，關鍵仲係要睇你個人需求同預算。建議大家做好功課，多比較幾間車行之報價，再去試駕做最終決定。買車係件大事，花啲時間做功課絕對唔會錯。
In Malaysia's SUV market, many buyers compare Proton X70 and Mitsubishi Xforce when choosing a car. These two models are quite close in price and positioning. Today, we will make a detailed comparison from multiple aspects to help you save time on research.
Proton X70 OTR price in Malaysia is RM 106,800 - 122,300, with a total of 3 versions, including 1.5L Standard 2WD (RM 106,800), 1.5L Executive 2WD (RM 115,800), 1.5L Premium 2WD (RM 122,300), etc.
Mitsubishi Xforce OTR price in Malaysia is RM 109,930 - 119,930, with a total of 2 versions, including 2026 1.5L Ultimate (RM 119,930), 2026 1.5L Urban (RM 109,930), etc.
In terms of price, the starting price of Proton X70 is indeed RM 3,130 cheaper than Mitsubishi Xforce. If your budget is limited, Proton's entry-level version can already meet daily needs. But note, the few thousand cheaper might involve trade-offs in features, it depends on your needs.
Proton X70 equipped with 1.5L Turbo, 140 hp. Official fuel consumption 7.0 L/100km.
Mitsubishi Xforce equipped with 1.5L Turbo, 140 hp. Official fuel consumption 7.0 L/100km.
Both cars use the same powertrain, driving feel is basically the same. Fuel consumption is also similar, no need to worry too much about this point.
Proton X70 safety rating is 5★ (ASEAN NCAP), active safety systems include ADAS (ACC, AEB, LKA, LDA, BSM, RCTA).
Mitsubishi Xforce safety rating is 5★ (ASEAN NCAP), active safety systems include MI-PILOT.
Both cars have the same safety rating, safety features in this segment are quite comprehensive. New cars nowadays have good safety, no need to worry too much about this.
Proton X70 body length 4400 mm, boot 400 L.
Mitsubishi Xforce body length 4400 mm, boot 400 L.
Both cars have almost the same dimensions, interior space difference is not big. Cars in this segment are fully sufficient for daily use.
Proton X70 and Mitsubishi Xforce are both mainstream choices in the Malaysian market, suitable for family use, daily commuting. If you value brand reputation and resale price more, prioritize the one with better reputation; if you care more about cost-performance and features, choose the one with richer configurations. Ultimately, it is recommended to test drive both, personal experience is the most important.
Overall, Proton X70 and Mitsubishi Xforce are both very good models in the Malaysian market. Which one to choose depends on your personal needs and budget. It is recommended to do research, compare quotes from several car dealers, then test drive to make a final decision. Buying a car is a big matter, spending time on research is never wrong.
In the Malaysian SUV market, many buyers often compare Proton X70 and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro when selecting a car. These two cars are quite close in price and positioning, so today we will do a detailed comparison from multiple aspects to help you save time on research.
Proton X70 has an OTR price in Malaysia of RM 106,800 - 122,300, with a total of 3 versions, including 1.5L Standard 2WD (RM 106,800), 1.5L Executive 2WD (RM 115,800), 1.5L Premium 2WD (RM 122,300), etc.
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro has an OTR price in Malaysia of RM 159,750 - 159,750, with a total of 2 versions, including 1.6L Turbo Standard (RM 130,000), 1.6L Turbo Premium (RM 145,000), etc.
From a price perspective, Proton X70's starting price is indeed cheaper by RM 52,950 than Chery Tiggo 8 Pro. If your budget is limited, Proton's entry-level version can already meet daily needs. However, note that the few thousand difference might involve compromises in features, depending on your specific needs.
Proton X70's safety rating is 5★ (ASEAN NCAP), with active safety systems including ADAS (ACC, AEB, LKA, LDA, BSM, RCTA).
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro's safety rating is TBD, with active safety systems including Basic.
Regarding safety features, both cars received good ratings. However, there are some differences in functionality between Proton X70's ADAS (ACC, AEB, LKA, LDA, BSM, RCTA) and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro's Basic. If you value active safety, you can compare their feature lists carefully.
Proton X70 adopts a FWD drive mode.
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro adopts a FWD drive mode.
Both cars have the same drive mode, which is FWD, so there won't be a significant difference in daily driving experience.
Proton X70 warranty is 5 years/150,000km, maintenance interval every 10,000km or 6 months.
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro warranty is 3 years/100,000km, maintenance interval every 10,000km or 6 months.
In general, Proton X70 and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro are both excellent models in the Malaysian market. Which one to choose mainly depends on your personal needs and budget. We suggest doing your research, comparing quotes from multiple dealerships, and then test driving to make a final decision. Buying a car is a big decision, spending time doing research is never wrong.
In the Malaysian SUV market, many buyers compare Proton X70 and Chery Tiggo 8 when choosing a car. These two cars are quite close in price and positioning. Today, we will make a detailed comparison from multiple aspects to help you save time on research.
The OTR price for Proton X70 in Malaysia is RM 106,800 - 122,300, with a total of 3 versions, including 1.5L Standard 2WD (RM 106,800), 1.5L Executive 2WD (RM 115,800), 1.5L Premium 2WD (RM 122,300), etc.
The OTR price for Chery Tiggo 8 in Malaysia is RM 129,750 - 129,750, with a total of 1 version, including 2026 1.6T Standard (RM 129,750), etc.
In terms of price, the starting price of Proton X70 is indeed RM 22,950 cheaper than Chery Tiggo 8. If your budget is limited, Proton's entry-level version already meets daily needs. However, note that the cheaper few thousand might involve compromises on features, depending on your specific needs.
Proton X70 is equipped with a 1.5L Turbo, 140 hp. Official fuel consumption 7.0 L/100km.
Chery Tiggo 8 is equipped with a 1.5L Turbo, 140 hp. Official fuel consumption 7.0 L/100km.
Both cars use the same powertrain, the driving feel is basically the same. Fuel consumption is also similar, no need to worry too much about this.
Proton X70 body length 4400 mm, trunk 400 L.
Chery Tiggo 8 body length 4400 mm, trunk 400 L.
The dimensions of both cars are almost the same, interior space difference is not significant. Cars in this class are completely sufficient for daily use.
Proton X70 adopts FWD drive mode.
Chery Tiggo 8 adopts FWD drive mode.
Both cars have the same drive mode, both FWD, daily driving experience will not be much different.
Proton X70 warranty 5 years/150,000km, maintenance interval every 10,000km or 6 months.
Chery Tiggo 8 warranty 3 years/100,000km, maintenance interval every 10,000km or 6 months.
Overall, Proton X70 and Chery Tiggo 8 are both very good models in the Malaysian market. Which one to choose mainly depends on your personal needs and budget. It is recommended to do your research, compare quotes from several car dealers, and then test drive to make a final decision. Buying a car is a major matter, spending time doing research will definitely not be wrong.
喺馬來西亞嘅 SUV 市場，好多買家喺揀車嘅時候都會拿 Proton X70 同 Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV 來做比較。呢兩款車喺價位同定位上都幾接近，今日我哋就從多個方面做一個詳細嘅比較，幫你慳做功課嘅時間。
Proton X70 喺馬來西亞嘅 OTR 售價係 RM 106,800 - 122,300，合共 3 個版本，包括 1.5L Standard 2WD（RM 106,800）、1.5L Executive 2WD（RM 115,800）、1.5L Premium 2WD（RM 122,300）等。
Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV 喺馬來西亞嘅 OTR 售價係 RM 129,750 - 129,750，合共 2 個版本，包括 2025 1.5T 90km CSH（RM 129,750）、Tiggo 7 PHEV 支援邊幾種充電方法？可唔可以用地插充電？（RM 117,478）等。
從價嚟睇，Proton X70 嘅起步價確實比 Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV 慳咗 RM 22,950。如果你預算有限，Proton 嘅入門版已經可以滿足日常需要。但要留意，慳嗰幾千蚊，可能喺配備上會有取舍，具體睇你嘅需要。
Proton X70 車身長 4400 mm，行李廂 400 L。
Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV 車身長 4400 mm，行李廂 400 L。
兩款車嘅尺寸幾乎一樣，車內空間分別唔大。呢個級別嘅車，日常使用完全夠用。
Proton X70 保養保修 5 年/150,000km，保養間隔 每 10,000km 或 6 個月。
Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV 保養保修 3 年/100,000km，保養間隔 每 10,000km 或 6 個月。
Proton X70 同 Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV 都係馬來西亞市場嘅主流選擇，適合家庭使用、日常通勤。如果你更看重品牌口碑同二手價，可以優先考慮口碑更好嗰款；如果你更在意性價比同配備，就揀配置更豐富嗰款。最終都係建議兩款都去試駕，親身體驗先係最重要嘅。
總嘅嚟講，Proton X70 同 Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV 都係馬來西亞市場幾唔錯嘅車型。揀邊輛，關鍵都係要睇你嘅個人需要同預算。建議大家做好功課，多比較幾間車行嘅報價，再去試駕做最終決定。買車係件大事，花少少時間做功課絕對唔會錯。
喺馬來西亞嘅 SUV 市場，好多買家在揀車嘅時候都會拿 Proton X70 同 Mazda CX-8 嚟做比較。呢兩款車喺價位同定位上都蠻接近，今日我哋就從多個方面做一個詳細嘅比較，幫你慳啲做功課嘅時間。
Proton X70 喺馬來西亞嘅 OTR 售價係 RM 106,800 至 122,300，一共有 3 個版本，包括 1.5L Standard 2WD（RM 106,800）、1.5L Executive 2WD（RM 115,800）、1.5L Premium 2WD（RM 122,300）呢啲。
Mazda CX-8 喺馬來西亞嘅 OTR 售價係 RM 165,360 至 201,360，一共有 5 個版本，包括 2025 2.5T 4WD High Plus Petrol（RM 201,360）、2025 2.2L 2WD High Plus Diesel（RM 193,123）、2025 2.5L 2WD High Plus Petrol（RM 186,360）呢啲。
睇返價錢，Proton X70 嘅起步價確實比 Mazda CX-8 平咗 RM 58,560。如果你預算有限，Proton 嘅入門版已經可以滿足日常需要。但都要注意，平嘅嗰幾千蚊，喺配備上可能會有所取捨，具體就要睇你嘅需要。
Proton X70 配備 1.5L Turbo，馬力 140 hp。官方油耗 7.0 L/100km。
Mazda CX-8 配備 2.0L 4-cyl，馬力 170 hp。官方油耗 8.0 L/100km。
動力方面，Mazda CX-8 嘅 2.0L 4-cyl 比 Proton X70 嘅 1.5L Turbo 多咗 30 匹馬力。不過日常喺市區行，兩款車嘅動力都夠用，唔會覺得夠唔到力。
Proton X70 車身長 4400 mm，行李廂 400 L。
Mazda CX-8 車身長 4500 mm，行李廂 450 L。
空間方面，Mazda CX-8 嘅車身比 Proton X70 長咗 100 mm，乘駕空間更有優勢。不過 Proton X70 喺市區停車會靈活啲，各有取捨。
Proton X70 採用 FWD 驅動方式。
Mazda CX-8 採用 FWD 驅動方式。
兩款車嘅驅動方式一樣，都係 FWD，日常駕駛感受唔會有太大分別。
Proton X70 同 Mazda CX-8 都係馬來西亞市場嘅主流選擇，適合家庭用、日常通勤。如果你更睇重品牌口碑同二手價，可以優先考慮口碑更好嗰款；如果你更在意性價比同配備，那就揀配置更豐富嗰款。最終都係建議兩款都去試駕，親身體驗先係最重要。
總括嚟講，Proton X70 同 Mazda CX-8 都係馬來西亞市場幾唔錯嘅車型。揀邊輛，關鍵係要睇你嘅個人需要同預算。建議大家做足功課，多比較幾間車行嘅報價，先至去試駕做最終決定。買車係件大事，花少少時間做功課絕對無錯。
In Malaysia's SUV market, many buyers compare Proton X70 and Mazda CX-5 when choosing a car. These two cars are quite close in price and positioning. Today we will make a detailed comparison from multiple aspects to help you save time on research.
Proton X70 OTR price in Malaysia is RM 106,800 - 122,300, with 3 versions in total, including 1.5L Standard 2WD (RM 106,800), 1.5L Executive 2WD (RM 115,800), 1.5L Premium 2WD (RM 122,300), etc.
Mazda CX-5 OTR price in Malaysia is RM 135,469 - 166,760, with 3 versions in total, including 2025 2.0L AT 35th Anniversary (RM 316,154), 2025 2.0L AT (RM 296,154), 2025 2.0L MT (RM 294,154), etc.
In terms of price, Proton X70's starting price is indeed RM 28,669 cheaper than Mazda CX-5. If your budget is limited, Proton's entry-level version can already meet daily needs. However, also note that the few thousand difference cheaper, there might be trade-offs in equipment, it depends on your specific needs.
Proton X70 equipped with 1.5L Turbo, horsepower 140 hp. Official fuel consumption 7.0 L/100km.
Mazda CX-5 equipped with 1.5L Turbo, horsepower 140 hp. Official fuel consumption 7.0 L/100km.
Both cars use the same powertrain, the driving feel is basically no difference. Fuel consumption is also similar, no need to dwell on this point.
Proton X70 body length 4400 mm, trunk 400 L.
Mazda CX-5 body length 4500 mm, trunk 450 L.
Regarding space, Mazda CX-5 body is 100 mm longer than Proton X70, seating space has an advantage. However, Proton X70 is a bit more flexible for parking in the city, both have trade-offs.
Proton X70 adopts FWD drive method.
Mazda CX-5 adopts FWD drive method.
Both cars drive method is the same, both are FWD, daily driving feel won't have too big difference.
Proton X70 warranty 5 years/150,000km, maintenance interval every 10,000km or 6 months.
Mazda CX-5 warranty 5 years/150,000km, maintenance interval every 10,000km or 6 months.
Both cars warranty conditions are the same, no need to dwell on this. Actual maintenance cost depends on brand service network and parts prices, suggest asking real owners in car owner groups for experience.
Overall, Proton X70 and Mazda CX-5 are both very good car models in Malaysia market. Which one to choose, key is still depends on your personal needs and budget. Suggest everyone do homework, compare quotes from several car dealers, then go for test drive to make final decision. Buying a car is a big thing, spending some time on research will definitely not be wrong.
The most "BMW" car is no longer BMW's most important car.
By｜Hu Chengxu Edit｜Mao Shiyan
Auto Pixel (ID:autopix)Original
BMW's best news and worst news arrived at almost the same time.
At the end of July, BMW reached a milestone in Debrecen, Hungary. The group's first all-electric exclusive factory produced its 50,000th Neue Klasse iX3.
Orders are growing faster than production ramp-up. From production start to the 50,000th unit roll-off, it took only nine months, while iX3 orders in Europe are approaching 100,000. BMW disclosed that for every three new electric vehicle orders in Europe, one belongs to the iX3.
To catch up with demand, the Debrecen factory started a second shift earlier, and hundreds of employees were transferred from the China factory for support.
In the first half of 2026, the iX3 also swept the World Car of the Year and World Electric Vehicle awards.
This is probably BMW's best new product start in the last decade. However, within the same period, several other things happened.
On July 29, BMW reached an agreement with the Works Council to launch a voluntary redundancy plan starting in October, cutting approximately 8,000 jobs globally by the end of 2027, accounting for 5.2% of its 154,500 employees. The cuts fell on R&D, planning, and functional departments in Germany, effectively slicing off one-fifth of BMW's white-collar jobs in Germany.
On July 30, BMW released its financial report for the first half of 2026. Net profit attributable to shareholders was 2.858 billion euros, down 25.75%. Pre-tax profit in the second quarter was 1.7 billion euros, a year-on-year decline of 35.1%.
The automotive business operating profit margin dropped by more than half year-on-year, and free cash flow decreased by 73.4%. These factors caused BMW's stock price to fall by about 39% this year, touching a 52-week low in late July.
The huge hole dragging down BMW's performance is in China. In the first half, BMW China's sales fell 20.4% year-on-year, and the second quarter's decline widened to 30.2%. With sales continuing to lose speed, China's record of consistently being BMW's largest single market for 12 consecutive years was ended, and its share of BMW's global sales dropped from a peak of 33.5% to 25.5%.
But in China, where BMW's new energy transformation needs to be tested the most, new cars arrived the latest. The domestic version of iX3 will be launched in the fourth quarter of this year.
Thus, strong sales in Europe are a good start, but it cannot yet prove it is the answer. The old market is losing speed, and the new anchor has not yet completed the hardest verification.
01
BMW Once Only Needed One Car
The last time BMW used the name "Neue Klasse" was in 1962. That time, it saved the company.
Before that, BMW had walked to the edge of being absorbed. Daimler-Benz proposed a takeover and restructuring plan. Before the December 1959 shareholder meeting, the deal was once considered a foregone conclusion. It was not until minority shareholders and employee representatives opposed it on the spot that the plan was vetoed, and BMW barely retained independence.
At that time, its product line was almost severed in the middle. One end was cheap micro-cars and motorcycles like the Isetta, while the other end was expensive V8 sedans like the 501 and 502. In the middle, there was no mainstream product that could contribute scale and profits simultaneously.
Marketing Director Paul Hahnemann saw this gap: a family sedan with displacement between 1.5 and 2.0 liters, high quality, and a sports character.
At the 1961 Frankfurt Motor Show, the BMW 1500 made its debut. This series was called "Neue Klasse".
▍BMW 1500 at the 1961 Frankfurt Motor Show
The four-door body abandoned the 501's elaborate styling and turned towards a more restrained, function-focused design. Von Falkenhausen developed the M10 engine for it and persuaded management to increase the displacement from the initial idea of 1.3 liters to 1.5 liters, while leaving space for expansion to 2.0 liters.
On the rear side of this car, at the junction of the C-pillar and the body, the "Hofmeister kink", a fold line turning forward, appeared for the first time, which later became BMW's signature.
But these elements that later defined BMW did not immediately bring a sales legend. The 1500 was produced for over two years, with full lifecycle sales of 23,800 units. What truly changed BMW's fate was the product template it provided. The four-door Neue Klasse was produced cumulatively for 339,800 units. The 02 series, shortened and simplified from it, sold over 820,000 units.
From 1960 to 1970, BMW's sales tripled, and revenue growth exceeded seven times. In 1963, nearly two decades after the dividend suspension, BMW resumed dividends to shareholders.
The M10 engine was produced until 1988, cumulatively exceeding 3.5 million units, and later spawned M12 and M13 turbocharged models for the F1 arena. In 1966, it lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in under 10 minutes.
That same year, BMW put the Neue Klasse technology and sports character into a more compact and cheaper car, and the 02 series was born. In 1975, its successor officially adopted a new name: the 3 Series.
From 1975 to now, the 3 Series has cumulatively sold over 16 million units, making it BMW's best-selling series. Luxury mid-size sedans have long used the 3 Series as the benchmark; Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Lexus IS, and even the later NIO ET5 all treated it as an archnrival.
More importantly, it turned sports character into a product logic that BMW could replicate generation after generation.
BMW's official positioning of the 3 Series has always been clear. In 2024, the wording was that for nearly 50 years, the 3 Series has always represented the core (the core of the BMW brand) of the BMW brand; in 2022, it was called the heart (the heart of the BMW brand) of the brand; when the new i3 was released in 2026, the 3 Series was still emphasized as the essence (the essence of the BMW brand) of the BMW brand.
These are not just rhetoric. Over the past few decades, many of BMW's key technologies and product concepts first became complete cars on the 3 Series before spreading to other products.
In 1985, the second-generation 3 Series E30 launched the 325iX, becoming BMW's first four-wheel-drive sedan, laying the starting point for the xDrive that later covered the entire series.
▍Third-generation 3 Series from 1990 to 1998
By the third-generation 3 Series E36, the 3 Series began to define BMW's driving experience more deeply. The Z-link multi-link rear suspension was extended to sedan, two-door, and wagon versions, and the center console was also significantly tilted towards the driver. "Driver-oriented" was established as a replicable cockpit layout.
In the past six decades, BMW's method of expanding its product line was essentially to replicate the 3 Series, scale it up to 5 Series and 7 Series, scale it down to 1 Series, and elevate it to X3 and X5. As long as the answer of the 3 Series stands, BMW's product line stands.
But in the EV era, BMW took the premiere rights of "Neue Klasse" from the 3 Series, and also took away the power to define the next generation of BMW.
02
The Next Generation BMW,
No Longer Starting with the 3 Series
In September 2025, BMW reactivated the "Neue Klasse" name at the Munich IAA. But the first car was not the i3, but the iX3. Six months later, the i3 was released, officially referred to only as the "second Neue Klasse model".
Technical premiere rights were also moved. The Driving Super Brain Heart of Joy, which best embodies BMW's differentiation, as well as sixth-generation electric drive, large-format cylindrical cells, and Panoramic iDrive, were all first deployed on the iX3.
The i3 launched next year, every technology it receives, was received by the iX3 first.
In terms of wording, the change in status can even be seen. For example, for a certain function, the official wording for the iX3 was "the smoothest parking process in BMW history", while the i3 was described as "the smoothest parking process in 3 Series history", the scope was proactively narrowed.
In Q1 2026, global deliveries of the 3 Series and 4 Series totaled 103,800 units, down 11.8% year-on-year; X3 grew by 18.5% year-on-year, of which a considerable proportion came from the iX3. Analysts believe the iX3 could push the X3 family to the top of BMW's sales list by the end of 2026.
BMW's definition of the i3 has also regressed from "defining the entire series" back to "continuing 3 Series DNA", and the task of defining the next generation of products has been handed over to the SUV.
BMW is not the first to do this.
Tesla had the sedan Model 3 first in 2017, and the SUV form Model Y only in 2020, but the latter is the anchor that determines Tesla's product configuration. Model Y is not only Tesla's best-selling car globally, but also the foundation for its subsequent products, such as Cybercab.
Li Auto is even more thorough, and has not yet launched a sedan.
Behind this is first the engineering reality. The BEV platform lays a battery about 10 cm thick under the floor, which is naturally more suitable for higher-bodied SUVs. The battery gives SUVs the low center of gravity that sedans once had exclusively, but it does not give sedans the space of SUVs. Therefore, the mainstream configuration of the new energy era tilts towards SUVs.
But more importantly, the "driving dynamics" represented by sedans could almost support all of BMW's value in the ICE era; in the EV era, it is still important, but only one layer of product capability. Space, comfort, and cockpit experience, SUVs are rather easier to make comprehensive.
This means the 3 Series can no longer represent the Neue Class BMW. But the 3 Series stepping down does not mean the iX3 has completed the succession.
Beyond driving dynamics, the intelligent driving, cockpit, and ecosystem that determine the victory or defeat of new energy vehicles in China, BMW relies heavily on public suppliers. The China-spec iX3 adopts Momenta intelligent driving, while Momenta also supplies Mercedes, Audi, and IM Motors. In the capabilities consumers value most, BMW stands on the same foundation as rivals.
To re-establish differentiation, BMW almost rewrote the domestic iX3. 70% of the OS code was rewritten by the Chinese team, intelligent driving was co-developed again, and the cockpit integrated Alibaba, DeepSeek, Huawei, and Gaode.
The trade-off was time. The overseas version was delivered this March, and the domestic version will be launched in the fourth quarter.
Peculiarly, the market where BMW has the deepest problems, the new product arrived the latest. Mercedes has already compressed the pure electric GLC to 299,900 yuan, and Chinese new EV players have also completed several rounds of iteration in the same price range.
Meanwhile, starting from July this year, the domestic i3 and iX1 entered the production halt process, and i5 production was suspended. BMW cleaned up the previous generation of electric products to free up production lines and resources for the Neue Class models.
This led to it having virtually no domestic pure electric models for sale, with a new energy penetration rate in China of only about 6% in the first quarter, while the overall market in China has already exceeded 50%.
So, the iX3 has not yet taken the most critical exam. Its success in Europe can only prove that BMW made a decent car, but it has not yet proven in the global competition's most fierce and cutting-edge new energy market that it is sufficient to become the anchor of the next generation of BMW.
03
iX3 Is Not Yet The New Anchor
In 2020, BMW also made an iX3.
It rolled off the line at the Shenyang Dadong Plant, it was BMW Brilliance's first truly global model. All iX3s sold worldwide came from the same plant and were all the same car.
Six years later, the new generation iX3 has two versions. The standard wheelbase version is produced in Debrecen, Hungary, for Europe and the US; the long wheelbase version is produced in Shenyang, for China, as well as India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
With the same car name, selling one car globally has become two distinctly different products.
In the ICE era, domestic BMWs would also be lengthened. At that time, the long wheelbase version and standard wheelbase version still shared the same core technology, just different dimensions. Now operating systems, intelligent driving solutions, AI engines, and ecosystem systems have all gone down different paths.
The fundamental divergence is demand. The 3 Series can be unified globally because the market demand for good-handling mid-size sedans is consistent. For the new energy market where the iX3 belongs, the demands on both sides are already different; the Chinese market values intelligence, rear seat experience, and ecosystem connectivity more.
This also pushes the problem to a deeper level. If a car entrusted with a global anchor role must be rewritten after entering the most competitive market, can it still represent globally?
Furthermore, the victory won by the iX3 in Europe, the time may not be plentiful.
In April this year, the sales share of Chinese brands in the European electric vehicle market exceeded 15% for the first time, and the overall market share rose to 9.8%. In May, monthly new car registrations of Chinese automakers in Europe exceeded Japanese automakers for the first time. In the first quarter, exports to Europe reached 438,400 units, a year-on-year increase of 84.7%.
What mainly blocks domestic carmakers is tariffs. The combined tax rate for some domestic new energy vehicles in Europe reaches up to 45.3%. Even bearing high tariffs, the BYD Dolphin Surf (corresponds to the domestic Dolphin) is still cheaper than the same-class Renault 5 in Germany.
And this barrier is being bypassed. BYD, Chery, and Geely are turning tariffs from long-term barriers into phased costs by building factories in Europe or utilizing existing capacity.
More critically, the iX3 is absent from not just an ordinary market, but a place where global new energy competition premiered early. The demand changes happening in China today may well be the preview for other markets in the coming years.
This consolidation has already begun. Geely's G-ASD became the first Chinese driver assistance system to pass EU certification; XPeng has also brought intelligence into Europe as a lever for future competition.
They are betting on Europe's next stage. After electrification, competition will continue to migrate towards intelligence, and gradually approach today's China.
This means the China-spec iX3 is not just BMW's catch-up for a regional market, but also verifying the answer for the next round of global competition for it. The problem is that this verification has not started, and the time and profit space left for BMW have tightened simultaneously.
The semi-annual report released on July 30 maintained the automotive business profit margin guidance of 1% to 3%, this range was significantly reduced from 4% to 6% in June.
BMW's "voluntary redundancy plan" will last from October this year to the end of 2027, and true improvement in profitability will not come until 2028. The product battle that decides victory or defeat, however, has already started from Q4 2026.
BMW is not without the conditions to make long-term decisions. In 1962, Herbert Quandt dared to bet the entire company, and the governance structure relied upon that by stable family holding, allowing enterprises to bet across cycles still exists, and the Quandt family still holds about half of BMW's shares.
But things have changed.
In 1962, BMW had just walked out from the edge of being acquired. The Neue Class of that year was its all-in direction.
In 2025, BMW's global deliveries were about 2.17 million units. The iX3 is just the first of 40 future Neue Class products.
Today's BMW can no longer complete its transformation by relying on one car, one market, and one set of answers. This is where BMW is safer than in 1962, and also where it is harder than in 1962.
This article is original content from Auto Pixel (autopix)
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