BMW 3 Series vs Rolls-Royce Phantom

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

BMW 3 Series in South Africa

BMW 3 Series

M340i xDrive Sedan Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,362,500 ex-showroom
⚡ 285 kW 🔧 500 Nm ⛽ 12.5 km/l
VS
Rolls-Royce Phantom in South Africa

Rolls-Royce Phantom

Phantom Series II Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
Price on request
⚡ 420 kW 🔧 900 Nm ⛽ 6.29 km/l
+ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

BMW 3 Series vs Rolls-Royce Phantom: the short answer

3 Series and Phantom are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification 3 Series Phantom
Maximum Power 3 Series285 kW Phantom420 kW @ 5000 rpm
Maximum Torque 3 Series500 Nm @ 1800-5000 rpm Phantom900 Nm @ 1700 rpm
Engine Size 3 Series2998 cc Phantom6749 cc
Combined Fuel Economy 3 Series12.5 km/l Phantom6.29 km/l
Ground Clearance 3 Series140 mm Phantom136 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

3 Series

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
Weak Spots
  • Fewer listed safety features
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency

Phantom

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
Best suited to: Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

3 Series

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use

Phantom

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec 3 Series Phantom
Model Introduced Year 2019 2018
Generation Seventh-generation G20 BMW 3 Series Sedan, with regular 320i, 320d and 330i derivatives and an M340i xDrive M Performance flagship. Eighth-generation Phantom in standard-wheelbase Series II form
Facelift History The seventh-generation G20 has received successive design and interior updates; the current South African page reflects the latest local specification. The eighth-generation Phantom was presented globally in 2017, introduced in South Africa in 2018 and received its light-touch Series II evolution in 2022
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version 2022
Facelift Version Ending Current Current
Body Style Sedan Four-door luxury saloon
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment Premium Sedan Full-size super-luxury saloon
Vehicle Type Car Internal-combustion passenger car
Spec 3 Series Phantom
Length 4714 mm 5762 mm
Width 1827 mm 2018 mm
Height 1440 mm 1646 mm
Wheelbase 2851 mm 3552 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 140 mm 136 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 125 mm 136 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 59 l 90 l
Boot/Cargo Space 480 l 530 l
Kerb Weight 1770 kg 2560 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 2245 kg 3235 kg
Payload Capacity 550 kg 675 kg
Towing Capacity 1800 kg 0 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 4 doors 4 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.6 m 6.55 m
Front Headroom 990 mm 1046 mm
Rear Headroom 951 mm 978 mm
Front Legroom 1040 mm 1041 mm
Rear Legroom 900 mm 1105 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This 3 Series and Phantom comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: 3 Series 97 vs Phantom 96.

Efficiency index: 3 Series 49 vs Phantom 29.

Safety-equipment index: 3 Series 92 vs Phantom 95.

Practicality index: 3 Series 62 vs Phantom 67.

Ownership-cover index: 3 Series not separately scored vs Phantom not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

3 Series leads by 2 points

3 Series and Phantom are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 77 /100
Lead 2 points
Data 83% source coverage
77
#1 Evidence leader

3 Series

83% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 97 Check Efficiency 49
Performance 97
Efficiency 49
Safety 92
Practicality 62
Leads by 2 points
75
#2

Phantom

79% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Performance 96 Check Efficiency 29
Performance 96
Efficiency 29
Safety 95
Practicality 67
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance 3 Series +1 Efficiency 3 Series +20 Safety Phantom +3 Practicality Phantom +5

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

3 Series

Performance 97/100
Efficiency 49/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 62/100

Phantom

Performance 96/100
Efficiency 29/100
Safety 95/100
Practicality 67/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BMW 3 Series leads the specification evidence index with 77 pts vs 75 pts for Phantom

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, 3 Series leads. However, Phantom may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

3 Series vs Phantom questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.