Verdict
The BMW 7 Series G70 costs RM91,000 more, but it makes a clear technical case: its 18.7 kWh battery delivers 87 km of EV range versus 41 km, and 7.4 kW AC charging doubles the G12’s 3.7 kW rate. It is also quicker at 4.9 seconds to 100 km/h and has a 525-litre boot. The outgoing G12 remains the rational Malaysian buy if its RM379 annual road tax, against RM2,125 for the G70, and five-year manufacturer warranty matter more than electric running range.
G12
Pick the BMW 7 Series G12 if you want the lower RM594,800 entry price, far lower annual road tax and a five-year manufacturer warranty.
G70
Pick the BMW 7 Series G70 if you want 87 km of EV range, 4.9-second acceleration and the larger 525-litre boot.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 7 Series G12 RM594,800; BMW 7 Series G70 RM685,800.
- Annual road tax: BMW 7 Series G12 RM379; BMW 7 Series G70 RM2,125.
- PHEV battery and EV range: BMW 7 Series G12 9.2 kWh and 41 km; BMW 7 Series G70 18.7 kWh and 87 km.
- AC charging rate: BMW 7 Series G12 3.7 kW; BMW 7 Series G70 7.4 kW.
- Performance: BMW 7 Series G12 258 hp, 400 Nm and 5.3 seconds to 100 km/h; BMW 7 Series G70 308 hp, 450 Nm and 4.9 seconds.
- Boot space and airbags: BMW 7 Series G12 420 litres and six airbags; BMW 7 Series G70 525 litres and seven airbags.
G12
- RM91,000 lower purchase price
- RM379 annual road tax
- Five-year manufacturer warranty and rear-seat massage function
- 41 km EV range versus 87 km
- 3.7 kW AC charging versus 7.4 kW
- 420-litre boot and six airbags versus 525 litres and seven airbags
G70
- 87 km EV range from an 18.7 kWh battery
- 308 hp, 450 Nm and 4.9-second 0-100 km/h time
- 525-litre boot, seven airbags and five-star EuroNCAP rating
- RM91,000 higher purchase price
- RM2,125 annual road tax versus RM379
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus five years
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM594,800✓ | RM685,800 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Luxury | Luxury |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM379✓ | RM2,125 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC direct injection with twin-scroll turbocharger, variable valve timing | — |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 2,998 cc |
| Horsepower | 258 hp at 5,000 rpm | 308 hp at 5,000 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 400 Nm at 1,550 rpm | 450 Nm at 1,750 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 6 |
| Fuel | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid |
| Bore × Stroke | 82 mm × 94.6 mm | 82 mm × 94.6 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 11 | 11 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 113 hp | 194 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 250 Nm | 280 Nm✓ |
| Battery Capacity | 9.2 kWh | 18.7 kWh✓ |
| EV Range | 41 km | 87 km✓ |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 3.7 kW | 7.4 kW✓ |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8 Speed Automatic with Steptronic | Steptronic Automatic |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | ZF |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.3 seconds | 4.9 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | 2.5 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Co2 | 56 g/km | 22 g/km✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,238 mm | 5,391 mm |
| Width | 1,902 mm | 1,950 mm |
| Height | 1,479 mm | 1,544 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,210 mm | 3,215 mm |
| Weight | 2,075 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 78 litres | — |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 420 litres | 525 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 245/45R19 | — |
| Rear Tyre | 275/40R19 | — |
| Spare Tyre | — | No |
| Factory Tyres | Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 run-flats | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 19" Double-spoke Style 630 Alloys | 20" M aerodynamic style 907 alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Double-spoke Style 630 Alloys | 20" M aerodynamic style 907 alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Dynamic Damper Control (adaptive suspension) | Adaptive Air Suspension |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 7 Airbags (2 Front, 2 Side, 2 Curtain, 1 Driver's Knee) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | — |
| Stability Control | ✓ | — |
| Alarm | ✓ | — |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | — |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Electric for rear doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | — |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | — |
| ISOFIX | Available on two outer rear passenger seats | — |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Automatic braking | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | — |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive Laser Projectors with High Beam Assist | LED Projectors with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function, Heated and Ventilated | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function and Bolster Adjustment |
| Rear Seats | Power Adjustable Rear Seats with Massage Function, Fold-down Centre Armrest with BMW Touch Control | Power Adjustable Rear Seats with Power Adjustments |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide, Sky Lounge with 6 colours | Sky Lounge Fixed Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Centre Armrest, 2 Rear | — |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights, Ambient Lights (6 colours), Rear Ambient Light Pillars | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (15 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 4 |
| Sun Shade | Powered rear sun shade, Powered rear door window shades | 2x side sunshades, 1x rear sunshade |
| Audio | 10.25" BMW Navigation system Professional, iDrive Touch controller, 10" Rear Monitors, 16-speaker 600W Harman Kardon sound system | 14.9" BMW Live Cockpit Professional system |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | 4 |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control with Active Lane keeping assistant and Stop & Go function | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered boot, contactless opening | Remote Control Activation with Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Surround View camera | Yes, with Surround View Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | Soft close function, all doors | Yes |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Wireless Qi Charger, BMW ConnectedDrive, Concierge Service | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | — | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | — | 3 years✓ |
| Warranty Notes | 5-year/100,000 km free scheduled maintenance | — |
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 cars for sale
G12 vs G70 FAQ
Is the BMW 7 Series G12 or BMW 7 Series G70 better?
The BMW 7 Series G70 is better for PHEV usability and performance, with 87 km EV range, 7.4 kW AC charging and a 4.9-second sprint. The G12 is better for lower ownership outlay, with RM379 annual road tax and a five-year manufacturer warranty.
What is the price difference?
The BMW 7 Series G70 costs RM685,800 and the BMW 7 Series G12 costs RM594,800, a difference of RM91,000.
Which 7 Series has the lower road tax?
The BMW 7 Series G12 has the lower annual road tax at RM379. The G70 is rated at RM2,125 per year, reflecting its larger 2,998 cc inline-six petrol engine against the G12’s 1,998 cc inline-four.
