Verdict
For Malaysian use, the i5 is the rational 5 Series: its 83.9-kWh battery delivers a claimed 627 km of EV range, accepts 205 kW DC charging and carries RM395 annual road tax. The M5 is a very different proposition, hitting 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds versus 6.0 seconds, with all-wheel drive and a 250-km/h top speed. But its 67-km EV range, RM8,408 road tax and 2,510-kg weight make it harder to justify as a daily executive sedan. The i5 also has a 490-litre boot and 138 mm more wheelbase.
Pick the BMW i5 if you want 627 km of claimed electric range, 205 kW DC charging and dramatically lower annual road tax for daily Malaysian commuting.
Pick the BMW M5 if you want 3.5-second 0-100 km/h pace, all-wheel drive and the V8 plug-in hybrid’s performance focus.
Key differences
- Price: BMW i5 RM368,800; BMW M5 RM1,200,800.
- Road tax per year: BMW i5 RM395; BMW M5 RM8,408.
- EV range: BMW i5 627 km; BMW M5 67 km.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW i5 6.0 seconds; BMW M5 3.5 seconds.
- Battery capacity: BMW i5 83.9 kWh; BMW M5 22.1 kWh.
- Boot space: BMW i5 490 litres; BMW M5 466 litres.
i5
- 627-km claimed EV range
- 205 kW DC and 22 kW AC charging
- RM395 annual road tax and 490-litre boot
- Slower 6.0-second 0-100 km/h time versus 3.5 seconds
- Rear-wheel drive instead of all-wheel drive
- 193-km/h top speed versus 250 km/h
M5
- 3.5-second 0-100 km/h acceleration
- All-wheel drive and M Adaptive Suspension
- Seven airbags and 250-km/h top speed
- RM832,000 more expensive
- RM8,408 annual road tax versus RM395
- 67-km EV range versus 627 km and no DC charging rate stated
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM368,800✓ | RM1,200,800 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM395✓ | RM8,408 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 5th-generation BMW eDrive, 400V architecture | 32-valve DOHC with Twin Turbochargers, Direct Injection, Variable Valve Timing and Lift, plug-in hybrid assistance |
| Capacity | — | 4,395 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 591 hp at 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | — | 750 Nm at 1,800 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | — | V 8 |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 335 hp✓ | 194 hp |
| Motor Torque | 430 Nm✓ | 280 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | 83.9 kWh✓ | 22.1 kWh |
| EV Range | 627 km✓ | 67 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 22 kW✓ | 7.4 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 205 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | M Steptronic |
| Gears | — | 8 |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 6 seconds | 3.5 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 193 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,060 mm | 5,096 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,970 mm |
| Height | 1,515 mm | 1,510 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,995 mm | 2,857 mm |
| Weight | 2,205 kg | 2,510 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 60 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 490 litres✓ | 466 litres |
| Front Tyre | 245/40R20 | 265/40R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 275/35R20 | 295/35R21 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli P Zero Elekt | Hankook S1 evo Z |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloys | 20" M Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloys | 21" M Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack & Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | M Adaptive Suspension |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Curtain) | 7 (Driver & Front Passenger, Side Airbags, Curtain Airbags and Driver's Knee Airbag) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | — | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Electric for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three Point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on outer rear seats | Available for outer two rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Adaptive High Beam | LED Projector with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings | Power Adjustable Front Seats |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split Fold | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Fixed Panoramic Glass Roof | — |
| Power Sockets | 2x Wireless Charger, 2x USB-C ports front, 2x USB-C ports rear | 1 Front, 2 USB-C Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Powered Rear Windscreen Sun Shade & Sunroof Shade, Manual Rear Door Window Shades | Rear Window Shades |
| Audio | 14.9" Touchscreen BMW Live Cockpit Professional with Voice Control, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Wireless Android Auto and 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Sound System (655W) | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Sound System |
| 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 Start |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activated with Contactless Operation | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | Yes | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Power Door | — | Yes |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | 3 years | 3 years |
| Warranty Notes | 8 Years/ 160,000 km Warranty for EV Battery | — |
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 i5 & M5 for sale
i5 vs M5 FAQ
Is the BMW i5 or BMW M5 better?
The BMW i5 is better for daily Malaysian ownership, with 627 km of claimed EV range, 205 kW DC charging and RM395 road tax. The BMW M5 is better only if its 3.5-second 0-100 km/h pace and all-wheel drive matter more than running costs.
What is the price difference?
The BMW M5 costs RM832,000 more than the BMW i5: RM1,200,800 versus RM368,800.
Which one is more practical for long-distance driving?
The BMW i5 has the longer claimed electric range at 627 km and a larger 490-litre boot. The M5 has a 60-litre petrol tank for hybrid driving, but its battery-only range is 67 km and its boot holds 466 litres.
