Verdict
At RM1,200,800, the BMW M5 costs RM652,800 more than the RM548,000 Toyota Alphard, and its 591 hp V8 plus 194 hp motor, all-wheel drive and 3.5-second 0-100 km/h time put performance first. Its 22.1 kWh battery also gives a claimed 67 km EV range. The Alphard is the more rational Malaysian family car: seven seats, a 3,000 mm wheelbase and 510-litre boot versus five seats, 2,857 mm and 466 litres. It also cuts annual road tax from RM8,408 to RM754 and carries a five-year warranty rather than two years.
Pick the BMW M5 if 3.5-second acceleration, all-wheel drive and 67 km of claimed electric range matter more than RM652,800 and two extra seats.
Pick the Toyota Alphard if you need seven seats, captain’s chairs and lower ownership outlay without paying RM1.2 million for super-saloon pace.
Key differences
- Price: BMW M5 RM1,200,800; Toyota Alphard RM548,000.
- Powertrain output: BMW M5 591 hp and 750 Nm plus a 194 hp, 280 Nm motor; Toyota Alphard 274 hp and 430 Nm.
- Driveline: BMW M5 all-wheel drive; Toyota Alphard front-wheel drive.
- Seating and boot space: BMW M5 five seats and 466 litres; Toyota Alphard seven seats and 510 litres.
- Annual road tax: BMW M5 RM8,408; Toyota Alphard RM754.
- Warranty: BMW M5 two years plus three-year extended cover; Toyota Alphard five years.
M5
- 3.5-second 0-100 km/h time and 250 km/h top speed.
- 22.1 kWh battery with 67 km claimed EV range.
- Auto parking and six front plus six rear parking sensors.
- RM652,800 dearer to buy and RM7,654 costlier in annual road tax.
- Five seats and 466-litre boot trail the Alphard’s seven seats and 510 litres.
- Two-year manufacturer warranty is three years shorter than the Alphard’s.
Alphard
- Seven seats, middle-row ottoman captain’s chairs and a 510-litre boot.
- Five-year unlimited-mileage manufacturer warranty.
- Powered sliding doors with soft-close function and a head-up display.
- 274 hp and 430 Nm fall well short of the M5’s 591 hp, 750 Nm and electric-motor assistance.
- Front-wheel drive versus the M5’s all-wheel drive.
- No auto-parking system, while the M5 has one.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM1,200,800 | RM548,000✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | MPV |
| Segment | Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM8,408 | RM754✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 32-valve DOHC with Twin Turbochargers, Direct Injection, Variable Valve Timing and Lift, plug-in hybrid assistance | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharger and Intercooler with Dual VVT-i |
| Capacity | 4,395 cc | 2,393 cc |
| Horsepower | 591 hp at 6,000 rpm✓ | 274 hp at 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 750 Nm at 1,800 rpm✓ | 430 Nm at 1,700 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | V 8 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | — | 87.5 mm × 99.5 mm |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 194 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 280 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 22.1 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 67 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 7.4 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | M Steptronic | Direct Shift 8-speed Automatic with Sequential Shiftmatic |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Toyota |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 3.5 seconds | — |
| Rated Economy | — | 9 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h✓ | 180 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,096 mm | 5,010 mm |
| Width | 1,970 mm | 1,850 mm |
| Height | 1,510 mm | 1,950 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,857 mm | 3,000 mm |
| Weight | 2,510 kg | 2,235 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 60 litres | 75 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 466 litres | 510 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 265/40R20 | 225/55R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 295/35R21 | 225/55R19 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Hankook S1 evo Z | Michelin Primacy SUV+ |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbone |
| Front Wheels | 20" M Alloys | 19" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 21" M Alloys | 19" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack & Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | M Adaptive Suspension | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver & Front Passenger, Side Airbags, Curtain Airbags and Driver's Knee Airbag) | 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 | 6 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for outer two rear passenger seats | Available on Two Middle Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, TSS Pre-collision Braking (4-120 km/h) with Pedestrian Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Auto High Beam | LED Projector with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Side Memory, Passenger Side Shoulder Switch |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | Ottoman Captain's Chairs Middle Row, 50:50 Split-folding, 60:40 Split-folding Last Row |
| 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, Rear |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 USB-C Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Rear | 2 Front, 1 Console Box, 2 First Row, 2 Second Row |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row |
| Sun Shade | Rear Window Shades | Powered Rear Sun Shades, Powered Panoramic Roof Shades |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Sound System | 14" Display Audio with Touch Screen, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Connectivity, 15-speaker JBL Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Driver's Side Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button Start | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Steering Assist and Curve Speed Reduction |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, With 360 Degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Power Door | Yes | Power sliding with soft close function |
| 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 | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 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.
Used M5 & Alphard for sale
M5 vs Alphard FAQ
Is the BMW M5 or Toyota Alphard better?
The Toyota Alphard is better for carrying people, with seven seats, ottoman captain’s chairs and a 510-litre boot. The BMW M5 is better for outright pace, using all-wheel drive to reach 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds.
What is the price difference?
The BMW M5 costs RM1,200,800 and the Toyota Alphard costs RM548,000, so the M5 requires an extra RM652,800. Its annual road tax is also RM8,408, against RM754 for the Alphard.
Can the BMW M5 be driven on electric power?
Yes. The BMW M5 has one 194 hp electric motor, a 22.1 kWh battery and a claimed 67 km EV range, with AC charging rated at 7.4 kW. The Toyota Alphard is petrol-powered and has no listed battery or EV range.
