Verdict
The BMW i4 is RM58,100 cheaper at RM294,800, yet its single motor delivers 282 hp and 400 Nm against the Audi Q5’s 196 hp and 340 Nm. For a Malaysian buyer with dependable charging, the i4’s quoted 500 km range, 11 kW AC and 180 kW DC charging make it the sharper financial and technical choice; its annual road tax is also RM305 versus RM434. The Q5 answers with SUV height, a 520-litre boot and seven airbags, plus rear climate control rather than mere rear vents. Pick it for carrying people and bulky kit, not outright value.
Pick the Audi Q5 if you need the higher-riding SUV body, 520-litre boot and seven airbags.
Pick the BMW i4 if you have access to charging and want to spend RM58,100 less for 282 hp, 400 Nm and a quoted 500 km range.
Key differences
- Price: Audi Q5 RM352,900; BMW i4 RM294,800.
- Power and torque: Audi Q5 196 hp and 340 Nm; BMW i4 282 hp and 400 Nm.
- Energy storage: Audi Q5 68-litre petrol tank; BMW i4 70.3-kWh battery with 500 km quoted range.
- Annual road tax: Audi Q5 RM434; BMW i4 RM305.
- Boot space: Audi Q5 520 litres; BMW i4 470 litres.
- Safety airbags: Audi Q5 seven; BMW i4 six.
Q5
- 520-litre boot, 50 litres more than the i4
- Seven airbags to the i4’s six
- Rear single-zone climate control
- Costs RM58,100 more
- 196 hp and 340 Nm trail the i4’s 282 hp and 400 Nm
- No head-up display or auto parking
i4
- RM294,800 price and lower RM305 annual road tax
- 282 hp, 400 Nm and 500 km quoted range
- 180 kW DC charging, plus head-up display and auto parking
- 470-litre boot is 50 litres smaller
- Six airbags versus the Q5’s seven
- Rear occupants get air vents rather than rear climate control
What the Q5 has over the i4
What the i4 has over the Q5
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The Q5 is 48 mm wider — more shoulder room, but a tighter fit in parking bays. Boot space favours the Q5: 520 litres against 470.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM352,900 | RM294,800✓ |
| Body type | SUV | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM434 | RM305✓ |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM3,605/mo | RM3,010/mo✓ |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM9,489 | RM7,913✓ |
| Fuel or electricity / year (est.) | — | RM1,249 |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | — | RM6.25 |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | — | RM47,335 |
| Charging (estimated) | ||
| AC charge 0–100% (est.) | — | 6.4 hours |
| DC charge 10–80% (est.) | — | 25 min |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, turbocharged with variable valve timing | 5th-generation BMW eDrive, 400V architecture |
| Capacity | 1,984 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 196 hp at 4,300 rpm | — |
| Torque | 340 Nm at 2,000 rpm | — |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | — |
| Fuel | Petrol | Electric |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 282 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 400 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 70.3 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 500 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 180 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 7-speed S-tronic | — |
| Gears | 7 | — |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 6 seconds |
| Top Speed | — | 190 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,717 mm | 4,783 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,852 mm |
| Height | 1,669 mm | 1,448 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,817 mm | 2,856 mm |
| Weight | — | 2,075 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 68 litres | — |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 520 litres✓ | 470 litres |
| Front Tyre | 235/55R19 | 245/40R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/55R19 | 255/40R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin e-Primacy | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 |
| Wiper Blade (Driver) | 24 inch | 24 inch |
| Wiper Blade (Passenger) | 20 inch | 19 inch |
| Wiper Blade (Rear) | 14 inch | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Mexico (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Multi-link | MacPherson Struts |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19" 10 Spoke Aero Design Alloys | 19" Style-996M Bi-colour |
| Rear Wheels | 19" 10 Spoke Aero Design Alloys | 19" Style-996M Bi-colour |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack & Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Comfort suspension | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Centre Airbag) | 6 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| 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 Two Outer Rear Seats | Available for 2nd Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Digital Matrix LED Headlights | Adaptive LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | Full OLED Tail lights | BMW Laser LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function | Powered Front Seats, Driver's Side Memory |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Rear AC Vents |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear | 1 Front, 1 USB-A Front, 1 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 14.5" Touchscreen with Android Automotive OS, 10-speaker Audi Sound System | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 10-Speaker HiFi Loudspeaker System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Digital Key | Keyless Operation |
| 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 | Powered with Contactless Operation | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Surround View Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| 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 | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | — | 3 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | 8-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty |
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. Running-cost estimates assume 20,000 km/year. Fuel at RM1.99/litre (RON95, subsidised). Electricity at RM0.44/kWh (TNB domestic, home charging); public DC charging costs around RM1.30/kWh. Charging times estimated from battery capacity and peak charging rates. Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked November 2026.
Used Q5 & i4 for sale
Our reviews & guides
Audi Q5
BMW i4
Q5 vs i4 FAQ
Is the Audi Q5 or BMW i4 better?
The BMW i4 is the better buy if home or workplace charging is practical: it costs RM58,100 less, has 282 hp and 400 Nm, and quotes 500 km of range. The Audi Q5 is better for SUV access, a larger 520-litre boot and seven airbags.
What is the price difference?
The Audi Q5 costs RM352,900 and the BMW i4 costs RM294,800, so the Q5 is RM58,100 more expensive. Its annual road tax is also RM434, compared with RM305 for the i4.
Which is more practical for luggage and passengers?
The Audi Q5 is more useful for luggage, with a 520-litre boot against the BMW i4’s 470 litres. Both seat five and have 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats, but the Q5 also has rear climate control and a taller 1,669-mm body.
How long does charging take?
The i4's 70.3 kWh battery takes about 6.4 hours for a full AC charge, and an estimated 25 minutes from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger at its 180 kW peak.