Verdict
At RM340,800, the BMW 5 Series costs RM46,646 more than the RM294,154 Mazda MX-5, but they serve sharply different Malaysian drives. The BMW is a 5,060-mm four-door executive sedan with five seats and a 490-litre boot, plus 208 hp and 330 Nm through an eight-speed automatic. The Mazda is a 3,915-mm two-seat convertible with a power-folding hard-top, 181 hp and a six-speed manual. Choose the BMW for passengers, luggage and assisted motorway driving; choose the MX-5 for open-air, manual rear-drive motoring.
Pick the BMW 5 Series if you need five seats, a 490-litre boot and 330 Nm with an eight-speed automatic.
Pick the Mazda MX-5 if a two-seat convertible with a power-folding hard-top and six-speed manual matters more than cabin space.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 5 Series RM340,800; Mazda MX-5 RM294,154.
- Power and torque: BMW 5 Series 208 hp and 330 Nm; Mazda MX-5 181 hp and 205 Nm.
- Body and seating: BMW 5 Series four-door sedan with five seats; Mazda MX-5 two-door convertible with two seats.
- Boot space: BMW 5 Series 490 litres; Mazda MX-5 130 litres.
- Length and wheelbase: BMW 5 Series 5,060 mm and 2,900 mm; Mazda MX-5 3,915 mm and 2,310 mm.
- Transmission: BMW 5 Series eight-speed automatic; Mazda MX-5 six-speed manual with LSD.
5 Series
- Five seats and a 490-litre boot.
- 208 hp and 330 Nm from its 2.0-litre mild-hybrid turbo petrol engine.
- Adaptive high beam, active cruise control with Stop & Go, and a 360-degree camera.
- RM46,646 dearer than the Mazda MX-5.
- Two-year manufacturer warranty, versus five years for the Mazda MX-5.
- No power-folding retractable hard-top.
MX-5
- Power-folding retractable hard-top.
- Six-speed manual with LSD and rear-wheel drive.
- Five-year, 100,000-km manufacturer warranty.
- Only two seats and a 130-litre boot, against the BMW's five seats and 490 litres.
- 181 hp and 205 Nm trail the BMW's 208 hp and 330 Nm.
- Warning-only lane keeping and passive cruise control, where the BMW has steering correction and Stop & Go active cruise control.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM340,800 | RM294,154✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Convertible |
| Segment | Executive | Sports Car |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM379 | RM379 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC direct injection with twin-scroll turbocharger, variable valve timing and mild hybrid assistance | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 1,998 cc |
| Horsepower | 208 hp✓ | 181 hp |
| Torque | 330 Nm✓ | 205 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore | 82 mm | 83.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 13 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Manual |
| Transmission Name | Eight-speed Automatic | 6MT-LSD |
| Gears | 8 | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Mazda |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.5 seconds | — |
| Top Speed | 230 km/h✓ | 220 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,060 mm | 3,915 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,735 mm |
| Height | 1,515 mm | 1,235 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,900 mm | 2,310 mm |
| Weight | — | 1,119 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 45 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 2 |
| Seats | 5 | 2 |
| Boot Space | 490 litres✓ | 130 litres |
| Front Tyre | 245/45R19 | 205/45R17 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/45R19 | 205/45R17 |
| Factory Tyres | Continental EcoContact 6 | Bridgestone Potenza S001 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbone |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19" Style-934 Alloys | 17" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Style-934 Alloys | 17" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Curtain | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 2 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available on Passenger Seat |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) - Front and Rear |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Warning Only |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | Front Seats Only |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Adaptive High Beam | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | — |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Driver Side Memory Settings | Manual Adjustment |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | — |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | — |
| Sunroof | — | Power-folding Retractable Hard-top |
| Power Sockets | 1 Wireless Charger, 1 Front, 2 USB Front, 4 USB Rear | 1 front, 2 USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lighting | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 1 front |
| Sun Shade | Rear Window Shades | — |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 12-Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | Mazda Connect Infotainment System with 8.8" Display, Commander Control Knob, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 9-speaker Bose Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation with Walk-away Auto Lock |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control with Active Lane keeping assistant and Stop & Go function | Passive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Camera | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | — |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Backlit Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Handbrake |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 100,000 km |
| 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 5 Series & MX-5 for sale
5 Series vs MX-5 FAQ
Is the BMW 5 Series or Mazda MX-5 better?
The BMW 5 Series is better for daily executive use: it has five seats, a 490-litre boot, more power and active cruise control with Stop & Go. The Mazda MX-5 is the choice for a two-seat convertible and six-speed manual experience.
What is the price difference?
The BMW 5 Series costs RM340,800 and the Mazda MX-5 costs RM294,154, so the BMW is RM46,646 more expensive.
Which is more practical for carrying people and luggage?
The BMW 5 Series is decisively more practical, with four doors, five seats and a 490-litre boot. The Mazda MX-5 has two doors, two seats and 130 litres of boot space.