Verdict
The BMW 5 Series is the driver’s choice here: its 208 hp, 330 Nm mild-hybrid 2.0-litre turbo, rear-wheel drive and 7.5-second 0-100 km/h time give it a clear performance edge. The Toyota Vellfire answers with a fundamentally different brief. Its 3,000 mm wheelbase, seven seats and power-adjustable ottoman captain’s chairs suit chauffeur and family work far better, while power sliding doors make access easier. Both get 360-degree cameras, active cruise control and lane-keeping assistance, so the decision comes down to five-seat sedan pace versus seven-seat MPV accommodation.
Pick the BMW 5 Series if you want 208 hp, 330 Nm and rear-wheel drive in a five-seat executive sedan.
Pick the Toyota Vellfire if you need seven seats, power sliding doors and ottoman captain’s chairs for regular passenger duty.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 5 Series RM340,800; Toyota Vellfire RM448,000.
- Performance: BMW 5 Series 208 hp and 330 Nm; Toyota Vellfire 180 hp and 235 Nm.
- Seating: BMW 5 Series five seats; Toyota Vellfire seven seats.
- Driveline: BMW 5 Series rear-wheel drive; Toyota Vellfire front-wheel drive.
- Wheelbase: BMW 5 Series 2,900 mm; Toyota Vellfire 3,000 mm.
- Warranty: BMW 5 Series two years manufacturer warranty plus five years extended warranty; Toyota Vellfire five years manufacturer warranty.
5 Series
- 208 hp and 330 Nm from a 2.0-litre mild-hybrid turbo
- Rear-wheel drive and eight-speed automatic
- Head-up display and 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio
- Five seats versus the Vellfire's seven
- 490-litre boot is 20 litres smaller
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus five years
Vellfire
- Seven seats with ottoman captain’s chairs in the middle row
- Power sliding doors with soft-close function
- 15-speaker JBL audio, ventilated front seats and rear panoramic glass roof
- RM107,200 more expensive
- 180 hp and 235 Nm trail the BMW's 208 hp and 330 Nm
- RM835 annual road tax versus RM379
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM340,800✓ | RM448,000 |
| Body type | Sedan | MPV |
| Segment | Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM379✓ | RM835 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC direct injection with twin-scroll turbocharger, variable valve timing and mild hybrid assistance | 16-valve DOHC Naturally Aspirated with Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 2,494 cc |
| Horsepower | 208 hp✓ | 180 hp |
| Torque | 330 Nm✓ | 235 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore | 82 mm | 90 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 9.8 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Eight-speed Automatic | 7-speed Super CVT-i with Sports Sequential Shiftmatic |
| Gears | 8 | 7 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Toyota |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.5 seconds | — |
| Rated Economy | — | 9.1 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 230 km/h✓ | 170 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,060 mm | 5,005 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,850 mm |
| Height | 1,515 mm | 1,950 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,900 mm | 3,000 mm |
| Weight | — | 2,105 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 60 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 490 litres | 510 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 245/45R19 | 225/55R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/45R19 | 225/55R19 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Continental EcoContact 6 | Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 060 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbone |
| Front Wheels | 19" Style-934 Alloys | 19" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Style-934 Alloys | 19" 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 Passenger, Driver Knee, 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 | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available on Outer Middle Row Passenger 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 Adaptive 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 | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Driver Side Memory Settings | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function, Ventilated |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | Power Adjustable Ottoman Captain Middle Row Seat, 50:50 Fold-up 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 Wireless Charger, 1 Front, 2 USB Front, 4 USB Rear | 2 Front, 1 Console Box, 2 First Row, 2 Second Row |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and 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, 12-Speaker Harman Kardon 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 | 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, Steering Assist and Curve Speed Reduction |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot | Powered boot with soft close function |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Camera | Yes, With 360 Degree Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Power Door | — | Power Sliding with Soft-close Function, One-touch Auto Close, Anti-pinch |
| 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 | 5 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 & Vellfire for sale
5 Series vs Vellfire FAQ
Is the BMW 5 Series or Toyota Vellfire better?
The BMW 5 Series is better for performance, with 208 hp, 330 Nm, rear-wheel drive and a 7.5-second 0-100 km/h time. The Toyota Vellfire is better for carrying people, with seven seats, captain’s chairs and power sliding doors.
What is the price difference?
The Toyota Vellfire costs RM448,000, which is RM107,200 more than the BMW 5 Series at RM340,800.
Which has more passenger space?
The Toyota Vellfire is the more practical people carrier: it has seven seats and a 3,000 mm wheelbase, against the BMW 5 Series’ five seats and 2,900 mm wheelbase.