Verdict
The BMW 7 Series G12 is the sensible outgoing-generation buy: the RM91,000 gap is substantial, and its RM379 annual road tax is far easier to swallow than RM2,125. It also brings heated and ventilated front seats plus rear-seat massage. But the BMW 7 Series G70 earns its extra outlay with 87 km of EV range against 41 km, a 525-litre boot and quicker 4.9-second 0-100 km/h pace. For a Malaysian buyer able to charge regularly, the newer car’s larger 18.7-kWh battery makes a meaningful difference to petrol-free daily running.
Pick the BMW 7 Series G12 if you want the lower entry and road-tax costs, plus ventilated front seats and rear massage.
Pick the BMW 7 Series G70 if you prioritise 87 km of EV range, stronger performance and a larger boot.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 7 Series G12 RM594,800; BMW 7 Series G70 RM685,800.
- Annual road tax: BMW 7 Series G12 RM379; BMW 7 Series G70 RM2,125.
- Battery and EV range: BMW 7 Series G12 9.2 kWh and 41 km; BMW 7 Series G70 18.7 kWh and 87 km.
- Performance: BMW 7 Series G12 258 hp, 400 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 5.3 seconds; BMW 7 Series G70 308 hp, 450 Nm and 4.9 seconds.
- Boot space: BMW 7 Series G12 420 litres; BMW 7 Series G70 525 litres.
- Size: BMW 7 Series G12 5,238 mm long and 1,902 mm wide; BMW 7 Series G70 5,391 mm long and 1,950 mm wide.
G12
- RM91,000 lower purchase price
- RM379 annual road tax
- Heated and ventilated front seats; rear massage seats
- 41 km EV range versus 87 km
- 420-litre boot versus 525 litres
- Slower 5.3-second 0-100 km/h time versus 4.9 seconds
G70
- 87 km EV range from an 18.7-kWh battery
- 525-litre boot
- 308 hp, 450 Nm and 4.9-second 0-100 km/h pace
- RM91,000 higher purchase price
- RM2,125 annual road tax versus RM379
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM594,800✓ | RM685,800 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Luxury | Luxury |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM379✓ | RM2,125 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC direct injection with twin-scroll turbocharger, variable valve timing | — |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 2,998 cc |
| Horsepower | 258 hp | 308 hp✓ |
| Torque | 400 Nm | 450 Nm✓ |
| Fuel | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid |
| Bore | 82 mm | 82 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 11 | 11 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 113 hp | 194 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 250 Nm | 280 Nm✓ |
| Battery Capacity | 9.2 kWh | 18.7 kWh✓ |
| EV Range | 41 km | 87 km✓ |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 3.7 kW | 7.4 kW✓ |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8 Speed Automatic with Steptronic | Steptronic Automatic |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | ZF |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.3 seconds | 4.9 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | 2.5 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Co2 | 56 g/km | 22 g/km✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,238 mm | 5,391 mm |
| Width | 1,902 mm | 1,950 mm |
| Height | 1,479 mm | 1,544 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,210 mm | 3,215 mm |
| Weight | 2,075 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 78 litres | — |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 420 litres | 525 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 245/45R19 | — |
| Rear Tyre | 275/40R19 | — |
| Spare Tyre | — | No |
| Factory Tyres | Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 run-flats | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 19" Double-spoke Style 630 Alloys | 20" M aerodynamic style 907 alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Double-spoke Style 630 Alloys | 20" M aerodynamic style 907 alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Dynamic Damper Control (adaptive suspension) | Adaptive Air Suspension |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | 7 Airbags (2 Front, 2 Side, 2 Curtain, 1 Driver's Knee) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | — |
| Stability Control | ✓ | — |
| Alarm | ✓ | — |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | — |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Electric for rear doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | — |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | — |
| ISOFIX | Available on two outer rear passenger seats | — |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Automatic braking | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | — |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive Laser Projectors with High Beam Assist | LED Projectors with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function, Heated and Ventilated | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function and Bolster Adjustment |
| Rear Seats | Power Adjustable Rear Seats with Massage Function, Fold-down Centre Armrest with BMW Touch Control | Power Adjustable Rear Seats with Power Adjustments |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide, Sky Lounge with 6 colours | Sky Lounge Fixed Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Centre Armrest, 2 Rear | — |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights, Ambient Lights (6 colours), Rear Ambient Light Pillars | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (15 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 4 |
| Sun Shade | Powered rear sun shade, Powered rear door window shades | 2x side sunshades, 1x rear sunshade |
| Audio | 10.25" BMW Navigation system Professional, iDrive Touch controller, 10" Rear Monitors, 16-speaker 600W Harman Kardon sound system | 14.9" BMW Live Cockpit Professional system |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | 4 |
| 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 |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered boot, contactless opening | Remote Control Activation with Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Surround View camera | Yes, with Surround View Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | Soft close function, all doors | Yes |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Wireless Qi Charger, BMW ConnectedDrive, Concierge Service | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | — | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | — | 3 years✓ |
| Warranty Notes | 5-year/100,000 km free scheduled maintenance | — |
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.
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G12 vs G70 FAQ
Is the BMW 7 Series G12 or BMW 7 Series G70 better?
The BMW 7 Series G70 is better for regular plug-in use, with 87 km of EV range, a 525-litre boot and 4.9-second acceleration. The G12 is the better cost-conscious choice, saving RM91,000 and carrying far lower annual road tax.
What is the price difference?
The BMW 7 Series G70 costs RM91,000 more than the BMW 7 Series G12. Its annual road tax is also RM1,746 higher, at RM2,125 against RM379.
Which 7 Series has the more useful plug-in hybrid system?
The BMW 7 Series G70 does. Its 18.7-kWh battery delivers 87 km of EV range and accepts 7.4 kW AC charging, versus the G12’s 9.2-kWh battery, 41 km range and 3.7 kW AC charging.