Verdict
The BMW i5 is the lower-priced choice at RM368,800 and suits buyers who want a long-wheelbase executive sedan with 2,995 mm between the axles, 490 litres of boot space and a 627-km range. But the RM10,000 dearer BMW iX3 is the more capable EV on paper: its dual motors produce 463 hp and 645 Nm, it reaches 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, and its 113.4-kWh battery claims 726 km. Its 400-kW DC charging ceiling also doubles the i5’s 205 kW.
The i5 M60 xDrive (RM479,800) sits above every iX3 variant here, so the verdict compares the closest-priced pairing — use the selectors above to match any two trims.
Pick the BMW i5 if you want the less expensive, Malaysian-assembled executive sedan with a 2,995-mm wheelbase, rear sunshades and Bowers & Wilkins audio.
Pick the BMW iX3 if you need all-wheel drive, 463 hp, 726 km of range and 400-kW DC charging in an SUV.
Key differences
- Price: BMW i5 RM368,800; BMW iX3 RM378,800.
- Motor output: BMW i5 335 hp and 430 Nm; BMW iX3 463 hp and 645 Nm.
- Battery and range: BMW i5 83.9 kWh and 627 km; BMW iX3 113.4 kWh and 726 km.
- DC charging: BMW i5 205 kW; BMW iX3 400 kW.
- Driveline and 0-100 km/h: BMW i5 rear-wheel drive and 6.0 seconds; BMW iX3 all-wheel drive and 4.9 seconds.
- Dimensions and boot: BMW i5 wheelbase 2,995 mm and 490 litres; BMW iX3 wheelbase 2,897 mm and 520 litres.
i5
- RM10,000 cheaper and CKD in Malaysia.
- Longer 2,995-mm wheelbase.
- 18-speaker 655W Bowers & Wilkins system and rear window sunshades.
- 335 hp and 430 Nm trail the iX3’s 463 hp and 645 Nm.
- 627-km range is 99 km short of the iX3’s 726 km.
- 205-kW DC charging is well below the iX3’s 400 kW ceiling.
iX3
- 463 hp, 645 Nm and all-wheel drive.
- 113.4-kWh battery with 726 km of range and 400-kW DC charging.
- 520-litre boot, 3.7-kW V2L and seven airbags.
- Costs RM10,000 more and annual road tax is RM765 versus RM395.
- Its 2,897-mm wheelbase is 98 mm shorter than the i5’s.
- Gets a 13-speaker 430W Harman Kardon system rather than the i5’s 18-speaker 655W Bowers & Wilkins setup.
What the i5 has over the iX3
What the iX3 has over the i5
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The i5's wheelbase is 98 mm longer, which usually translates to more rear legroom. Boot space favours the iX3: 520 litres against 490.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM368,800✓ | RM378,800 |
| Body type | Sedan | SUV |
| Segment | Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM395✓ | RM765 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM3,765/mo✓ | RM3,865/mo |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM9,837✓ | RM10,097 |
| Electricity / year (est.) | RM1,189✓ | RM1,388 |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM5.95✓ | RM6.94 |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM57,103✓ | RM61,248 |
| Charging (estimated) | ||
| AC charge 0–100% (est.) | 3.8 hours✓ | 5.2 hours |
| DC charge 10–80% (est.) | 30 min | 20 min✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 5th-generation BMW eDrive, 400V architecture | 6th-generation BMW eDrive, 800V architecture |
| Fuel | Electric | Electric |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 2 |
| Motor Horsepower | 335 hp | 463 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 430 Nm | 645 Nm✓ |
| Battery Capacity | 83.9 kWh | 113.4 kWh✓ |
| EV Range | 627 km | 726 km✓ |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 22 kW | 22 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 205 kW | 400 kW✓ |
| V2L | — | 3.7 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 6 seconds | 4.9 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 193 km/h | 210 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,060 mm | 4,782 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,895 mm |
| Height | 1,515 mm | 1,635 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,995 mm | 2,897 mm |
| Weight | 2,205 kg | 2,285 kg |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 490 litres | 520 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 245/40R20 | 255/35R22 |
| Rear Tyre | 275/35R20 | 275/35R22 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli P Zero Elekt | — |
| Wiper Blade (Driver) | 26 inch | — |
| Wiper Blade (Passenger) | 19 inch | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Hungary (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloys | 22" Alloys (9J) |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloys | 22" Alloys (9.5J) |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack & Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Curtain) | 7 (Driver & Front Passenger, Front Side and Rear Curtain Airbags, Front Centre Airbag) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | — | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Electric for Rear Doors | Electronic for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three Point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on outer rear seats | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Adaptive High Beam | LED, with High-beam Assistant |
| Taillamps | LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings | M Sport Seats, Power Adjustable with Driver Memory |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split Fold | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control | 3-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Rear Vents |
| Sunroof | Fixed Panoramic Glass Roof | Panoramic, with Climate Comfort Glazing |
| Power Sockets | 2x Wireless Charger, 2x USB-C ports front, 2x USB-C ports rear | 1 Wireless Charger, 1 Front, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Ambient Light |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Powered Rear Windscreen Sun Shade & Sunroof Shade, Manual Rear Door Window Shades | — |
| Audio | 14.9" Touchscreen BMW Live Cockpit Professional with Voice Control, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Wireless Android Auto and 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Sound System (655W) | Harman Kardon 13 Speakers (430W); 17.9" Central Display + 43.3" Panoramic Vision, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Wireless Charging |
| 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 (Comfort Access) |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activated with Contactless Operation | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | Yes |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | Yes |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes | Yes, Parking Assistant Professional with Remote Control Parking |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | Flexible Fast Charger (Mode 2) included; Drive Recorder and Remote Theft Recorder; Intelligent Personal Assistant |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | 3 years | — |
| Warranty Notes | 8 Years/ 160,000 km Warranty for EV Battery | RM399,800 with 5-year extended warranty and service package |
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. 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 i5 & iX3 for sale
Our reviews & guides
BMW i5
BMW iX3
i5 vs iX3 FAQ
Is the BMW i5 or BMW iX3 better?
The BMW iX3 is better for performance, range, DC charging and all-wheel drive, with 463 hp, 726 km and 400 kW. The BMW i5 is the better fit for buyers prioritising a lower purchase price, a longer wheelbase and sedan packaging.
What is the price difference?
The BMW iX3 costs RM10,000 more than the BMW i5.
Which BMW charges faster?
The BMW iX3 has the higher DC charging rate at 400 kW, compared with 205 kW for the BMW i5. Both have 22-kW AC charging capability.
How long does charging take?
The i5's 83.9 kWh battery takes about 3.8 hours for a full AC charge, and an estimated 30 minutes from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger at its 205 kW peak. The iX3's 113.4 kWh battery takes about 5.2 hours for a full AC charge, and an estimated 20 minutes from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger at its 400 kW peak.
Which one is locally assembled?
The i5 is assembled in Malaysia (CKD), while the iX3 is fully imported (CBU) from Hungary. Local assembly generally helps pricing and spare-parts supply, and CKD programmes usually signal a longer-term commitment to the model here.