Verdict
At RM368,800, the BMW i5 undercuts the RM384,972 Volkswagen Touareg by RM16,172 and its annual road tax is far lower at RM395 versus RM1,632. The BMW’s 83.9-kWh battery, 627-km claimed range and 205-kW DC charging suit buyers ready to go electric, while its 335-hp motor still matches the Touareg’s 0-100 km/h time of six seconds. The Touareg answers with AWD, air suspension and a much bigger 810-litre boot, so it is the more practical five-seat load carrier despite the higher petrol running tax.
i5
Pick the BMW i5 if you want EV driving, a 627-km claimed range, 205-kW DC charging and RM1,237 less annual road tax.
Touareg
Pick the Volkswagen Touareg if you need AWD, air suspension and an 810-litre boot for family and luggage duties.
Key differences
- Price: BMW i5 RM368,800; Volkswagen Touareg RM384,972.
- Road tax: BMW i5 RM395/year; Volkswagen Touareg RM1,632/year.
- Powertrain: BMW i5 335-hp/430-Nm electric motor with 83.9-kWh battery; Volkswagen Touareg 335-hp/450-Nm 2,995-cc petrol engine.
- Range or fuel storage: BMW i5 627 km EV range; Volkswagen Touareg 90-litre petrol tank.
- Boot space: BMW i5 490 litres; Volkswagen Touareg 810 litres.
- Warranty: BMW i5 two-year vehicle warranty plus eight-year/160,000-km battery warranty; Volkswagen Touareg five-year vehicle warranty.
i5
- RM16,172 cheaper to buy
- 627-km claimed EV range and 205-kW DC charging
- Head-up display and auto parking
- 490-litre boot is 320 litres smaller
- Rear-wheel drive versus the Touareg’s AWD
- Two-year vehicle warranty versus five years
Touareg
- 810-litre boot
- All-wheel drive with air suspension
- Five-year vehicle warranty
- Costs RM16,172 more
- RM1,632 annual road tax versus RM395
- No head-up display or auto parking
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM368,800✓ | RM384,972 |
| Body type | Sedan | SUV |
| Segment | Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM395✓ | RM1,632 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 5th-generation BMW eDrive, 400V architecture | 24-valve DOHC with Twin-scroll Turbocharger, Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | — | 2,995 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 335 hp |
| Torque | — | 450 Nm |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 84.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.8 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 335 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 430 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 83.9 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 627 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 22 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 205 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | 8-speed Automatic |
| Gears | — | 8 |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 6 seconds | 6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 193 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,060 mm | 4,878 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,984 mm |
| Height | 1,515 mm | 1,702 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,995 mm | 2,984 mm |
| Weight | 2,205 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | — | 90 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 490 litres | 810 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 245/40R20 | 285/45R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 275/35R20 | 285/45R20 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli P Zero Elekt | Bridgestone Alenza 001 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 20" Alloys | 20" Braga Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Alloys | 20" Braga Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Air Suspension |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| 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 for 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 |
| Night Vision | — | Yes |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Adaptive High Beam | HD Matrix LED Headlights |
| Taillamps | LED | Full LED with Sequential Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings | 12-Way Power-Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split Fold | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| 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 | — |
| Power Sockets | 2x Wireless Charger, 2x USB-C ports front, 2x USB-C ports rear | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 3 USB Front, 2 USB Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Powered Rear Windscreen Sun Shade & Sunroof Shade, Manual Rear Door Window Shades | Manual rear window blinds |
| 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) | 15" Innovision Cockpit with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Dynaudio Consequence Sound System (730-Watts) |
| 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 | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activated with Contactless Operation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | 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 | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 5 years | — |
| Warranty Notes | 8 Years/ 160,000 km Warranty for EV Battery | — |
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 i5 & Touareg for sale
i5 vs Touareg FAQ
Is the BMW i5 or Volkswagen Touareg better?
The i5 is the better choice for lower purchase price, RM395 road tax and electric driving. The Touareg is better for buyers needing AWD, air suspension and 810 litres of cargo room.
What is the price difference?
The Volkswagen Touareg costs RM384,972, which is RM16,172 more than the BMW i5 at RM368,800.
Which has the bigger boot, BMW i5 or Volkswagen Touareg?
The Volkswagen Touareg has the bigger boot at 810 litres. The BMW i5 has 490 litres, leaving the Touareg with a 320-litre advantage.