BMW i7 vs Lexus LC
Verdict
At RM714,800 against RM1,379,000, the BMW i7 is the more usable luxury buy for Malaysia by a huge RM664,200. It gives you 625 km of EV range, 195 kW DC charging, five seats, four doors and a 525-litre boot, with road tax at RM1,015 a year. The Lexus LC is the indulgent coupe: its 5.0-litre V8 does 470 hp, reaches 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and tops out at 270 km/h, but it has four seats, two doors and just 197 litres of boot space.
Pick the BMW i7 if you want the luxury flagship that is cheaper, roomier, lower on road tax and built around EV range rather than V8 pace.
Pick the Lexus LC if you want the lower, lighter coupe with the quicker 0-100 km/h time, higher top speed and 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8.
Key differences
- Price: BMW i7 RM714,800; Lexus LC RM1,379,000
- Powertrain: BMW i7 dual-motor electric, 536 hp and 745 Nm; Lexus LC 5.0-litre petrol V8, 470 hp and 540 Nm
- Performance: BMW i7 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and 240 km/h top speed; Lexus LC 4.4 seconds and 270 km/h
- Practicality: BMW i7 has 5 seats and 525 litres; Lexus LC has 4 seats and 197 litres
- Size: BMW i7 is 5,391 mm long with a 3,215 mm wheelbase; Lexus LC is 4,770 mm long with a 2,870 mm wheelbase
- Road tax: BMW i7 RM1,015 a year; Lexus LC RM10,991 a year
i7
- Far cheaper to buy at RM714,800 versus RM1,379,000
- Much more cabin and luggage room, with five seats and a 525-litre boot
- 625 km EV range with 195 kW DC charging
- Slower to 100 km/h: 4.7 seconds versus 4.4 seconds
- Lower top speed: 240 km/h versus 270 km/h
- Much heavier: 2,715 kg versus 1,965 kg
LC
- Quicker 0-100 km/h time at 4.4 seconds
- Higher 270 km/h top speed
- Lighter by 750 kg
- Costs RM664,200 more to buy
- Far less practical, with two doors, four seats and a 197-litre boot
- Road tax is RM10,991 a year versus RM1,015
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 714,800✓ | RM 1,379,000 |
| Body type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Segment | Luxury | Luxury |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | — | 32-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated, Otto/Atkinson Cycle with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | — | 4,969 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 470 hp |
| Torque | — | 540 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | — | V |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 94 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 12.3 |
| Number of Motors | 2 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 536 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 745 Nm | — |
| Battery Type | Lithium-Ion | — |
| EV Range | 625 km | — |
| Charger Type (AC) | Type 2 | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 11 kW | — |
| Charger Type (DC) | CCS2 | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 195 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | Direct Shift |
| Gears | — | 10 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Aisin |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.7 seconds | 4.4 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | — | 8.6 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 240 km/h | 270 km/h✓ |
| Co2 | — | 267 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,391 mm | 4,770 mm |
| Width | 1,950 mm | 1,920 mm |
| Height | 1,544 mm | 1,345 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,215 mm | 2,870 mm |
| Weight | 2,715 kg | 1,965 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 82 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 2 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 525 litres✓ | 197 litres |
| Front Tyre | 255/45R20 | 245/40R21 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/45R20 | 275/35R21 |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli P Zero | Bridgestone Potenza S001L Run-flats |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-link |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 21" M Aerodynamic style 909 M alloy wheels | 21" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 21" M Aerodynamic style 909 M alloy wheels | 21" Alloy |
| Front Brakes | — | Ventilated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | — | Ventilated Disc |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Air Suspension, All-wheel steering | Adaptive F Suspension - Sachs |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | 5 stars | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Electronic for Rear Doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 4 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | — | Available on two rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection (5 km/h to 80 km/h) | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All seats | For All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), TPMS |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with Auto High Beam | LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | LED combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function | 8-way Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function, Ventilated and Heated |
| Rear Seats | Power Adjustable Rear Seats with Power Adjustments | — |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | — |
| Sunroof | Sky Lounge Panoramic Glass Roof | — |
| Power Sockets | — | 1 Front |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (15 Colours) | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 4 | 2 Front |
| Sun Shade | 2x Side Shade, 1x Rear Shade | — |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 10-Speaker HiFi Loudspeaker System | 10.3" Lexus Premium Audio Remote Touch Controller with 13-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Sound System, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | 4 | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button Start | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go | Active Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation with Contactless Opening | Remote Control Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Surround View Camera | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Power Door | Yes | — |
| 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-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty | 5-year/100,000 km free service |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 1,015✓ | RM 10,991 |
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.
i7 vs LC FAQ
Is the BMW i7 or Lexus LC better?
For most Malaysian luxury buyers, the BMW i7 is better: it is far cheaper, roomier, has a 625 km EV range and much lower road tax. The Lexus LC is better only if coupe styling and V8 performance matter more than space and running costs.
What is the price difference?
The Lexus LC costs RM664,200 more than the BMW i7. The BMW i7 is priced at RM714,800, while the Lexus LC is RM1,379,000.
Which car is quicker?
The Lexus LC is quicker to 100 km/h, taking 4.4 seconds against the BMW i7’s 4.7 seconds. It also has the higher top speed, at 270 km/h versus 240 km/h.