Verdict
At RM714,800, the BMW i7 costs RM473,200 less than the RM1,188,000 Lexus LS, yet its twin motors produce 536 hp and 745 Nm for a 4.7-second 0-100 km/h time. Its 625 km EV range, 195 kW DC charging and RM1,015 annual road tax make a strong case for a Malaysian owner able to charge regularly. The Lexus answers with 28-way massaging front seats, highly adjustable heated and ventilated rear seats, and a five-year warranty. It is the more lavishly specified chauffeur car, but the i7 is the sharper financial choice.
Pick the BMW i7 if you can charge at home or work and want 625 km range, 4.7-second pace and RM473,200 left in your pocket.
Pick the Lexus LS if deeply adjustable massaging front seats, heated and ventilated rear seats and a five-year warranty matter more than price and EV charging.
Key differences
- Price: BMW i7 RM714,800; Lexus LS RM1,188,000.
- Power and torque: BMW i7 536 hp and 745 Nm; Lexus LS 415 hp and 600 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW i7 4.7 seconds; Lexus LS 5.0 seconds.
- Annual road tax: BMW i7 RM1,015; Lexus LS RM4,133.
- Length and wheelbase: BMW i7 5,391 mm and 3,215 mm; Lexus LS 5,235 mm and 3,125 mm.
- Boot space: BMW i7 525 litres; Lexus LS 480 litres.
i7
- 625 km EV range with 195 kW DC charging
- 536 hp, 745 Nm and all-wheel drive
- 525-litre boot and all-wheel steering
- Two-year vehicle warranty versus the Lexus LS's five years
- 2,715 kg kerb weight versus 2,155 kg
LS
- 28-way heated, ventilated and massaging front seats
- 18-way heated and ventilated rear seats with rear touchscreen
- Five-year unlimited-mileage manufacturer warranty
- RM473,200 more expensive
- RM4,133 annual road tax versus RM1,015
- 480-litre boot versus 525 litres
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM714,800✓ | RM1,188,000 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Luxury | Luxury |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM1,015✓ | RM4,133 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 5th-generation BMW eDrive, 400V architecture | 24-valve DOHC, twin-turbocharged with direct fuel injection and variable valve timing |
| Capacity | — | 3,445 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 415 hp |
| Torque | — | 600 Nm |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 85.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.476 |
| Number of Motors | 2 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 536 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 745 Nm | — |
| EV Range | 625 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 11 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 195 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | 10-Speed Direct Shift |
| Gears | — | 10 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Aisin |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.7 seconds✓ | 5 seconds |
| Rated Economy | — | 9.5 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 240 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,391 mm | 5,235 mm |
| Width | 1,950 mm | 1,900 mm |
| Height | 1,544 mm | 1,450 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,215 mm | 3,125 mm |
| Weight | 2,715 kg | 2,155 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 82 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 525 litres✓ | 480 litres |
| Front Tyre | 255/45R20 | 245/45RF20 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/45R20 | 245/45RF20 |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli P Zero | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 21" M Aerodynamic style 909 M alloy wheels | 20" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 21" M Aerodynamic style 909 M alloy wheels | 20" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Air Suspension, All-wheel steering | Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | 5 stars | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Rear Side |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Electronic for Rear Doors | Manual for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | — | Available on two outer 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) with Auto Brake and Rear Pedestrian Detection with Auto Brake |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with Auto High Beam | LED Projector |
| 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 Driver's Memory Function | 28-way Power Adjustable Seats with Memory, Heating, Ventilation and Massage |
| Rear Seats | Power Adjustable Rear Seats with Power Adjustments | 18-way Power Adjustable Seats with Centre Armrest, Rear Touchscreen, Heating and Ventilation |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System with Lexus Climate Concierge |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System with Lexus Climate Concierge |
| Sunroof | Sky Lounge Panoramic Glass Roof | Front, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | — | 1 Front, 2 Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (15 Colours) | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 4 | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | 2x Side Shade, 1x Rear Shade | Powered Rear Sun Shade and Rear Door Window Shades |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 10-Speaker HiFi Loudspeaker System | 12.3" Display with Lexus Remote Touch Controller, Navigation, USB, Bluetooth, WiFi and Pioneer 12-speaker Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | 4 | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button Start | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation with Contactless Opening | Powered Boot with Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Surround View Camera | Yes, with Panoramic View Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | Yes | Soft close function, all doors |
| 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 | 3 years | — |
| Warranty Notes | 8-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty | — |
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 i7 & LS for sale
i7 vs LS FAQ
Is the BMW i7 or Lexus LS better?
The BMW i7 is the better buy on price, road tax, acceleration, boot capacity and 625 km EV range. Choose the Lexus LS if its massaging front seats, more adjustable rear seating and five-year warranty are your priorities.
What is the price difference?
The Lexus LS costs RM473,200 more than the BMW i7. That gap is substantial, especially as the i7 is quicker to 100 km/h and has a larger 525-litre boot.
Which one is cheaper to tax each year?
The BMW i7 has annual road tax of RM1,015, compared with RM4,133 for the Lexus LS. The i7 saves RM3,118 per year on road tax alone.