Verdict
At RM714,800, the BMW i7 undercuts the Lexus LS by RM473,200 and cuts annual road tax from RM4,133 to RM1,015. Its two motors produce 536 hp and 745 Nm, reaching 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, while the Lexus has 415 hp, 600 Nm and a 5.0-second time. The i7 also brings 625 km of EV range and 195 kW DC charging. The Lexus counters with deeply specified 28-way massaging front seats, 18-way rear seats and a five-year warranty. For Malaysian buyers able to charge, the BMW is the sharper financial choice.
i7
Pick the BMW i7 if you want 625 km EV range, 195 kW DC charging, AWD and a RM473,200 lower entry price.
LS
Pick the Lexus LS if its 28-way heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, 18-way heated and ventilated rear seats, and five-year warranty matter more than price.
Key differences
- Price: BMW i7 RM714,800; Lexus LS RM1,188,000.
- Annual road tax: BMW i7 RM1,015; Lexus LS RM4,133.
- Performance: BMW i7 536 hp, 745 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds; Lexus LS 415 hp, 600 Nm and 5.0 seconds.
- Powertrain: BMW i7 has two electric motors, AWD and 625 km range; Lexus LS has a 3,445 cc twin-turbo petrol engine and RWD.
- Charging/fuel use: BMW i7 supports 11 kW AC and 195 kW DC charging; Lexus LS is rated at 9.5 L/100 km with an 82-litre tank.
- Boot space: BMW i7 525 litres; Lexus LS 480 litres.
i7
- RM473,200 less to buy and RM3,118 less annual road tax.
- 536 hp, 745 Nm, AWD and a 4.7-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 625 km range, 195 kW DC charging and a 525-litre boot.
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus the Lexus LS's five years.
- Less extensive seat specification: power-adjustable seats versus 28-way massaging front and 18-way rear seats in the Lexus LS.
- 240 km/h top speed versus 250 km/h.
LS
- 28-way heated, ventilated and massaging front seats.
- 18-way heated and ventilated rear seats with a rear touchscreen.
- Five-year unlimited-mileage manufacturer warranty.
- RM473,200 higher purchase price and RM3,118 higher annual road tax.
- 415 hp, 600 Nm and 5.0 seconds to 100 km/h trail the BMW i7's 536 hp, 745 Nm and 4.7 seconds.
- 480-litre boot is 45 litres smaller than the BMW i7's.
| 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 | 5 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 choice for lower purchase cost, lower road tax, faster acceleration, AWD and EV charging. Choose the Lexus LS only if its far richer front and rear seat equipment plus five-year manufacturer warranty are your priorities.
What is the price difference?
The Lexus LS costs RM473,200 more than the BMW i7.
Which one is better for long-distance driving?
The BMW i7 has a quoted 625 km EV range and accepts DC charging at up to 195 kW. The Lexus LS uses petrol, has an 82-litre tank and is rated at 9.5 L/100 km; the figures do not provide a quoted petrol driving range.