BMW M5 vs Lexus LS
Verdict
At RM1,188,800 versus RM1,188,000, the BMW M5 and Lexus LS are effectively the same-money choice, but they are aimed at different seats in the car. The M5 is the driver’s call: 591 hp, 750 Nm, all-wheel drive and 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, plus a 22.1 kWh battery for 67 km of EV running. The LS is the calmer luxury sedan, with a longer 3,125 mm wheelbase, 480-litre boot, 82-litre tank and richer rear-seat hardware.
M5
Pick the BMW M5 if you want the quicker, all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid with 3.5-second pace and a 67 km EV range.
LS
Pick the Lexus LS if you want the longer-wheelbase luxury sedan with powered rear seats, a bigger boot and a longer manufacturer warranty.
Key differences
- Price: BMW M5 RM1,188,800; Lexus LS RM1,188,000
- Output: BMW M5 591 hp and 750 Nm; Lexus LS 415 hp and 600 Nm
- Acceleration: BMW M5 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds; Lexus LS in 5.0 seconds
- Electrification: BMW M5 has a 22.1 kWh battery and 67 km EV range; Lexus LS is petrol-only
- Wheelbase and boot: BMW M5 2,857 mm and 466 litres; Lexus LS 3,125 mm and 480 litres
- Road tax: BMW M5 RM8,408 a year; Lexus LS RM4,133 a year
M5
- Much quicker to 100 km/h: 3.5 seconds versus 5.0 seconds
- Plug-in hybrid system gives 67 km of EV driving
- All-wheel drive versus the Lexus’ rear-wheel drive
- Higher annual road tax: RM8,408 versus RM4,133
- Shorter wheelbase and smaller boot: 2,857 mm and 466 litres versus 3,125 mm and 480 litres
- Heavier at 2,510 kg versus 2,155 kg
LS
- Longer 3,125 mm wheelbase and bigger 480-litre boot
- 28-way powered front seats and 18-way powered rear seats with heating and ventilation
- 5-year unlimited-mileage manufacturer warranty versus the BMW’s 2-year manufacturer warranty
- Slower 0-100 km/h time: 5.0 seconds versus 3.5 seconds
- Lower output: 415 hp and 600 Nm versus 591 hp and 750 Nm
- No plug-in hybrid battery or 67 km EV driving range
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 1,188,800 | RM 1,188,000✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Executive | Luxury |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 32-valve DOHC with Twin Turbochargers, Direct Injection, Variable Valve Timing and Lift, plug-in hybrid assistance | 24-valve DOHC, twin-turbocharged with direct fuel injection and variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 4,395 cc | 3,445 cc |
| Horsepower | 591 hp✓ | 415 hp |
| Torque | 750 Nm✓ | 600 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | V | V |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 85.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.476 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 194 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 280 Nm | — |
| Battery Type | Lithium-ion | — |
| Battery Capacity | 22.1 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 67 km | — |
| Charger Type (AC) | Type 2 | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 7.4 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | M Steptronic | 10-Speed Direct Shift |
| Gears | 8 | 10 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Aisin |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 3.5 seconds✓ | 5 seconds |
| Rated Economy | — | 9.5 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,096 mm | 5,235 mm |
| Width | 1,970 mm | 1,900 mm |
| Height | 1,510 mm | 1,450 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,857 mm | 3,125 mm |
| Weight | 2,510 kg | 2,155 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 60 litres | 82 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 466 litres | 480 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 265/40R20 | 245/45RF20 |
| Rear Tyre | 295/35R21 | 245/45RF20 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Hankook S1 evo Z | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 20" M Alloys | 20" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 21" M Alloys | 20" Alloy |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated and Cross Drilled Disc | Ventilated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Ventilated and Cross Drilled Disc | Ventilated Disc |
| Steering | Rack & Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | M Adaptive Suspension | Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver & Front Passenger, Side Airbags, Curtain Airbags and Driver's Knee Airbag | 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 | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for outer two rear passenger 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 | For All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) with Auto Brake and Rear Pedestrian Detection with Auto Brake |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Auto High Beam | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats | 28-way Power Adjustable Seats with Memory, Heating, Ventilation and Massage |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 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 | — | Front, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 USB-C Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Rear | 1 Front, 2 Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Rear Window Shades | Powered Rear Sun Shade and Rear Door Window Shades |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Sound System | 12.3" Display with Lexus Remote Touch Controller, Navigation, USB, Bluetooth, WiFi and Pioneer 12-speaker Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button Start | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot 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, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, with Panoramic View Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes | — |
| 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 | — |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 8,408 | RM 4,133✓ |
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.
M5 vs LS FAQ
Is the BMW M5 or Lexus LS better?
The BMW M5 is better for performance, with 591 hp, 750 Nm, all-wheel drive and 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds. The Lexus LS is better for rear-seat luxury, with a longer wheelbase, powered rear seats and a bigger boot.
What is the price difference?
The BMW M5 costs RM1,188,800 and the Lexus LS costs RM1,188,000, so the BMW is RM800 more expensive. At this level, the real cost gap is road tax: RM8,408 a year for the BMW versus RM4,133 for the Lexus.
Which is more practical for long-distance use?
The Lexus LS has the edge for long-distance comfort and range planning, with an 82-litre fuel tank, 3,125 mm wheelbase and 480-litre boot. The BMW M5 counters with a 67 km EV range, but its tank is smaller at 60 litres.