BMW M5 vs Porsche Panamera
Verdict
The BMW M5 is the harder-hitting Malaysian buy at RM1,188,800: its 591 hp and 750 Nm cut 0-100 km/h to 3.5 seconds, and the plug-in hybrid system adds a 22.1 kWh battery with 67 km of EV range. The Porsche Panamera costs RM1,300,000 and is slower to 100 km/h at 5.1 seconds, but it has the higher 272 km/h top speed, a larger 494-litre boot, a 90-litre tank and a longer four-year warranty. The sting? The M5’s RM8,408 road tax.
Pick the BMW M5 if you want the quicker all-wheel-drive sedan and can use its 67 km EV range to offset some daily petrol use.
Pick the Porsche Panamera if you want the bigger boot, longer warranty, lower road tax and higher top speed more than the quickest 0-100 km/h time.
Key differences
- Price: BMW M5 RM1,188,800; Porsche Panamera RM1,300,000
- Power and torque: BMW M5 591 hp/750 Nm; Porsche Panamera 348 hp/500 Nm
- 0-100 km/h and top speed: BMW M5 3.5 s/250 km/h; Porsche Panamera 5.1 s/272 km/h
- Electrification: BMW M5 has a 22.1 kWh battery and 67 km EV range; Porsche Panamera has no battery or EV range listed
- Boot and fuel tank: BMW M5 466 L/60 L; Porsche Panamera 494 L/90 L
- Warranty and road tax: BMW M5 2 years/RM8,408; Porsche Panamera 4 years/RM1,865
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 1,188,800✓ | RM 1,300,000 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Executive | Grand Tourer |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid | Petrol |
| Engine | 4,395 cc | 2,894 cc |
| Power | 591 hp✓ | 348 hp |
| Torque | 750 Nm✓ | 500 Nm |
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Driven wheels | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | 3.5 s✓ | 5.1 s |
| Top speed | 250 km/h | 272 km/h✓ |
| Efficiency | ||
| Battery | 22.1 kWh | — |
| EV range | 67 km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,096 mm | 5,052 mm |
| Width | 1,970 mm | 1,937 mm |
| Height | 1,510 mm | 1,423 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,857 mm | 2,950 mm |
| Boot space | 466 L | 494 L✓ |
| Fuel tank | 60 L | 90 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 | 8✓ |
| Auto emergency braking | Yes | Yes |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 2 | 4✓ |
| Road tax / year | RM 8,408 | RM 1,865✓ |
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
- Much stronger 591 hp and 750 Nm output
- Quicker 3.5-second 0-100 km/h time
- Plug-in hybrid with 67 km EV range
- RM8,408 annual road tax is heavy
- Shorter two-year warranty
- Smaller 466-litre boot
Panamera
- Higher 272 km/h top speed
- Larger 494-litre boot and 90-litre tank
- Four-year warranty and lower RM1,865 road tax
- Slower 5.1-second 0-100 km/h time
- Lower 348 hp and 500 Nm outputs
- No EV range listed
M5 vs Panamera FAQ
Is the BMW M5 or Porsche Panamera better?
For performance, the BMW M5 is better: 591 hp, 750 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds. For ownership numbers, the Porsche Panamera counters with a four-year warranty, RM1,865 road tax and a bigger 494-litre boot.
What is the price difference?
The BMW M5 is RM111,200 cheaper than the Porsche Panamera. That gap does not make the Porsche quicker, but it does bring the longer four-year warranty, larger boot and lower annual road tax.
Which is cheaper to tax each year in Malaysia?
The Porsche Panamera is much cheaper to tax at RM1,865 a year. The BMW M5 costs RM8,408 a year, so the Porsche saves RM6,543 annually on road tax alone.