Verdict
Just RM1,912 separates them, yet the BMW X5 gives Malaysian buyers a 308 hp, 540 Nm petrol hybrid/REV powertrain with one motor and a 5.4-second 0-100 km/h time, against the Lexus RX’s 275 hp, 430 Nm and 7.6 seconds. It is also roomier on paper, with a 2,975 mm wheelbase and 650-litre boot. The RX counters with a far lower RM754 annual road tax versus RM1,637, plus five-year unlimited-mileage warranty coverage. Choose priorities carefully: the X5 is quicker and more practical; the RX brings better seat amenities and warranty cover.
Pick the BMW X5 if 308 hp, 540 Nm, 5.4-second acceleration, a 650-litre boot and air suspension matter more than lower road tax.
Pick the Lexus RX if you want five-year unlimited-mileage warranty cover, RM754 annual road tax and heated, ventilated front and rear seats.
Key differences
- Performance: BMW X5 has 308 hp and 540 Nm; Lexus RX has 275 hp and 430 Nm.
- Acceleration: BMW X5 does 0-100 km/h in 5.4 seconds; Lexus RX takes 7.6 seconds.
- Road tax: BMW X5 costs RM1,637 per year; Lexus RX costs RM754 per year.
- Boot space: BMW X5 has 650 litres; Lexus RX has 612 litres.
- Wheelbase: BMW X5 measures 2,975 mm; Lexus RX measures 2,850 mm.
- Warranty: BMW X5 has two years unlimited mileage; Lexus RX has five years unlimited mileage.
X5
- 308 hp and 540 Nm with 5.4-second 0-100 km/h acceleration.
- 650-litre boot and 2,975 mm wheelbase.
- Air suspension with adaptive dampers; auto parking is fitted.
- RM1,637 annual road tax versus the RX’s RM754.
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus five years.
- Front and rear seat heating and ventilation are not listed, unlike the RX.
RX
- Five-year unlimited-mileage manufacturer warranty.
- Heated and ventilated front and rear seats.
- RM754 annual road tax and rear cross traffic alert.
- 275 hp and 430 Nm trail the X5’s 308 hp and 540 Nm.
- 7.6-second 0-100 km/h time is 2.2 seconds slower than the X5.
- 612-litre boot is 38 litres smaller, and auto parking is not listed.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM470,800 | RM468,888✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM1,637 | RM754✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC, Turbochaged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 16-valve DOHC Direct and Port injection with Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 2,998 cc | 2,393 cc |
| Horsepower | 308 hp✓ | 275 hp |
| Torque | 540 Nm✓ | 430 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore | 82 mm | 87.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 11 | 11 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Eight-speed Steptronic | 8-Speed Direct Shift |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Aisin |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.4 seconds✓ | 7.6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,935 mm | 4,890 mm |
| Width | 2,004 mm | 1,920 mm |
| Height | 1,765 mm | 1,695 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,975 mm | 2,850 mm |
| Weight | 2,240 kg | 1,914 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 83 litres | 68 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 650 litres✓ | 612 litres |
| Front Tyre | 275/40R21 | 235/50R21 |
| Rear Tyre | 315/35R21 | 235/50R21 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Continental PremiumContact 6 SSR Run-flats | Bridgestone Alenza 001 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 21" Style 915M Light Alloy Wheels | 21" Multi-spoke Alloy with Hyper Chrome Metallic Machined Finish |
| Rear Wheels | 21" Style 915M Light Alloy Wheels | 21" Multi-spoke Alloy with Hyper Chrome Metallic Machined Finish |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Air Suspension with Adaptive Dampers | Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee |
| 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 2 Outer Rear 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) |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED headlights with Auto High Beam | Adaptive LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats | 10-way Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function, Heated and Ventilated |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | Power Folding and Recline, 40:20:40 Split-folding, Heated and Ventilated |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Lexus Climate Concierge |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Sliding Sunroof | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 USB-A, 1 USB-C Front, 4 USB-C Rear | 1 Front 12-volt, 4 Front USB, 2 Rear USB |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (64 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Powered Sunroof Shade, Manual Rear Window Shades | — |
| Audio | 14.9" Touchscreen BMW Live Cockpit Professional with Voice Control, Wireless Apple CarPlay, Wireless Android Auto and 17-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System (525W) | 14" EMV Touchscreen with Bluetooth, Navigation, Voice Recognition, Wired Android Auto, Wireless Apple CarPlay and 12-speaker Lexus Premium Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot | 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 360-degree Camera and 3D Function |
| Auto Parking | Yes | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | Qi Wireless Charger |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 3 years | — |
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 X5 & RX for sale
X5 vs RX FAQ
Is the BMW X5 or Lexus RX better?
The BMW X5 is better for performance and space, with 308 hp, 540 Nm, 5.4-second acceleration and a 650-litre boot. The Lexus RX is better for lower annual road tax, five-year warranty coverage and heated, ventilated seats front and rear.
What is the price difference?
The BMW X5 costs RM1,912 more than the Lexus RX. That small gap brings 33 hp more, 110 Nm more torque, a 2.2-second quicker 0-100 km/h time, air suspension and a 38-litre larger boot.
Which has the lower ownership tax and longer warranty?
The Lexus RX does. Its annual road tax is RM754, RM883 lower than the BMW X5’s RM1,637, and its manufacturer warranty lasts five years with unlimited mileage against two years unlimited mileage for the X5.