Verdict
At RM470,800 against the Lexus RX’s RM468,888, the BMW X5 costs RM1,912 more but gives Malaysian buyers 308 hp, 540 Nm and a 5.4-second 0-100 km/h time, against 275 hp, 430 Nm and 7.6 seconds. Its 650-litre boot, 83-litre tank and air suspension also suit long-distance work. The RX counters with a far lower RM754 annual road tax versus RM1,637, a five-year warranty and heated, ventilated rear seats. The BMW is the sharper specification; the Lexus makes the calmer ownership case.
Pick the BMW X5 if you want the 5.4-second performance, 650-litre boot and air suspension, and can accept RM1,637 yearly road tax.
Pick the Lexus RX if lower RM754 annual road tax, five-year warranty and heated, ventilated, reclining rear seats matter more than outright pace.
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.
- Cargo and fuel capacity: BMW X5 has a 650-litre boot and 83-litre tank; Lexus RX has 612 litres and 68 litres.
- Warranty: BMW X5 has a two-year manufacturer warranty; Lexus RX has a five-year manufacturer warranty.
- Wheelbase: BMW X5 measures 2,975 mm; Lexus RX measures 2,850 mm.
X5
- 308 hp and 540 Nm with a 5.4-second 0-100 km/h time
- 650-litre boot and 83-litre fuel tank
- Air suspension with adaptive dampers, plus auto parking
- RM1,637 annual road tax versus RM754
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus five years
- Lacks the RX’s specified heated, ventilated and reclining rear seats
RX
- Five-year manufacturer warranty
- Heated and ventilated front and rear seats; rear seats also recline
- RM754 annual road tax
- 275 hp and 430 Nm trail the X5’s 308 hp and 540 Nm
- 7.6-second 0-100 km/h time versus 5.4 seconds
- 612-litre boot and 68-litre tank are smaller than the X5’s 650 litres and 83 litres
What the X5 has over the RX
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The X5's wheelbase is 125 mm longer, which usually translates to more rear legroom. The X5 is 84 mm wider — more shoulder room, but a tighter fit in parking bays. Boot space favours the X5: 650 litres against 612.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM470,800 | RM468,888✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM1,637 | RM754✓ |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM4,805/mo | RM4,785/mo✓ |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM12,587 | RM12,538✓ |
| 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 at 5,000 rpm✓ | 275 hp at 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 540 Nm at 1,750 rpm✓ | 430 Nm at 1,700 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 6 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 82 mm × 94.6 mm | 87.5 mm × 99.5 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 | 8 (Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 7 (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. Running-cost estimates assume 20,000 km/year. Fuel at RM1.99/litre (RON95, subsidised). Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked October 2026.
Used X5 & RX for sale
Our reviews & guides
BMW X5
Lexus RX
X5 vs RX FAQ
Is the BMW X5 or Lexus RX better?
The BMW X5 is better for performance, luggage capacity and air-suspension hardware, with 308 hp and a 5.4-second sprint. The Lexus RX is better for lower annual road tax, a five-year warranty and rear-seat comfort equipment.
What is the price difference?
The BMW X5 costs RM1,912 more than the Lexus RX. That is a small gap in this class, so the larger ownership-cost split is annual road tax: RM1,637 for the X5 versus RM754 for the RX.
Which SUV is faster?
The BMW X5 is decisively faster, reaching 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds versus 7.6 seconds for the Lexus RX. It also has 308 hp and 540 Nm, compared with the RX’s 275 hp and 430 Nm.
Which one is locally assembled?
The X5 is assembled in Malaysia (CKD), while the RX is fully imported (CBU) from Japan. Local assembly generally helps pricing and spare-parts supply, and CKD programmes usually signal a longer-term commitment to the model here.