Verdict
At RM340,800, the BMW 5 Series undercuts the Volkswagen Touareg by RM44,172 and its RM379 annual road tax is far easier to stomach than the SUV’s RM1,632. The Touareg answers with a 335 hp, 450 Nm V6, 6.0-second sprint and 810-litre boot, against the BMW’s 208 hp, 330 Nm, 7.5 seconds and 490 litres. It is the more capable load-carrier and gets all-wheel drive, air suspension and night vision. But the BMW’s rear-drive sedan format, head-up display and lower running bill make more sense for buyers who do not need SUV space.
Pick the BMW 5 Series if lower purchase and annual road-tax costs, a sedan body and a head-up display matter more than outright pace and cargo room.
Pick the Volkswagen Touareg if you need its 810-litre boot, all-wheel drive, air suspension and 335 hp V6 performance.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 5 Series RM340,800; Volkswagen Touareg RM384,972.
- Annual road tax: BMW 5 Series RM379; Volkswagen Touareg RM1,632.
- Output: BMW 5 Series 208 hp and 330 Nm; Volkswagen Touareg 335 hp and 450 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW 5 Series 7.5 seconds; Volkswagen Touareg 6.0 seconds.
- Boot space: BMW 5 Series 490 litres; Volkswagen Touareg 810 litres.
- Warranty: BMW 5 Series two years standard plus three years extended; Volkswagen Touareg five years standard.
5 Series
- RM44,172 lower purchase price
- RM379 annual road tax versus RM1,632
- Head-up display and active cruise control with Stop & Go
- Slower 7.5-second 0-100 km/h time versus 6.0 seconds
- 490-litre boot is 320 litres smaller
- Rear-wheel drive versus all-wheel drive
Touareg
- 335 hp and 450 Nm from a 3.0-litre V6
- 810-litre boot and five doors
- Air suspension, night vision and all-wheel drive
- Costs RM44,172 more
- RM1,632 annual road tax is RM1,253 higher
- No head-up display
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM340,800✓ | RM384,972 |
| Body type | Sedan | SUV |
| Segment | Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM379✓ | RM1,632 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC direct injection with twin-scroll turbocharger, variable valve timing and mild hybrid assistance | 24-valve DOHC with Twin-scroll Turbocharger, Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 2,995 cc |
| Horsepower | 208 hp at 5,000 rpm | 335 hp at 5,300 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 330 Nm at 1,500 rpm | 450 Nm at 1,340 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | V 6 |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 82 mm × 94.6 mm | 84.5 mm × 89 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.8 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Eight-speed Automatic | 8-speed Automatic |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | — |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.5 seconds | 6 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 230 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,060 mm | 4,878 mm |
| Width | 1,900 mm | 1,984 mm |
| Height | 1,515 mm | 1,702 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,900 mm | 2,984 mm |
| Fuel Tank | — | 90 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 490 litres | 810 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 245/45R19 | 285/45R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/45R19 | 285/45R20 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Continental EcoContact 6 | Bridgestone Alenza 001 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 19" Style-934 Alloys | 20" Braga Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Style-934 Alloys | 20" Braga Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Air Suspension |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Curtain) | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Electronic for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available for two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Night Vision | — | Yes |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Adaptive High Beam | HD Matrix LED Headlights |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED with Sequential Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Driver Side Memory Settings | 12-Way Power-Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | 1 Wireless Charger, 1 Front, 2 USB Front, 4 USB Rear | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 3 USB Front, 2 USB Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Rear Window Shades | Manual rear window blinds |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 12-Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 15" Innovision Cockpit with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Dynaudio Consequence Sound System (730-Watts) |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up & 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 | Active Cruise Control with Active Lane keeping assistant and Stop & Go function | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| 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 | 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 5 Series & Touareg for sale
5 Series vs Touareg FAQ
Is the BMW 5 Series or Volkswagen Touareg better?
The BMW 5 Series is the better choice for lower costs and sedan use. Choose the Volkswagen Touareg if SUV cargo space, all-wheel drive and its substantially quicker 335 hp V6 are priorities.
What is the price difference?
The Volkswagen Touareg costs RM44,172 more than the BMW 5 Series.
Which has lower annual road tax?
The BMW 5 Series has lower annual road tax at RM379, compared with RM1,632 for the Volkswagen Touareg.
