Verdict
At RM1,200,800, the BMW M5 costs RM99,200 less yet reaches 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, 1.6 seconds ahead of the Porsche Panamera. Its plug-in hybrid system also brings a 22.1-kWh battery and 67 km EV range, useful for short local trips, although the 2,510-kg kerb weight is a substantial 530 kg penalty. The Panamera answers with a 272-km/h top speed, 494-litre boot, air suspension and five doors. For Malaysian ownership costs, its RM1,865 annual road tax is far kinder than the M5’s RM8,408.
Pick the BMW M5 if you want the quicker 3.5-second sprint, 67 km of electric range and a RM99,200 lower purchase price.
Pick the Porsche Panamera if you prioritise a 494-litre boot, 272-km/h top speed, air suspension and much lower annual road tax.
Key differences
- Price: BMW M5 RM1,200,800; Porsche Panamera RM1,300,000.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW M5 3.5 seconds; Porsche Panamera 5.1 seconds.
- Top speed: BMW M5 250 km/h; Porsche Panamera 272 km/h.
- Kerb weight: BMW M5 2,510 kg; Porsche Panamera 1,980 kg.
- Annual road tax: BMW M5 RM8,408; Porsche Panamera RM1,865.
- Boot space: BMW M5 466 litres; Porsche Panamera 494 litres.
M5
- 3.5-second 0-100 km/h time
- 22.1-kWh battery with 67 km EV range
- RM99,200 lower purchase price
- 530 kg heavier
- 22 km/h lower top speed
- 28 litres less boot space
Panamera
- 272-km/h top speed
- 494-litre boot and five doors
- Air suspension and front-seat heating/ventilation
- RM99,200 higher purchase price
- 1.6 seconds slower to 100 km/h
- No electric motor or EV range
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM1,200,800✓ | RM1,300,000 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Executive | Grand Tourer |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM8,408 | RM1,865✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 32-valve DOHC with Twin Turbochargers, Direct Injection, Variable Valve Timing and Lift, plug-in hybrid assistance | 24-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, twin-turbo with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 4,395 cc | 2,894 cc |
| Horsepower | 591 hp at 6,000 rpm✓ | 348 hp at 6,800 rpm |
| Torque | 750 Nm at 1,800 rpm✓ | 500 Nm at 1,900 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | V 8 | V 6 |
| Fuel | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | — | 84.5 mm × 86 mm |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 194 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 280 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 22.1 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 67 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 7.4 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | M Steptronic | PDK |
| Gears | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Porsche |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 3.5 seconds✓ | 5.1 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 272 km/h✓ |
| 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 |
| Weight | 2,510 kg | 1,980 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 60 litres | 90 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 466 litres | 494 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 265/40R20 | 265/45R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 295/35R21 | 295/45R20 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Hankook S1 evo Z | — |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 20" M Alloys | 19" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 21" M Alloys | 19" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack & Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | M Adaptive Suspension | Porsche Active Suspension Management with Adaptive two-chamber air suspension and two-valve dampers |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver & Front Passenger, Side Airbags, Curtain Airbags and Driver's Knee Airbag) | 8 (Driver and Passenger, Driver and Front Passenger Knee, Front Side, Front Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Electric for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for outer two rear passenger seats | Two Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Auto High Beam | Matrix LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings, Heating & Ventilation |
| 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 |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 USB-C Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Rear | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 1 Boot; 2 USB-C Ports Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Rear Window Shades | Side Window Sunshades, Panoramic Glass Roof Shade |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Sound System | 12.3-inch Touchscreen with Porsche Communications Module, Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto |
| 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 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 | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | Yes | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Power Door | Yes | Yes |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 4 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 M5 & Panamera for sale
M5 vs Panamera FAQ
Is the BMW M5 or Porsche Panamera better?
The BMW M5 is the better choice for outright acceleration and short-distance electric driving, reaching 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and covering 67 km on electricity. Choose the Porsche Panamera for its larger boot, air suspension and 272-km/h top speed.
What is the price difference?
The Porsche Panamera costs RM99,200 more than the BMW M5. The BMW is RM1,200,800, while the Porsche is RM1,300,000.
Which one has lower running tax in Malaysia?
The Porsche Panamera has much lower annual road tax at RM1,865, against RM8,408 for the BMW M5. That is a RM6,543 yearly difference in the Porsche’s favour.
